Václav Kaplický

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Václav Kaplický (August 28, 1895, Sezimovo Ústí – October 4, 1982, Prague) was a Czech writer, journalist and epic poet. He is most known as author of historical fiction.

Kaplický studied at Gymnasium in Tábor, finishing in 1914. In 1915 he was sent to the front in Galicia where he was taken captive (1916). Later he entered into Czechoslovak Legion. For his political opinions he was imprisoned by the legion and labeled as traitor. After return to Czechoslovakia in 1921 he worked in civil service. During 1922 - 1950 Kaplický worked in several publishing houses associated with Czechoslovak Socialist Party. From 1950 he dedicated his time solely to writing.

Majority of Kaplický's works are historical fictions spanning the period from the Hussite Wars in the 15th century to the revolutionary upheaval of 1848. His novel Kladivo na čarodějnice (1963), about witch trials in northern Moravia during 1670s is the most known because it served as basis for movie by Otakar Vávra (Malleus Maleficarum, also translated as Witches' Hammer or Witchhammer).

[edit] Works

[edit] Historical fictions

Kraj kalicha, 1945 - about Hussite period
Čtveráci, 1952 – about peasant uprising 1618–1620
Železná koruna (2 volumes), 1954 – about hard life of common people after Thirty Year's War
Smršť, 1955
Rekruti, 1956
Listy z kronik, 1958 – five short historical stories from northern Bohemia
Zaťatá pěst, 1959
Kladivo na čarodějnice, 1963 – about witchcraft trials
Táborská republika (3 volumes), 1969 – about Hussite period
Nalezeno právem, 1971 – about accusation of a Jew from ritual murder in 1687
Škůdce zemský Jiří Kopidlanský, 1976 – from period of dynasty of Jagellon
Veliké theatrum, 1977 – about earliest phase of Thirty Year's war and preparations to Battle of White Mountain
Kdo s koho, 1979 – from period of dynasty of Jagellon
Život alchymistův, 1980 – life of alchemist Edward Kelley

[edit] For the youths

O věrnosti a zradě, 1959 – 15 short historical stories
Bandita, Paťara a spol., 1969 – for boys
Královský souboj, 1971

[edit] Others

Gornostaj, finished in 1921, published in 1936 – autobiographic novel about the imprisonment of dissenting legionnaires near Vladivostok, on an island in Gornostai Bay
Dobří přátelé, 1961 – about love of nature
Ani tygři, ani lvi, 1966 – short stories about pet animals
Od města k městu, 1975 – vandering of studenst throughout Czech lands
Hrst vzpomínek z mládí, 1988