Karel _apek (1890-1938) Ð the Czech dramatist, novelist and journalist.
R.U.R. (1921) has made the author internationally famous, perhaps even immortal. The word ÒRobotÓ (from the Czech robota, meaning drudgery), which has since been adopted by practically all languages, appears here for the first time. What is today classified as Science Fiction, in _apekÕs days was known as Utopia, and the author used this genre for making weighty social commentaries. After nearly a century, the play has withstood the test of time; the RobotÕs revolt and its consequences could for instance be seen as a warning against giving the scientists a free hand in pursuit of genetic research, no matter how noble and beneficial the aims might appear to be. This is a new English translation.
The Robber (1920) is essentially a romantic comedy, with some dramatic twists. The play, _apekÔs favourite, is still enormously popular with the Czech audiences. This is believed to be the first English translation.