Apocryphal Tales

Rating:
Summary: History of the World: From a Slightly Different Angle
Review: Karel Capek was a giant of Czech cultural and political life in the years of the first Czech Republic between WWI and WWII. Èapek rose to fame as the author of RUR, the play that introduced the word robot to the world. He was also the author of the highly acclaimed novel War With the Newts and a newspaper essayist. His life and work during this period was inextricably linked with belief in democracy upon which the First Republic was founded. Capek's devout faith in democracy informed both his world view and his writing. This is particularly evident in his Apocryphal Tales. This edition also contains a group of stories known as the Would Be Tales. Generally, these stories were originally published in Czech newspapers or literary journals.

Apocryphal Tales is a journey through the history of the world. In a series of short stories from the discovery of fire through Napoleon, Capek presents a little vignette with a viewpoint slightly different from our received wisdom. The tales begin with the Punishment of Prometheus, in which Prometheus is sentenced to death for his discovery of fire. The grounds: blasphemy; damaging the property of others; and treason. Next, an old cave man bemoans the audacity and idleness of the younger generation, wasting their time drawing bison and other creatures on cave walls. A solider complains about Achilles' vain striving for glory in doing battle with Troy. Next we come across a letter from Alexander the Great to Aristotle in which he tries to explain to his old teacher that his desire to conquer the world is based purely on the need to more properly defend his small homeland. When one considers that this last piece was written in 1937 the tale is as much a cautionary note as it is a simple story. The Death of Archimedes is also prescient. Written in April, 1938, it shows a conquering Roman soldier trying to convince Archimedes that he would do well to turn his scientific skills to the construction of weapons of mass destruction. Archimedes refuses and the story ends thusly: "It was later reported that the learned Archimedes had met his death through an accident." This last sentence tracked the official language used in reports issued by totalitarian regimes after it had killed one of its so-called enemies.

The Tales include a series of stories involving the life and death of Jesus, each told from a slightly different perspective. The miracle of the loaves and fishes is told from the point of view of a baker whose primary concern is the impact the miracle will have on the price of his bread. After the crucifixion, two Hebrew locals debate the error of Jesus' methods although not his message. In another, Pilate engages in a dialogue with Joseph of Arimathea over the political implications of the crucifixion. Their dialogue on "what is truth" still resonates long after I finished reading it. Èapek also invokes fictional characters, Romeo & Juliet, and Hamlet in two humorous sagas.

Capek's `would-be' tales are written in a similar style but are written in a contemporary setting. The most compelling of these are the last two, Anonymous Letter and Ten Centavos. In the first, a writer who has produced articles supporting the consumption of cheese is the subject of a hate mail campaign. Ten Centavos involves the horror of an honorable man being publicly besmirched by an avenging state. These stories must surely have had some resonance for Èapek as, as his life neared its end in 1938, he became subject to vicious attacks from some who held him partly responsible for the fate that was about to befall Czechoslovakia.

These are all beautiful stories told in simple narrative form. It has been said of Capek that his deep belief in democracy made him want to present his ideas to be accessible to anyone who could read. I do not know this to be the case but the spirit of Capek's stories shine through readily. These stories would be appreciated by anyone interested in short stories whether or not they have a specific interest in Czech literature. This collection is well worth reading.


Rating:
Summary: Political satires set safely in the distant past
Review: This is a collection of short pieces from the Czechoslovakian author of "R.U.R." (the futuristic play in which he coined the term 'robot') who stands out as a calming voice among the chaos of Central Europe in the early 20th Century. The bulk of this volume is comprised of tight, pointed retellings of stories from classical literature: the Greeks, the Bible, and even Shakespeare. By taking a unique slant on some well-known stories, usually with humorous or sardonic overtones, Capek creates modern fables with clearly implied morals that provide practical advice for even the most contemporary readers. Themes range from fear of change, and the importance of the work ethic, to contempt for mob mentality. By placing these tales in the distant past, he is able to present specific political arguments without too openly offending the powers-of-the-moment. With his warm humanism, pointed humor, and continuing sociopolitical relevance, Capek should be a great favorite of fans of such political humorists as Art Buchwald and Jimmy Breslin. With the re-emergence of Eastern/Central Europe from communist domination, it's not too much to hope that Capek's work will soon enjoy the reputation it so richly deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Political satires set safely in the distant past
Review: This is a collection of short pieces from the Czechoslovakian author of "R.U.R." (the futuristic play in which he coined the term 'robot') who stands out as a calming voice among the chaos of Central Europe in the early 20th Century. The bulk of this volume is comprised of tight, pointed retellings of stories from classical literature: the Greeks, the Bible, and even Shakespeare. By taking a unique slant on some well-known stories, usually with humorous or sardonic overtones, Capek creates modern fables with clearly implied morals that provide practical advice for even the most contemporary readers. Themes range from fear of change, and the importance of the work ethic, to contempt for mob mentality. By placing these tales in the distant past, he is able to present specific political arguments without too openly offending the powers-of-the-moment. With his warm humanism, pointed humor, and continuing sociopolitical relevance, Capek should be a great favorite of fans of such political humorists as Art Buchwald and Jimmy Breslin. With the re-emergence of Eastern/Central Europe from communist domination, it's not too much to hope that Capek's work will soon enjoy the reputation it so richly deserves.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: This is terrific!I think Capek is the most underrated writer of the century{at least}.He's comparatively little known,and seldom given credit even for the word "robot" which he "invented".He's got it all-humor,lovely language{it even shines through in a translation},delightful stile,and more... And he's not just a great writer,but a great playwright,too-his "Macropulos Affair" and "R.U.R" are classics.Warmly recommended.