František Vladislav Hek

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Birth house of Hek, now museum

Statue of Hek in Dobruška

František Vladislav Hek (sometimes written František Ladislav Hek, April 11, 1769 in Dobruška - September 4, 1847 in Letohrad - until 1950 Kyšperk, in German Geiersberg) was a Czech patriot active in early phases of the Czech National Revival, writer and composer. He has been immortalized under name F.L. Věk, the main character of the historical novel F.L. Věk by Alois Jirásek.

Hek was son of a shopkeeper (of Dutch origin) from Dobruška. He received basic education in Dobruška and in Prague (since 1779) and since 1782 he studied at Piarists gymnasium in Prague. In Prague Hek met the Czech patriots concentrated around the Kramerius' publishing house Česká expedice and around the Czech theatre groups. In the second half of 1780s he returns back to Dobruška to take over the father's shop. Hek also served as local agent of Kramerius, loaned books from his large library (3,284 volumes in 1806) and tried to organize a local Czech theatre (it was forbidden by authorities). A fire in 1806 destroyed his shop completely and lost during the state bankruptcy of Austrin Empire in 1811. Since 1806 he cooperates with Josef Liboslav Ziegler (1782 - 1846), a patriotic priest. In 1821 his wife died and he retired. Hek then lived, among other places, in Herrnhut (in Czech language Ochranov), a center of Czech evangelical exile, and for last years of his life in Kyšperk (today's Letohrad), together with his daughter.

The historical novel F.L. Věk by Alois Jirásek (written during 1888-1906) is based on Hek's life, as described in his autobiography. A TV series F.L. Věk was shot in 1971. City Museum in Dobruška ^[1] ows Hek's birth house and since 1972 hosts an exposition about Hek here.

[edit] Works

Majority of the Hek's works were published after 1806 and 1820s was the most active period. The most important were his satirical epigrams. In 1820 he published book of epigrams "Great Friday" (Velký pátek), a scathing critique of provincialism in Dobruška. An example of epigram: "The bigger nitwit, the more formal titles he needs" (Čím větší vůl tím více titulů). Predictably, the work was banned and confiscated (only two originals exist today), Hek was sentenced to three weeks in prison (it was pardoned due to his bad health) and had been harassed by Dobruška authorities ever since. While staying in Ochranov he translated old texts of Czech exiles into German language. The most know music works were composed during 1830-40s. Hek also wrote his own autobiography, in German language.

[edit] Literature

Jan Jakubec: Dějiny literatury české (History of Czech Literature), volume I 1929, volume II 1934.
Ladislav Hladký (director of the museum in Dobruška): F. Vl. Hek (F. L. Věk), 1972.