Ivan Olbracht (1882-1952) was a Czech novelist and journalist. His best known novels carry Freudian overtones. Although not his homeland, Ruthenia, the easternmost, backward and rural part of what was then Czechoslovakia motivated Olbracht to create sophisticated contemporary ballads, modern myths with folkore elements.

"The translation by Urwin Lewitová preserves the atmosphere and tone of the original and has lost none of its power since it was first published in 1964. The introduction by Czech poet and essayist Miroslav Holub, written shortly before his untimely death in 1998 is an informative and insightful introduction to Olbracht, his post-communist literary reputation, and the Ruthenian Jews."

Ivan Olbracht (1882-1952) was a Czech novelist and journalist. His best known novels carry Freudian overtones. Although not his homeland, Ruthenia, the easternmost, backward and rural part of what was then Czechoslovakia motivated Olbracht to create sophisticated contemporary ballads, modern myths with folkore elements.

"The translation by Urwin Lewitová preserves the atmosphere and tone of the original and has lost none of its power since it was first published in 1964. The introduction by Czech poet and essayist Miroslav Holub, written shortly before his untimely death in 1998 is an informative and insightful introduction to Olbracht, his post-communist literary reputation, and the Ruthenian Jews."

Ivan Olbracht (1882-1952) was a Czech novelist and journalist. His best known novels carry Freudian overtones. Although not his homeland, Ruthenia, the easternmost, backward and rural part of what was then Czechoslovakia motivated Olbracht to create sophisticated contemporary ballads, modern myths with folkore elements.

"The translation by Urwin Lewitová preserves the atmosphere and tone of the original and has lost none of its power since it was first published in 1964. The introduction by Czech poet and essayist Miroslav Holub, written shortly before his untimely death in 1998 is an informative and insightful introduction to Olbracht, his post-communist literary reputation, and the Ruthenian Jews."