Karel Gavlichek-Borovskiy Czech politician, poet, publicist; one of the founders of Czech journalism, satire and literary criticism. Date of Birth: 31.10.1821 Country: Czech

1. Early Life and Education
2. Literary and Political Beginnings
3. Revolutionary Spirit and Arrest
4. Exile and Literary Output
5. Return and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Karel Havlíček Borovský was born into a merchant's family. He attended grammar school in Německý Brod (now Havlíčkův Brod) and subsequently studied at Charles University in Prague (1838-1840). After transferring to a seminary, he was expelled for freethinking.

Literary and Political Beginnings

Havlíček's interest in Slavic languages, literature, and history led him to associate with prominent philologists and poets such as Josef Jungmann and Pavel Šafařík. Upon Šafařík's recommendation, he traveled to Moscow as a tutor, where his pro-Russian and Pan-Slavic sentiments developed.

Returning to Bohemia, Havlíček immersed himself in journalism. With the support of František Palacký, he edited the Czech newspaper "Pražské noviny" (1846-1848) and its literary supplement "Česká včela." He penned numerous articles articulating the concept of Austro-Slavism and advocated for the Irish liberation movement.

Revolutionary Spirit and Arrest

With the outbreak of the 1848 Revolution, Havlíček founded the political newspaper "Národní noviny," which became a popular mouthpiece for Czech liberals. As an active participant in the Slavic Congress in Prague, he sought support from Polish and Croatian intellectuals. His opposition to the resulting reactionary regime led to his arrest and trial in 1849.

Exile and Literary Output

Following the suppression of "Národní noviny" and its satirical supplement "Šotek," Havlíček published the newspaper "Slovan" in Kutná Hora until 1851. He also released controversial pamphlets, including "The Spirit of the National Newspaper" and "Letters from Kutná Hora." Despite winning a defamation case, Havlíček was secretly exiled to Brixen in Tyrol (now Bressanone, Italy) that same year.

Return and Legacy

Havlíček's return to Prague was permitted in 1855, shortly before his wife's death. Over five thousand people attended his funeral. Most of his literary works were circulated in manuscript form, including epigrams, translations of Russian literature, and the poems "Kutná Hora Letters," "Tyrolean Elegies," "The Baptism of Saint Vladimir," and "King Lávr."