The Czech Books You Must Read
Karel Čapek’s ‘The White Disease’: a pandemic of fascism
The Czech Books You Must Read
Karel Čapek’s ‘The White Disease’: a pandemic of fascism
Radio Prague Int.
Between the two world wars, Karel Čapek was the Czech nation’s leading novelist, playwright, newspaper columnist, travel writer and critic. His most popular work during his lifetime both at home and abroad was his science fiction play ‘R.U.R.’ from 1920, which introduced the word “robot” into the English language. Čapek’s penultimate play, ‘The White Disease’ (Bílá nemoc), first performed in January 1937, was a dark satirical send-up of fascism and opportunism, set against the backdrop of a deadly pandemic. The antimilitary utopian play was as prescient then as it is topical today, in the time of coronavirus.
Brian Kenety
