Jan Weiss
Encyclopedia
Jan Weiss was a major Czech
writer
, most famous for his surreal
book Dům o Tisíci Patrech (House of Thousand Floors).
as the son of Josef Weiss (called by the local people "Monarch") and Filoména Richter.
His mother died when he was aged five years in 1897. His father married again, to a German woman and had another three children.
He and his cousin were known local troublemakers and they are said to have "entered local tradition".
In 1913 he finished the Gymnasium in Hradec Králové
and since 1913 studied law in Vienna
, but in 1914 he was forced to go and fight in World War I
, after studiing two semestres. Here, in 1916 by he was captured at Tarnopol and spent his time in two prisoner camps in the Siberia
, where he contracted Typhoid fever
. (Note: there exists a rumor that he was captured on the Italian front, but this is not true). In 1917 he was transferred to the camp in Berezkova, where they amputated his frozen thumbs. Here he joined the Czech Legions
.
It is known that the dealings of detainees who caught this disease were the main inspiration for his earlier works, most notably Barák Smrti.
After 1919 he joined the Czechoslovak legions. He returned to Czechoslovakia
in February 1920 (actually visiting this country for the first time, as he was born in Austria-Hungary
, in the Bohemian Kingdom
). After his return home he worked at the ministerium for public work ("veřejné práce"). At this time he was lodged in Borome, thanks to his uncle, a priest in Choteč.
. These works reflect the despair of war.
While in Russia he wrote the drama Penza
(finished in Irkutsk
).
His first stories were published in magazines. In 1924 his story "Sen" ("A Dream") was published in Cesta magazine and then was followed in the same year in Národní Osvobození (national liberation), the extra to Samostatnost (Independence) by the short story "Ruce" (Hands).
, with whom he shared rather fine contacts until the laters death in 1943. In the years 1926-1927 "Penza" was published in Legionářské besedy, thanks to the assistance of Josef Masařík, the editor-in-chief. This work got his the Award of the Czech Academy.
In the same time he became a member of the Artistic Forum (where he met with Karel Sezima,a later reviewer of his work) and the Circle of Czech writers (his membership subscribed by Rudolf Medek) and into the Radio žunrálu (Radio Journal), thanks to Ladislav Plechatý.
In Prague
he visited many cafés, including Slávie, or Unionka. Here he regularly met with Josef Masařík, Rudolf Medek, or J.O.Novotný (an editor of Legionářské besedy and the literary magazine Cesta).
In 1926 he met his later wife Jaroslava Rašková. There was an age difference between them (Raškobá was born 1905), but they later married anyway, in 1928 in the "Staroměstská Radnice" (Ladislav Plechatý and Josef Masařík were witnesses).
All of these are first versions, some other followed of each, compromising of partly different stories, but holding the main story, after with each book is named.
on their honeymoon
. In 1928 there is a need for apartments and Weiss receives the keys to the apartment on "Podlipná ulice" (podlipná street) from fabrikant Grmela.
On the 29th of June 1929, Weiss's daughter Jana was born.
In this year his most famous book, Dům o Tisíci Patrech (House of Thousand Floors), was first published in its first form (later forms bear modifications in grammar).
Also the Weiss family fly to Jugoslavia for half the price, the other half is paid with a "propagation fejeton".
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, most famous for his surreal
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
book Dům o Tisíci Patrech (House of Thousand Floors).
Birth and early life
Weiss was born on 10 May 1892, in Valdštejnská ulice číslo 68 (Valdštejn street number 68) in the town of JilemniceJilemnice
Jilemnice is a town in the Czech Republic.Belonged to the younger branch of counts Harrach.-Notable persons from Jilemnice:*Jan Weiss - Writer*Ales Vodsedalek - Nordic combined skier*Jakub Hlava - Ski jumper*Lukas Hlava - Ski jumper...
as the son of Josef Weiss (called by the local people "Monarch") and Filoména Richter.
