Václav Kaplický

Who was Václav Kaplický?

Václav Kaplický was a Czech writer, journalist and epic poet. He is most known as an author of historical fiction.

Kaplický studied at Gymnasium in Tábor, finishing in 1914. In 1915 he was sent to the front in Galicia where he was taken captive. Later he joined the Czechoslovak Legion. For his political opinions he was imprisoned by the legion and labeled as a traitor. After returning to Czechoslovakia in 1921 he worked in civil service. During 1922 - 1950 Kaplický worked in several publishing houses associated with the Czechoslovak Socialist Party. From 1950 he dedicated his time solely to writing.

The majority of Kaplický's works are historical fictions spanning the period from the Hussite Wars in the 15th century to the revolutionary upheaval of 1848. His novel Kladivo na čarodějnice, about witch trials in northern Moravia during 1670s is the best known because it served as the basis for movie by Otakar Vávra.