East European Quarterly, Vol. XV, No. 1
PALACKÝ AND CZECH CULTURE
IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Josef Hanzal
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague
Nearly all nations have experienced historical periods of universal decline and recession, which were succeeded by eras of flourishing, manysided prosperity. As a rule, the prosperous stages give birth to great creative personalities who affect and even alter the fates of their nations. In the modern history of Bohemia, it was František Palacký who influenced the course of the Czech National Revival in such a decisive way. The stormy century that has elapsed since his death has proved the merits and the modern values of his work. Today there is no doubt that Palacký was one of the important “founding fathers” of the modern Czech nation and the chief author of the cultural, political, and moral program of the National Revival. This evaluation of Palacký’s historical role has prevailed, although in the past opinions relating to his importance have varied.1
Before March, 1848, when Palacký was formulating his political program, a significant part of it dealt with those cultural questions which were of special importance in the objective historical situation of Bohemia. Until now, historical research has been greatly interested in the culture of the Czech Revival, its ideological sources, forms, connections, and consequences. Palacký’s significance in this development has already been successfully analyzed. Nevertheless, many problems still remain unclear or have been explained in different ways.2
Palacký’s extensive and far-reaching activity, reflecting the complicated and contradictory epoch of feudal decay and the rise of the bourgeoisie, has not received balanced study. The chronological stages, the internal structure, and the total meaning of Palacký’s work have been analyzed with diverse results. The early period in Bratislava (Pressburg), which became so decisive for Palacký’s growth and spiritual development, has for the most part been thoroughly unfolded. However, Palacký’s relationship to the Enlightenment and Romanticism and the significance of the two currents for his thought, feelings, and experience remain to be interpreted. Although this task cannot be attempted here, it must be stressed that not only the Enlightenment but also Romanticism intermittently affected
