Brothers Čapek

Karel Čapek (left) and Josef Čapek (right)

The Brothers Čapek were Josef and Karel Čapek, Czech writers who sometimes wrote together. They are commemorated both for their literary/artistic works and political activism against oppressive government. Their house is now a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and there are various memorials to them. Their most famous joint work is the play Pictures from the Insects' Life, a humorous political allegory.

The Brothers' House, Bratří Čapků street, Prague

Books

• Vibrant Depths (Zářivé hlubiny) 1916 – Collection of short stories, also illustrated by Josef. The title story refers to a supposedly unsinkable ship, the Oceanik.
• Giant Garden (Krakonošova zahrada) 1918 – Mixture of stories and essays, the title referring to countryside where they grew up.
• Nine Fairy Tales and another by Josef Čapek as an afterthought (Devatero pohádek) 1932 – Lessons from life for children.

Plays

• The Highwayman (Loupežník) 1920
• Pictures from the Insects' Life (Ze života hmyzu) 1921
• Adam the Creator (Adam stvořitel) 1927

Further reading

• Helena Čapková (1962) Moji milí bratři (my dear brothers) Praha: Československý spisovatel
• Ivan Margolius 'The Robot of Prague', Newsletter, The Friends of Czech Heritage no. 17, Autumn 2017, pp. 3 – 6. https://czechfriends.net/images/RobotsMargoliusJul2017.pdf
• Marie Šulcová. Čapci, Ladění pro dvě struny, Poločas nadějí, Brána věčnosti, Praha: Melantrich 1993-98
• Marie Šulcová. Prodloužený čas Josefa Čapka, Praha: Paseka 2000