When was Karel Čapek born and where did he grow up?
Karel Čapek was born on the 9th of January 1890 in the village of Malé Svatoňovice. His family moved to Úpice just six months after his birth.
Questions about Karel Čapek
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who invented the word robot according to Karel Čapek's play R.U.R?
Josef Čapek suggested the term robot for the sentient androids in the play R.U.R. premiered in 1920. The word comes from robota which means corvée or serf labor in Czech.
Why did Karel Čapek die in December 1938?
Karel Čapek died from pneumonia on the 25th of December 1938 while repairing flood damage at his summer house in Stará Huť. He had caught a cold during this work before falling ill with the disease that claimed his life.
What political views did Karel Čapek hold regarding fascism and totalitarianism?
Karel Čapek became an outspoken anti-fascist by the mid-1930s and joined International PEN Club to establish the Czechoslovak branch. He criticized irrationalism human stupidity and the threat of brutal national socialist dictatorships.
Did Karel Čapek ever win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Karel Čapek received seven nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature but never won the award despite global recognition. Several honors now bear his name including the Karel Čapek Prize given every other year by the Czech PEN Club.