Josef Svatopluk Machar | |
|---|---|
 Josef Svatopluk Machar before 1923 | |
| Born | (1864-02-29)29 February 1864 |
| Died | 17 March 1942(1942-03-17) (aged 78) |
| Resting place | Brandýs nad Labem |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Nationality | Czech |
Josef Svatopluk Machar (Czech pronunciation:[ˈjozɛfˈsvatoplukˈmaxar]; 1864 – 1942) was a Czech poet and essayist. A leader of therealist movement in Czech poetry and a master of colloquial Czech, Machar was active in anti-Austrian political circles inVienna. Many of his poems were satires of political and social conditions. In the poetic cycleThe Conscience of the Ages (1901–1921), of whichGolgotha was the initial volume, he contrasted antique withChristian civilization, favoring the former. HisMagdalena (1893, translated into English byLeo Wiener, 1916), a satirical novel in verse, concerns the treatment of women. Both Machar's use of colloquial diction and his skepticism greatly influenced Czech literature and public opinion.[1] He was the father ofSylva Macharová, one of the first Czech nurses and first head of the Czech School of Nursing.[2]
He cooperated withT. G. Masaryk resistance organizationMaffie from December 1914.[3] Machar and Masaryk were collaborators and close friends. After the creation of theCzechoslovak republic in 1918, Masaryk was acclamated as a president of the new state, Machar became a chief inspector of theCzechoslovak army. He also wrote a book of memories on his service. However in mid 1920's the relations between Masaryk and Machar worsened gradually. As a result Machar lost his position within the army and the friendship with Masaryk has ended.
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