Czech Legends and Tales

Alois Jirásek (1851–1930) — Czech writer and poet. He was born in the Austrian Empire, in the small town of Hronov, which is part of modern-day Czech Republic. The future writer's parents were weavers of modest means and, besides Alois,... they had eight more children. After finishing school, Alois enrolled at Charles University in Prague. There he delved into the study of history, which later influenced his work. After obtaining his diploma, the young man moved to Litomyšl to take up teaching. He combined his schoolwork with writing extensive historical novels. In his works, Jirásek loved to write about events from Czech history, particularly about the Hussite movement. His texts were filled with various adventures and complex conflicts, which, combined with his patriotic authorial stance, made them quite popular among his contemporaries. When Alois returned to Prague, he began to make acquaintances among figures in science and art. His most famous plays were written here; furthermore, the writer continued to teach history. In 1908, he became a member of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts, and a year later, he retired and immersed himself in literature. With the onset of World War I, his works became particularly sought after. In his novels, Jirásek promoted national ideas, writing about the struggle of the Czech people for the very existence of the nation. In 1918, he publicly read the proclamation of Czechoslovakia's independence from Austria-Hungary. Alois Jirásek went down in history as an outstanding writer and public figure of the Czech people. He was repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

This edition presents thirty-four Czech legends and tales, literarily processed by Alois Jirásek. The texts of the collection are divided into two parts: tales from pagan times and tales from Christian times. They introduce the reader to the heroes, mythology, worldview, and traditions of the Czech people. The texts are illustrated by the Czech artist Václav Černý.
Václav Černý (1865–1936) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, first in Prague and then in Vienna. His refined drawing skills allowed him to quickly begin collaborating with leading publishing houses in Prague. Černý illustrated works by both Czech writers and foreign authors. His drawings embellish the texts of František Čecháček, Lydia Charová, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Jules Verne, and many other well-known literati. Even during his lifetime, Černý was recognized as a talented book illustrator. The artist was also interested in history; he painted battle scenes and paintings on historical themes.