Jakub Arbes

Born in Prague's Smíchov district in 1840, Jakub Arbes became one of the distinctive voices of 19th-century Czech literature. He worked as a writer and journalist, and he is most closely associated with the creation of the romanetto, a compact prose form that combines suspense, intellectual puzzles, and unusual or seemingly fantastic events.

Arbes moved in the orbit of major Czech literary figures of his time, including Jan Neruda, and his writing reflects both literary imagination and a lively interest in politics, society, and modern thought. Alongside fiction, he was active in journalism and public debate, which gave his work an alert, argumentative energy.

He died in 1914, but his reputation has lasted because his stories feel both literary and inventive: grounded in the real world, yet always willing to open a door into mystery. For readers curious about the roots of Central European fantastic fiction, he remains an especially rewarding discovery.