He was born in Pacov, a small town in South Bohemia, then part of the Austrian Empire, but from the age of two he grew up in nearby Lukavec.[1] His father Jan was a teacher and choirmaster who occasionally composed.[2] His mother died when he was 15 and his father married again (Sova never had a positive relationship with his stepmother Sabina).[1] In Lukavec Antonín became acquainted with the sisters of Jaroslav Vrchlický. He studied at the grammar school in Pelhřimov, Tábor, and from 1881 to 1885 in Písek. He met the Písek-based poet Adolf Heyduk who helped him publish his first poems in literary magazines (he used the pen-names Ilja Georgov and for Lumír Valburga Turková).[1] While at school he received the worst possible mark for morale because he ignored the interdict and wore a Czech tricolor tie in a park.[1] He started studying law in Prague but he did not finish for lack of money.[2] Jaroslav Vrchlický helped him find employment in Otto's encyclopedia editorial department which lasted for only a year.[1] His next job was at the medical department of the Prague municipality. Eventually, from 1898 till he retired, he worked as a director of the Prague Municipal Library.[1] He married Marie Kovaříková, who was almost 20 years younger, in 1900, and had a son Jan with her a year later.[3] Their marriage broke up after several years, though. The poet contracted a disease that paralysed him for the last two decades of his life (probably syphilis).[1] After the constitution of Czechoslovakia in 1918 he lived in Prague and was often visited by younger poets of various styles and political inclinations.[1] In 1924 he moved "in his horsehair grave" to Pacov, where he died on a stormy August night in 1928.[1] The funeral took place in Prague but his ashes were taken to a granite stone in Pacov.[1]
Early literary careeredit
In 1897 Sova was among the writers who established the first Czech official literary association, called Máj.[1] His first published poetry collections were Realistické sloky (Realistic strophes, 1890), Květy intimních nálad (Flowers of Intimate Moods, 1891), Z mého kraje (From My Country, 1893), Soucit a vzdor (Compassion and Defiance, 1894), and Zlomená duše (Broken Soul, 1895).
Sova was a supporter of the progressive national movement of the 1890s connected with the Omladina Trial.[1] Together with 11 other writers he signed the manifesto called Česká moderna in 1895 to demand free speech, social reforms and individualism in art. The reflection of the manifesto in Sova's work is the collection Vybouřené smutky (Uprisen Griefs, 1897).
Theodor Mommsenedit
To you, who have treacherously assailed my nation, covetous dotard, Brutish, overweening! To you, on the brink of the grave, Arrogant bastard of Roman emperors and conquering Germania. To you, dotard, blinded by vainglory, I chant the infuriate song of a barbarian, aroused by the smiting of hoofs. With metallic buffetings Scornfully I smite your enwrinkled visage, O bestial fanatic of relentless kaiserdom; Your shrivelled temples I smite, your turgid Neronic lips I smite Covered with foaming of impotent fury!
In 1897 Theodor Mommsen wrote a nationalist letter addressed to Germans in Austria (An die Deutschen in Österreich) and it was published in Vienna's Neue Freie Presse.[1] Mommsen called Czechs "apostles of barbarism" and wrote that "the Czech skull is impervious to reason, but it is susceptible to blows".[4][5] Antonín Sova wrote an answer in verses, To Theodor Mommsen.
The poem, in which he calls Mommsen a "covetous dotard" and an "arrogant spokesman of slavery",[4] became the national answer to the German imperialism of that time, and Sova started to be one of the most famous poets of his generation.[1]
Later workedit
Údolí nového království (Valley of a New Kingdom, 1900), Dobrodružství odvahy (Adventures of Courage, 1906) – collections of social poetry, the new utopian kingdom is a symbol of hope
Ještě jednou se vrátíme (We Will Return Once More, 1900) – intimate poetry about passionate love and the bitterness of life
Lyriky lásky a života (Lyrics of Love and Life, 1907), Drsná láska (Scathing Love, 1927) – collections of poems about falling into and recovering from love
Povídky a menší črty (1903), O milkování, lásce a zradě (1909) – collections of short stories
Ivův román (Ivo's Novel, 1902), Výpravy chudých (The Poor's Tours, 1903), Tóma Bojar (1910) – psychological and social novels
Pankrác Budecius, kantor (Pankrác Budecius the Teacher, 1916) – novel about a rural teacher in the 18th century
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijklmnJosef Zika: Cesta básníkova, životopisná poznámka in Pozdrav bouřlivé noci, Prague 1964, pp. 87–104 (in Czech)
^ abČeští spisovatelé 19. a počátku 20. století, Prague 1982, pp. 241–245 (in Czech)
^Municipal Library of Písek: Antonín Sova (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
^ abc"The New Age, A weekly review of politics, literature, and art" (PDF). 23 March 1916.
^"An die Deutschen in Oesterreich". Neue Freie Presse (in German). 31 October 1897.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Antonín Sova
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antonín Sova.
