Bohemian Poems 1849

Lyra Czecho-slovanská. Bohemian Poems, Ancient and Modern, translated from the original Slavonic with an introductory essay by A. H. Wratislaw, M. A., Fellow and Tutor of Christ's College, Cambridge. London: John W. Parker, 1849. 17x10.5. Bound in black cloth cover. 119 [2] pp. One of the earliest anthologies of Czech poetry translated into English. Albert Henry Wratislaw’s (1822-1892) interest in Bohemia and Czech literature stemmed his lineage to the old Czech family of Wratislaw of Mitrowicz, whose documented origins date back to the 15th century. He learned Czech during several study stays in Bohemia and had a truly excellent command of the language. In Bohemian Poems, Ancient and Modern, in addition to the key poems from the Dvůr Králové manuscript, he also translated Hanka, Jablonský, Čelakovský, Kollár, Vinařický, Picek, Villani, and adds several of his own poems inspired by the idiom of Czech folk songs in the section "Original Poems". Copy of Poděbrady parish priest Alois Ludvík Jelen, who notes that he received the book as a gift from Wratislaw during his visit to Bury St. Edmunds in October 1875. Signature of A. L. Jelen.

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