In this course, we will read Central European literature from the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the present time, when currently independent countries belong once again to a larger unit, i.e. to the European Union. While reading “canonical” texts of modern Central European literature, we will be looking for uniting themes and diverse paths taken in the turbulent common past of this territory.
The first block of readings reflects the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Selected texts represent a whole range of sentiments – from the idealistic enthusiasm of J. Roth to bitter satire of J. Hašek; from nostalgia for the bygone days of false security of S. Zweig to ambiguity of values and envisioned danger of fascism of R. Musil. Confusion of languages, nationalities, and religions will be another topic of discussion here. Second block deals with reflections of WWII primarily in Hungarian and Czech literature and film. False concepts of heroism; patriotism and anti-Semitism; white spots in national histories and inability to communicate the experience of Holocaust will be discussed. Third block is titled “Future Perfect” and deals with enthusiasm and disappointment connected with Communism. Last block is dedicated to contemporary fiction dealing with re-inventing of history and images of the 1990s and beginning of the new century.

The course consists of in-class lectures and discussions, film screenings and visits to topic-related exhibitions.

We will read following texts (excerpts): Joseph Roth: Bust of the Emperor, Jaroslav Hašek: Good Soldier Švejk, Stefan Zweig: The World of Yesterday, Franz Kafka: selected short stories, Robert Musil: Confusion of Young Toerless, Josef Škvorecký: Cowards, Imre Kertesz: Fateless, Jan Drda: The Silent Barricade, Milan Kundera: The Joke, Václav Havel: The Power of the Powerless, Peter Esterhazy: The Book of Hrabal, Jáchym Topol: Sister and Daniela Hodrová: Perun’s Day. Films: Mefisto (I. Szabo), Cremator (J. Herz), Fighter (documentary by A. bar Lev)

Course requirements: active participation in discussions, 2 tests and one paper (10 pp.). Film screenings and visits to exhibitions are an integral part of the course, and thus compulsory.
Class meets twice a week for total of 3 class hours per week.

Martina Moravcová

translator and literary theorist. Dr. Moravcová belongs to the youngest generation of Czech literary theorists. She has quite substantial pedagogical experience, part of which she has acquired as a Fulbright scholar at the Uni­versity of California at Berkeley (1996-97). Her scholarly interests in literature are accom­panied by translation work. Her translation activities have been recognized by the Union of Czech Translators award, 1994.