Biography and works 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Czech)
December 20, 2023
antonín, sova, february, 1864, august, 1928, czech, poet, director, prague, municipal, library, contents, life, early, literary, career, theodor, mommsen, later, work, references, external, linkslife, edit, nbsp, 1920he, born, pacov, small, town, south, bohemi. Antonin Sova 26 February 1864 16 August 1928 was a Czech poet and the director of Prague Municipal Library Antonin Sova Contents 1 Life 2 Early literary career 3 Theodor Mommsen 4 Later work 5 References 6 External linksLife edit nbsp Antonin Sova in 1920He was born in Pacov a small town in South Bohemia then part of the Austrian Empire but from the age of two he grew up in nearby Lukavec 1 His father Jan was a teacher and choirmaster who occasionally composed 2 His mother died when he was 15 and his father married again Sova never had a positive relationship with his stepmother Sabina 1 In Lukavec Antonin became acquainted with the sisters of Jaroslav Vrchlicky He studied at the grammar school in Pelhrimov Tabor and from 1881 to 1885 in Pisek He met the Pisek based poet Adolf Heyduk who helped him publish his first poems in literary magazines he used the pen names Ilja Georgov and for Lumir Valburga Turkova 1 While at school he received the worst possible mark for morale because he ignored the interdict and wore a Czech tricolor tie in a park 1 He started studying law in Prague but he did not finish for lack of money 2 Jaroslav Vrchlicky helped him find employment in Otto s encyclopedia editorial department which lasted for only a year 1 His next job was at the medical department of the Prague municipality Eventually from 1898 till he retired he worked as a director of the Prague Municipal Library 1 He married Marie Kovarikova who was almost 20 years younger in 1900 and had a son Jan with her a year later 3 Their marriage broke up after several years though The poet contracted a disease that paralysed him for the last two decades of his life probably syphilis 1 After the constitution of Czechoslovakia in 1918 he lived in Prague and was often visited by younger poets of various styles and political inclinations 1 In 1924 he moved in his horsehair grave to Pacov where he died on a stormy August night in 1928 1 The funeral took place in Prague but his ashes were taken to a granite stone in Pacov 1 Early literary career editIn 1897 Sova was among the writers who established the first Czech official literary association called Maj 1 His first published poetry collections were Realisticke sloky Realistic strophes 1890 Kvety intimnich nalad Flowers of Intimate Moods 1891 Z meho kraje From My Country 1893 Soucit a vzdor Compassion and Defiance 1894 and Zlomena duse Broken Soul 1895 Sova was a supporter of the progressive national movement of the 1890s connected with the Omladina Trial 1 Together with 11 other writers he signed the manifesto called Ceska moderna in 1895 to demand free speech social reforms and individualism in art The reflection of the manifesto in Sova s work is the collection Vybourene smutky Uprisen Griefs 1897 Theodor Mommsen editTo you who have treacherously assailed my nation covetous dotard Brutish overweening To you on the brink of the grave Arrogant bastard of Roman emperors and conquering Germania To you dotard blinded by vainglory I chant the infuriate song of a barbarian aroused by the smiting of hoofs With metallic buffetingsScornfully I smite your enwrinkled visage O bestial fanatic of relentless kaiserdom Your shrivelled temples I smite your turgid Neronic lips I smiteCovered with foaming of impotent fury Opening verses of To Theodor Mommsen translated by Paul Selver for The New Age 1916 4 In 1897 Theodor Mommsen wrote a nationalist letter addressed to Germans in Austria An die Deutschen in Osterreich and it was published in Vienna s Neue Freie Presse 1 Mommsen called Czechs apostles of barbarism and wrote that the Czech skull is impervious to reason but it is susceptible to blows 4 5 Antonin Sova wrote an answer in verses To Theodor Mommsen The poem in which he calls Mommsen a covetous dotard and an arrogant spokesman of slavery 4 became the national answer to the German imperialism of that time and Sova started to be one of the most famous poets of his generation 1 Later work editUdoli noveho kralovstvi Valley of a New Kingdom 1900 Dobrodruzstvi odvahy Adventures of Courage 1906 collections of social poetry the new utopian kingdom is a symbol of hope Jeste jednou se vratime We Will Return Once More 1900 intimate poetry about passionate love and the bitterness of life Lyriky lasky a zivota Lyrics of Love and Life 1907 Drsna laska Scathing Love 1927 collections of poems about falling into and recovering from love Povidky a mensi crty 1903 O milkovani lasce a zrade 1909 collections of short stories Ivuv roman Ivo s Novel 1902 Vypravy chudych The Poor s Tours 1903 Toma Bojar 1910 psychological and social novels Pankrac Budecius kantor Pankrac Budecius the Teacher 1916 novel about a rural teacher in the 18th centuryReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Josef Zika Cesta basnikova zivotopisna poznamka in Pozdrav bourlive noci Prague 1964 pp 87 104 in Czech a b Cesti spisovatele 19 a pocatku 20 stoleti Prague 1982 pp 241 245 in Czech Municipal Library of Pisek Antonin Sova Sova Antonin in Czech Archived from the original on 2013 12 28 Retrieved 2014 02 23 a b c The New Age A weekly review of politics literature and art PDF 23 March 1916 An die Deutschen in Oesterreich Neue Freie Presse in German 31 October 1897 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Antonin Sova nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antonin Sova Biography and works Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine in Czech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonin Sova amp oldid 1173675807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
