Jiří Mucha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jiří Mucha
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Jiří Mucha (1915–91)
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| Born | 12 March 1915 Prague
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| Died | 5 April 1991 (aged 76) Prague
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| Nationality | Czech |
| Occupation | Journalist, writer, screenwriter, author |
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Notable work
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Za mořem, Ugle a cesta na konec světa, Most |
Jiří Mucha was a famous Czech writer, journalist, and screenwriter. He was born in Prague on March 12, 1915, and passed away in the same city on April 5, 1991. Jiří was also known for writing about his father, Alphonse Mucha, who was a very well-known painter.
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A Life of Adventure and Challenges
Jiří Mucha's life was full of interesting events and challenges. He was born in Prague, which is the capital city of the Czech Republic.
Early Career and World War II
Before World War II began, Jiří worked as a journalist in Paris, France. He wrote for a newspaper called Lidové noviny. In March 1939, when Nazi Germany took over parts of Czechoslovakia, Jiří was still in Paris.
During this time, he wrote the words for a musical piece called Field Mass by Bohuslav Martinů. Jiří briefly returned to Prague for his father's funeral in July 1939. After that, he went back to Paris.
Later, he joined the 1st Czechoslovak Division in France, which was a military group. When France was taken over, Mucha went to the United Kingdom. There, he joined the Royal Air Force. He then became a war correspondent, reporting on the war for the BBC.
Return to Prague and Later Life
Jiří Mucha returned to Prague in 1945 after the war ended. In 1951, he was arrested by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. He was accused of spying. Even though the government asked for a very harsh punishment, he was sentenced to hard labor. He worked in the Jáchymov uranium mines.
He was released from prison in 1955. Some say his wife, Geraldine, worked hard to get him out. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which ended the communist rule, he became the chairman of the Czech PEN club. This is an organization for writers. Jiří Mucha passed away from cancer in 1991.
Family Life
Jiří Mucha was married twice. His first wife was Vítězslava Kaprálová, a Czech composer. She lived from 1915 to 1940.
His second wife was Geraldine Thomson-Mucha. She was a composer born in Scotland. Geraldine lived in Prague until her death in 2012.
Jiří had two children. His son, John, is now the President of the Mucha Foundation. John is the son he had with Geraldine. Jiří also had a daughter named Jarmila Plocková with Vlasta Plocková.
His sister was the painter Jaroslava Muchová.
His Written Works
Jiří Mucha wrote many books and stories. Some of his novels were about his own life experiences. Here are some of his notable works:
- Za mořem (1932)
- Ugle a cesta na konec světa (1941)
- Most (1943)
- Problémy nadporučíka Knapa (1945) (first published in English as The Problems of Lieutenant Knap)
- Oheň proti ohni (1947)
- Spálená setba (1948)
- Skleněná stěna (1949)
- Válka pokračuje (1949)
- Čím zraje čas (1958)
- Pravděpodobná tvář (1963)
- Černý a bílý New York (1965)
- Alfons Mucha (1965) first published as Kankán se svatozáří (published in English in 1966)
- Studené slunce (1967) (first published in English)
- Marieta v noci (1969)
- Llydova hlava (1987)
- Věčná zahrada (1994)
Some of Mucha's novels share his personal journey. For example, Studené slunce reflects his time in prison. Marieta v noci tells about his relationship with composer Vítězslava Kaprálová. It also describes the life of Czech people living in Paris at the start of World War II.
