FRANTISEK GELNER
(1881–?)
Frantisek Gellner represents a forerunner of truly modern poetry in Czechoslovakia, and at the same time, one of the tragedies of World War I. Gelner was born June 18, 1881, and died during the war, date and place unknown. Thus a truly great poet was lost before he had time to mature and develop to his fullest literary fructition. In addition to poetry, Gelner won recognition for his caricatures, both of which bear the stamp of his biting cynicism, satire and a sweeping disregard and contempt for petty fobbish society. Gelner’s poetic darts are directed against the vulnerable shield of small town smugness, shammed virtues and hollow praise and glory. Yet underneath this light veined critique one can detect a truly chivalrous devotion to the love of pure emotions, and a youthful worship of nature and freedom. In his style and subject Gelner shows the influence of Heine, while the simplicity and plasticity of his poetry brings Gelner steadily closer to the primitiveness of folklore ballads and ditties.
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