Jan Neruda

Jan Neruda [chuckles]jan 'n transformationruda (?·i)] (Praga, July 9, 1834 - August 22, 1891) was a poet, cuentist, playwright and Czech novelist, one of the main representatives of Czech realism and member of the so-called School of May. His most recognized work is Malá Strana Tales (1877), a book of stories about the petty bourgeoisie, then, practice the quiet neighborhood.

It is generally presumed that his last name inspired the pseudonym Pablo Neruda to Ricardo Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, who took the liberty of changing its accentuation to grave; this idea was never denied by Pablo Neruda who even supported it on occasion, however there are discrepancies in the literary community based on the difficulty of accessing translated works of said author so far away and so close in time.

Biography

Born in the Prague district of Malá Strana (translated "The Little Quarter"), whose main street today bears his name, in 1845 he studied high school at the Malá Strana High School (malostranské gymnasium) and in 1850 at the academic college (akademické gymnasium). Following in the footsteps of his father, he tried twice, unsuccessfully, to enter law school.

He had to do a few jobs as a clerk and later wrote for the newspapers Národní listy (National Sheets), Obrazy domova ( Domestic Views), Čas (Time), Kwěty (Flowers) and founded, together with Viteslav Hálek, Lumír magazine.

He had a passionate platonic relationship with the writer Karolina Světlá, which ended abruptly and unilaterally in 1862, when it came to the attention of her husband and caused the ensuing scandal in Czech art circles.

He was the first to introduce the genre of the serial in the Czech press. In 1871 he traveled to Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Egypt.

His travel books abound in insightful and pertinent observations, showing an observant attention to detail.

Jan Neruda tomb in Vyšehrad cemetery.

His work promotes the idea of a renaissance of Czech culture. As a writer and journalist he took part in the political and cultural struggles of his generation and earned a reputation as a sharp-eyed critic. He reflected with great vividness and satirical ability the Prague petty bourgeoisie in his most famous collection of stories Tales from Mala Strana , ( Povídky malostranské ) From 1883 until his death, he resided in Nove Mesto.

He was buried in 1891 in the Vyšehrad cemetery, where great personalities of Czech culture rest.