His mother died when he was aged five years in 1897. His father married again, to a German woman and had another three children.
He and his cousin were known local troublemakers and they are said to have "entered local tradition".
In 1913 he finished the Gymnasium in Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
and since 1913 studied law in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, but in 1914 he was forced to go and fight in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, after studiing two semestres. Here, in 1916 by he was captured at Tarnopol and spent his time in two prisoner camps in the Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, where he contracted Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
. (Note: there exists a rumor that he was captured on the Italian front, but this is not true). In 1917 he was transferred to the camp in Berezkova, where they amputated his frozen thumbs. Here he joined the Czech Legions
Czechoslovak Legions
The Czechoslovak Legions were volunteer armed forces composed predominantly of Czechs and Slovaks fighting together with the Entente powers during World War I...
.
It is known that the dealings of detainees who caught this disease were the main inspiration for his earlier works, most notably Barák Smrti.
After 1919 he joined the Czechoslovak legions. He returned to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in February 1920 (actually visiting this country for the first time, as he was born in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, in the Bohemian Kingdom
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
). After his return home he worked at the ministerium for public work ("veřejné práce"). At this time he was lodged in Borome, thanks to his uncle, a priest in Choteč.
Beginnings of writing
His first prose were created in 1918 in ŽitomírZhytomyr
Zhytomyr is a city in the North of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zhytomyr Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zhytomyr Raion...
. These works reflect the despair of war.
While in Russia he wrote the drama Penza
Penza
-Honors:A minor planet, 3189 Penza, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1978, is named after the city.-Notable residents:...
(finished in Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: .-History:In 1652, Ivan Pokhabov built a zimovye near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur taxes from the Buryats. In 1661, Yakov Pokhabov...
).
His first stories were published in magazines. In 1924 his story "Sen" ("A Dream") was published in Cesta magazine and then was followed in the same year in Národní Osvobození (national liberation), the extra to Samostatnost (Independence) by the short story "Ruce" (Hands).
Later life (before München, up to 1927)
In 1925 Weiss met with Jaroslav HavlíčekJaroslav Havlíček
Jaroslav Havlíček was a Czech novelist. He was an exponent of naturalism and psychological novel in Czech literature.- Life :...
, with whom he shared rather fine contacts until the laters death in 1943. In the years 1926-1927 "Penza" was published in Legionářské besedy, thanks to the assistance of Josef Masařík, the editor-in-chief. This work got his the Award of the Czech Academy.
In the same time he became a member of the Artistic Forum (where he met with Karel Sezima,a later reviewer of his work) and the Circle of Czech writers (his membership subscribed by Rudolf Medek) and into the Radio žunrálu (Radio Journal), thanks to Ladislav Plechatý.
In Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
he visited many cafés, including Slávie, or Unionka. Here he regularly met with Josef Masařík, Rudolf Medek, or J.O.Novotný (an editor of Legionářské besedy and the literary magazine Cesta).
In 1926 he met his later wife Jaroslava Rašková. There was an age difference between them (Raškobá was born 1905), but they later married anyway, in 1928 in the "Staroměstská Radnice" (Ladislav Plechatý and Josef Masařík were witnesses).
Threefold debut
In 1927 he made his "triple" debut, with his first three books:- Barák Smrti
- Fantóm Smíchu
- Zrcadlo, které se opožďuje.
All of these are first versions, some other followed of each, compromising of partly different stories, but holding the main story, after with each book is named.
Married life (until München)
Weiss and Jaroslava went to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on their honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
. In 1928 there is a need for apartments and Weiss receives the keys to the apartment on "Podlipná ulice" (podlipná street) from fabrikant Grmela.
On the 29th of June 1929, Weiss's daughter Jana was born.
In this year his most famous book, Dům o Tisíci Patrech (House of Thousand Floors), was first published in its first form (later forms bear modifications in grammar).
Also the Weiss family fly to Jugoslavia for half the price, the other half is paid with a "propagation fejeton".