Božena Nemcová
Encyclopedia
Božena Němcová (ˈboʒɛna ˈɲɛmtsovaː) (4 February 1820, Vienna
– 21 January 1862, Prague
) was a Czech
writer of the final phase of the Czech National Revival
movement.
, the daughter of Johann Pankel from Lower Austria
and Teresie Novotná, a maid of Bohemian origin. In her childhood she lived in the village of Ratibořice
, where her grandmother Magdalena Novotná played an important part in her life. Němcová would later write her most famous novel with the main character inspired by her grandmother.
When she was 17 years old, she married the 15-years-older Josef Němec, who worked as a customs officer and was therefore a state employee. The marriage was arranged by Barbora's parents and became an unhappy one, as the married couple didn't understand each other very well. Němec was said to be a rude and authoritative man. He was a Bohemian patriot, which his superiors didn't like, and he was often transferred to different locations, and later lost his job. The family had four children and suffered from a lack of money. Němcová died in poverty, estranged from her husband. The Bohemian patriots arranged a magnificent funeral for her.
(1781-1839). Helena Sobková, a writer of popular-history books about Němcová, believes that Němcová may actually have been the niece of Wilhemine. In 1816 an illegitimate daughter was born to Wilhemine's younger sister, Dorothée de Talleyrand-Périgord
, and Karel Clam-Martinic (1792-1840). The child's fate is unknown, and it is possible that Wilhemine gave the child to Němcová's parents to raise as their own.
None of these speculations, however, have been definitely proven by serious historical research.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
– 21 January 1862, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
) was a Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
writer of the final phase of the Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. The purpose of this movement was to revive Czech language, culture and national identity...
movement.
Biography
She was born as Barbora Pankel in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, the daughter of Johann Pankel from Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
and Teresie Novotná, a maid of Bohemian origin. In her childhood she lived in the village of Ratibořice
Ratibořice
Ratibořice Château is a château located 2.5 km north of Česká Skalice and about 10 km west of Náchod, in the Hradec Králové region, Czech Republic. It stands on an elevated plain below which valley in the bend of the Úpa river widens...
, where her grandmother Magdalena Novotná played an important part in her life. Němcová would later write her most famous novel with the main character inspired by her grandmother.
When she was 17 years old, she married the 15-years-older Josef Němec, who worked as a customs officer and was therefore a state employee. The marriage was arranged by Barbora's parents and became an unhappy one, as the married couple didn't understand each other very well. Němec was said to be a rude and authoritative man. He was a Bohemian patriot, which his superiors didn't like, and he was often transferred to different locations, and later lost his job. The family had four children and suffered from a lack of money. Němcová died in poverty, estranged from her husband. The Bohemian patriots arranged a magnificent funeral for her.
Speculations on Božena Němcová's real origin
Some authors question the birthdate (the preserved documents differ) and the real origin of Božena Němcová. According to one hypothesis, Němcová could have been born three to four years earlier than previously thought, and be an illegitimate daughter of Wilhemine, Duchess of SaganWilhelmine von Sagan
Katharina Friederike Wilhelmine Benigna, Princess of Courland, Duchess of Sagan was a German noble from the Ruling family of Courland and Semigallia and a sovereign Duchess of Sagan...
(1781-1839). Helena Sobková, a writer of popular-history books about Němcová, believes that Němcová may actually have been the niece of Wilhemine. In 1816 an illegitimate daughter was born to Wilhemine's younger sister, Dorothée de Talleyrand-Périgord
Dorothea von Biron
Dorothea von Biron, Princess of Courland, self-styled Dorothée de Courlande , was a Baltic German noblewoman. Her mother was Dorothea von Medem, Duchess of Courland, and although her mother's husband, Duke Peter von Biron, acknowledged her as his own, her true father was a Polish statesman...
, and Karel Clam-Martinic (1792-1840). The child's fate is unknown, and it is possible that Wilhemine gave the child to Němcová's parents to raise as their own.
None of these speculations, however, have been definitely proven by serious historical research.
Novels
- Podhorská vesnice (The village under mountains)
- Babička (The GrandmotherThe GrandmotherThe Grandmother is a novel written by Czech writer Božena Němcová in 1855. It is her most popular work and is regarded as a classic piece of Czech literature. This most frequently read book of the Czech nation was published more than 300 times in the Czech language alone and translated into 21...
) (1855) – Němcová's best-known novel about a young girl named Barunka (a pet form of Barbora) and her childhood with her grandmother in the countryside. The book was inspired by Němcová's own childhood in the village of RatibořiceRatibořiceRatibořice Château is a château located 2.5 km north of Česká Skalice and about 10 km west of Náchod, in the Hradec Králové region, Czech Republic. It stands on an elevated plain below which valley in the bend of the Úpa river widens...
, where she lived with her parents, siblings and maternal grandmother Magdalena Novotná.
Fairy tales and legends
- Chýše pod horami
- O dvanácti měsíčkách
- Národní báchorky a pověsti (National Stories and Legends)
- Slovenské pohádky a pověsti (Slovak Fairy Tales and Legends)
- Selská politika (Country Politics)
- Hospodyně na slovíčko
- Dopisy z lázní Františkových (The Letters from Franzenbad)
- Listy přítele přítelkyni
- Silný Ctibor
- Devět křížů (Nine Crosses)