Ladislav Fuks
Encyclopedia
Ladislav Fuks was a Czech
novelist. He focused mainly on psychological novels, portraying the despair and suffering of people under German occupation of Czechoslovakia
.
He was born in Prague as the son of a police officer. He studied the Gymnasium in Truhlářšká ulice, where he also first witnessed Nazi persecution of his Jewish friends. In 1942 he was forced to be a caretaker in Hodonín
, as a part of the Arbeitseinsatz
.
Later he studied philosophy, psychology and art history at the Philosophical faculty of Charles University in Prague
, where, in 1949, he received a doctorate. After his studies, he was a member of the National heritage administration and after 1959 he worked in the national gallery. He became a professional writer in the 1960s. He attracted much attention with his debut work, Pan Theodor Mundstock
(Mr. Theodore Mundstock), published in 1963, and a year later with his short story collection Mí černovlasí bratři (My dark-haired brothers).
In the socialist period, he, according to his own words "preferred to choose conciliatoriness and toleration, against headless resistance and courage to fall in the resistance" ("raději volil smířlivost a toleranci před bezhlavým vzdorem a odvahou padnout v odporu"). Some of his work from the 70s is strongly linked to the era in which they were created (for example, Návrat z žitného pole (The return from the rye field) is a novel targeted against emigration after the 1948 communist coup). He was also a member of the socialistic Svaz českých spisovatelů (Union of Czech Writers). Although he had obtained some international recognition, in the last years of his life he was left alone and friendless. He died in 1994 in his Prague apartment in Dejvice
, in the street Národní obrany no. 15.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
novelist. He focused mainly on psychological novels, portraying the despair and suffering of people under German occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia began with the Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia's northern and western border regions, known collectively as the Sudetenland, under terms outlined by the Munich Agreement. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's pretext for this effort was the alleged privations suffered by...
.
He was born in Prague as the son of a police officer. He studied the Gymnasium in Truhlářšká ulice, where he also first witnessed Nazi persecution of his Jewish friends. In 1942 he was forced to be a caretaker in Hodonín
Hodonín
Hodonín is a town on the River Morava in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region. The population is 26,226 . Hodonín was first mentioned in 1046. In 1228 it became a town...
, as a part of the Arbeitseinsatz
Arbeitseinsatz
Arbeitseinsatz was forced labour during World War II when German men were called up for military service and German authorities rounded up labourers, some from Germany but more from the occupied territories, to fill in the vacancies...
.
Later he studied philosophy, psychology and art history at the Philosophical faculty of Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
, where, in 1949, he received a doctorate. After his studies, he was a member of the National heritage administration and after 1959 he worked in the national gallery. He became a professional writer in the 1960s. He attracted much attention with his debut work, Pan Theodor Mundstock
Pan Theodor Mundstock
Pan Theodor Mundstock is a Czech psychological novel, written by Ladislav Fuks. It was first published in 1963....
(Mr. Theodore Mundstock), published in 1963, and a year later with his short story collection Mí černovlasí bratři (My dark-haired brothers).
In the socialist period, he, according to his own words "preferred to choose conciliatoriness and toleration, against headless resistance and courage to fall in the resistance" ("raději volil smířlivost a toleranci před bezhlavým vzdorem a odvahou padnout v odporu"). Some of his work from the 70s is strongly linked to the era in which they were created (for example, Návrat z žitného pole (The return from the rye field) is a novel targeted against emigration after the 1948 communist coup). He was also a member of the socialistic Svaz českých spisovatelů (Union of Czech Writers). Although he had obtained some international recognition, in the last years of his life he was left alone and friendless. He died in 1994 in his Prague apartment in Dejvice
Dejvice
Dejvice is a historical community, a municipal quarter of the Prague 6 district of Prague, Czech Republic. Its history can be traced back to the late Roman era. Dejvice is known for its appeal to the upper middle class, and as a university district...
, in the street Národní obrany no. 15.
List of works
- Zámek Kynžvart (Castle Kynžvart) – 1958: A professional study
- Pan Theodor MundstockPan Theodor MundstockPan Theodor Mundstock is a Czech psychological novel, written by Ladislav Fuks. It was first published in 1963....
(Mr. Theodore Mundstock) -1963: The story of a Prague Jew who is in constant fear of deportation to the concentration camp. He tries to prepare himself—he sleeps on a wooden plank, tortures himself with hunger, and carries heavy things. He also lives through frequent hallucinations and conversations with his own shadow. He does not, however, live to be transported, as he is run over by a car.
- Mí černovlasí bratři (My dark-haired brothers) -1964: The story of a boy who loses all his Jewish friends through the occupation—a collection of short stories, marking their individual fates.
- Variace pro temnou strunu (Variations for a dark string) -1966: The story of the life before the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Germans through the eyes of a small boy. Reality mixes into a blend with ideas from fairy tales, stories and rumors the young boy hears from their family servant.
- Spalovač mrtvol (Literally "The incinerator of corpses" or "The Cremator") -1967: A psychological horror story about a worker in a crematorium, who, through the influence of Nazi propaganda and oriental philosophy, becomes a maniac, and murders his entire family to "cleanse them" by death. It was made into a famous movie with Rudolf HrušínskýRudolf HrušínskýRudolf Hrušínský was an acclaimed Czech actor.-Biography:He was born in Nová Včelnice to Hermina Červičková and Rudolf Hrušinský . He was born, literally, back stage during a showing of the play Taneček panny Marinky...
as the main actor.
- Smrt morčete (The Death of a hamster) -1969: A collection of 10 balladic short stories with Jewish motives.
- Myši Natálie MooshabrovéMyši Natálie MooshabrovéMyši Natálie Mooshabrové is a Czech psychological novel, written by Ladislav Fuks. It was first published in 1970....
(The mice of Natalia Mooshabr) -1970.
- Příběh kriminálního radyPříběh kriminálního radyPříběh kriminálního rady is a Czech novel, written by Ladislav Fuks. It was first published in 1971....
(The tale of a criminal counsel) -1971.
- Oslovení ze tmy (Addressing from the darkness) -1972
- Nebožtíci na bále (The Deceased at a ball) -1972
- Návrat z žitného pole (The return from the rye field) -1974
- Mrtvý v podchodu (March of the dead) -1976
- Pasáček z dolinyPasáček z dolinyPasáček z doliny is a 1983 Czechoslovak film. The film starred Josef Kemr....
(The (little) herdsman from the lowland) -1977 *- The word herdsman is in the original in the form that would suggest a child)
- Křišťálový pantoflíček (The Crystal slipper) -1978.
- Obraz Martina Blaskowitze (The Picture of Martin Blaskowitz) -1980.
- Vévodkyně a kuchařka (The Duchess and the (female) cook) -1983.
- Cesta do zaslíbené země (Journey to the promised land) -1990
- Moje zrcadlo (My mirror) -1995: Memoirs, published posthumously.
External links
- Information on Works
- Biographical Information
- His page at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...