Karel Čapek

Karel Čapek (1890–1938) was a Czech author best known for introducing the word “robot” into global language through his groundbreaking play. Born in Bohemia, he studied philosophy in Prague, Berlin, and Paris, eventually becoming one of the most influential voices of interwar Europe. His writing, often blending science fiction with satire and philosophy, tackled the moral and social implications of technological progress, authoritarianism, and human identity.

Čapek was a passionate defender of democracy and a vocal critic of fascism and communism. He remained committed to liberal values even as Europe plunged toward war. Though he died shortly before the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, his legacy endures — not only through his visionary fiction but through his lasting influence on political thought, ethics, and modern science fiction.