A World Apart and Other Stories: Czech Women Writers at the Fin de Sicle (Modern Czech Classics)

A collection of short stories by Czech women from the turn of the twentieth century.

A World Apart brings together translations of eight stories by Czech women from the turn of the twentieth century--a period of female political emancipation and impressive literary development in Czechoslovakia. Though they're little known to an English-language public today, all of the writers featured in the book were recognized in their own day and constitute a cross-section of the literary styles of the period. Anna Maria Tilschov�'s "A Sad Time" is written in a naturalist style, while Růzena Jesensk�'s "A World Apart" presents themes and motifs that appealed to the Decadents. Helena Mal�řov�'s "The Sylph" is both diaristic and satirical, whereas Růzena Svobodov�'s ironical "A Great Passion," with its rural setting and folklore motifs, calls to mind the writings of Karel Jarom�r Erben. Gabriela Preissov�'s short story "Eva" may be read as a celebration of folk culture, and Bozena Benesov�'s "Friends" is interesting for its psychological presentation of a child's point of view and its implicit criticism of anti-Semitism. The book is accompanied by the biographies of each author and an introduction by editor and translator Kathleen Hayes.