Karel Capek
Karel Čapek (Czech: [ˈkarɛl ˈtʃapɛk] ( listen)) (January 9, 1890 – December 25, 1938) was a Czech writer of the early 20th century. He had multiple roles throughout his career such as playright, dramatist, essayist, publisher, literary reviewer, and art critic. Nonetheless, he's best known for his science fiction, including his novel War with the Newts and play R.U.R., The latter work popularized the word robot and changed history (the second "R" of the title standing for "Robots"). Arthur Miller wrote in 1990: "I read Karel Čapek for the first time when I was a college student long ago in the Thirties. There was no writer like him...prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination...he is a joy to read." Although primarily known for his work in science fiction, Čapek also wrote several politically charged works dealing with the social turmoil of his time. Having help create the Czechoslovak PEN Club as a key part of the International PEN Club, he campaigned in favor of free expression and utterly despised the rise of fascism in Europe. Were it not for his untimely death (of natural causes) taking place as Nazi Germany began its takeover of Czechoslovakia, he would likely have been found and executed by the Gestapo. In the aftermath of World War II, his legacy as a literary figure has been well established.