Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/14

 endeavour to command a wider outlook than their national or local interests has made them turn their attention more specially to the literature of Western countries. Thus the Brothers Čapek, whose plays are probably the best known works of modern Czech literature in this country, were influenced to some extent by Mr H. G. Wells, while F. X. Šalda, the leading literary critic, acknowledges his taste to have been formed in the school of French esthetes such as Saint-Beuve and Taine, and who applies their severe standards to his own country’s language, both in his own works and in those of others. Distinct individuality and strongly marked national features distinguish the work of each writer.

In this volume we present a number of Czech Short Stories to English readers. The scale on which it is planned allows only a small selection: some writers, well known in their own country, had to remain unrepresented. All those included are acknowledged to be of outstanding merit, and it is hoped that a larger selection may at some future time be possible. The more idealistic earlier school is represented by Karolina Sv&#780;etláSvětlá [sic], Jan Neruda and Ignat Herrmann, while the modern realistic movement finds more