Josef Kopta
Encyclopedia
Josef Kopta was a Czech
writer and journalist.
Before World War I
Kopta worked as a bank clerk. In 1914 he was sent to the Eastern front, in 1915 taken prisoner and later joined Czechoslovak Legions
in Russia.
After the war he worked as a journalist in newspapers Národního osvobození and Lidové noviny
. In 1919 Kopta started to write poetry, without having much of success. During 1920s and 1930s he, together with František Langer
and Rudolf Medek
represented literary form concentrated on the Legions (legionářská literatura). Kopta's short novels and stories were the most successful of his writing.
Kopta concentrates on common people dragged into the war and on psychology of characters during the warfare and post-war life. His characters enthusiastically support the national cause and are usually suspicious of the Russian Revolution of 1917
. Before and after World War II
Kopta published several books for the youth.
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 and journalist.
Before 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...
Kopta worked as a bank clerk. In 1914 he was sent to the Eastern front, in 1915 taken prisoner and later joined Czechoslovak 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...
in Russia.
After the war he worked as a journalist in newspapers Národního osvobození and Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny is a daily newspaper published in the Czech Republic. It is the oldest Czech daily. Its profile is nowadays a national news daily covering political, economic, cultural and scientific affairs, mostly with a centre-right, conservative view...
. In 1919 Kopta started to write poetry, without having much of success. During 1920s and 1930s he, together with František Langer
František Langer
František Langer , was a Czech playwright, military physician, script writer, essayist, literary critic and publicist. He was born and died in Prague.- Life :...
and Rudolf Medek
Rudolf Medek
Rudolf Medek was a Czech poet, army-related prose writer, and a general in the Czechoslovak Legions in Russia...
represented literary form concentrated on the Legions (legionářská literatura). Kopta's short novels and stories were the most successful of his writing.
Kopta concentrates on common people dragged into the war and on psychology of characters during the warfare and post-war life. His characters enthusiastically support the national cause and are usually suspicious of the Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
. Before and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Kopta published several books for the youth.
Selected works
- Trilogy "The Third CompanyCompany (military unit)A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
" (Třetí rota, 1924), "The Third Company on the MagistralTrans-Siberian RailwayThe Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
" (Třetí rota na magistrále, 1927) and "The Third Company at Home" (Třetí rota doma, 1934) is based on author's experience in the Legions. The first book was the most successful and was filmed in 1931. http://www.cfn.cz/detail_film.php?24752 - Novel "Guard No. 47" (Hlídač č.47, 1926), a psychological story about railway guard, temporarily deafened, who later pretends deafness to find out what people saying about him. The novel ends tragically. Based on the book and Screenplay by Otakar Vávra was filmed in 1937 http://www.cfn.cz/detail_film.php?8342, second times Filip RenčFilip RencFilip Renč is a Czech director, screenwriter and actor.- Biography :Filip Renč was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Since his childhood, he already proved his enthusiasm for movies and drama. As a young boy he appeared in several movies, including Julek and Leve kridlo...
2008 (Guard No. 47Guard No. 47Guard No. 47 is a 2008 Czech film by director Filip Renč. It is based on the 1926 Josef Kopta novel Guard No. 47, and stars Karel Roden and Lucia Siposová....
). - Novel "Adolf waits for the death" (Adolf čeká na smrt, 1933) about common people who, despite lack of fortune, rise to ethical greatness.
External links
- Short biography (in Czech)
- Complete list of works (in Czech)