Karel Píč (Esperanto: Karolo Piĉ; 6 December 1920 – 15 August 1995) was a leading Czech Esperantist,[1][2][3][4] a member of the Academy of Esperanto,[5] a poet and writer of short stories, essays, and novels in Esperanto.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Karel Píč
Born6 December 1920
Litomyšl
Died15 August 1995(1995-08-15) (aged 74)
Litomyšl
Resting placeThe Litomyšl Cemetery
Pen nameKarolo Piĉ
Occupationwriter
LanguageCzech, Esperanto
NationalityCzech
GenreEsperanto novels
Notable worksLa Litomiŝla tombejo
Karel Píč's grave at the Litomyšl cemetery

Role in Esperanto literature

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Karel Píč was a famous and influential Esperanto author.[12][13][14] He introduced and used many neologisms, which was controversial.[15] Aside from neologisms, he was noted for his experimental usage of Esperanto; some commentators go so far as to call his usage "piĉido" and imply it is almost another language.

His best known work, epitomizing his linguistic experimentation,[16] is the semi-autobiographical novel La Litomiŝla tombejo (The Litomyšl Cemetery) (1981) set in his hometown of Litomyšl. Upon his death, Píč was buried in that cemetery, and his tombstone bears the Czech words “Esperantský spisovatel” (“Esperanto writer”).

The "Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto" quotes several influential Esperantists about the importance of La Litomiŝla tombejo. Osmo Buller wrote "it is something truly important in Esperanto literature", and Jorge Camacho claimed it as "probably the highest achievement of [Esperanto's] original literature". Esperanto poet William Auld included the novel on his list of Esperanto classics.[17]

Publications

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  • Short stories
    • Ekkrioj de Georgino (Georgia's Cries)
    • Fabeloj el transe (Fables from the Other Side)
    • La Davida harpo (David's Harp)
    • Aboco (ABC)
    • Angoro (Anguish)
  • Novels
    • La Litomiŝla tombejo (The Litomyšl Cemetery)
    • Ordeno de verkistoj (The Order of Writers - published posthumously in 1997)
    • Mistero de tri unuoj (The Mystery of Three Ones)
    • La Bermuda triangulo (The Bermuda Triangle)
    • Klaĉejo (Nest of Gossip)
  • Articles
    • La granda superstiĉo (The Grand Superstition)
  • Essays
    • Kritiko kaj recenzistiko en Esperanto (Criticism and the Art of Reviewing in Esperanto)
    • La interna vivo de Esperanto (The Inner Life of Esperanto)
    • Esperantaj neologismoj (Esperanto Neologisms, Esperantista 1949, pp. 57, 65)

References

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  1. ^ "Esperanto Wikimania in Svitavy". 7 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Karolo Piĉ". literaturo.esperanto.net. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. ^ "A look at the Czech Esperanto movement | Radio Prague International". 29 March 2007.
  4. ^ "page 185". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Karel Píč (Karolo Piĉ)". bucek.name. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  6. ^ "UEA.ORG: Katalogo". katalogo.uea.org. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto" p. 617
  8. ^ Beletra Almanako 10 (Ba10 - Literaturo En Esperanto) - Page 41
  9. ^ Reinhard Haupenthal: Bibliographie seiner Veröffentlichungen ... - Page 99
  10. ^ Stilfiguroj En La Poezio de Esperanto - Page 13
  11. ^ Esperanto: language, literature, and community - Page 165
  12. ^ "Five Periods of Esperanto Literature". 25 February 2011.
  13. ^ "Subjects".
  14. ^ Harlow, Donald J. "Recenzo: Kvar priliteraturaj verkaj^oj (William AULD, Vilmos BENCZIK)". literaturo.org. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  15. ^ "Review: La bona lingvo (Don HARLOW)". literaturo.org. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  16. ^ "The Esperanto Book: Appendix 4". literaturo.org. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  17. ^ "The list of "Esperanto Classics" compiled by William Auld | Esperanto-USA". Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
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