Božena Němcová

Božena Němcová is an iconic Czech writer whose work forms one of the cornerstones of Czech literature and cultural identity. As an author, collector of folk traditions, and a keen observer of human relationships, she brought together the poetry of everyday life, deep humanism, and the courage to address social issues in her writing. Her most famous novel, Babička (The Grandmother), is among the most widely read and frequently adapted works of Czech literature. It has inspired theatre, film, and television, and continues to resonate through its warmth, wisdom, and emphasis on human values. In addition to prose, Němcová devoted herself to collecting folk tales and legends, writing travel sketches, and creating texts that sensitively portray the position of women and rural life in the 19th century. Literary critics have described her as “the founder of modern Czech prose” and as an author whose work remains timeless, vibrant, and endlessly inspiring.