Božena Němcová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈboʒɛna ˈɲɛmtsovaː]) (February 4, 1820^{[citation needed]}, Vienna – January 21, 1862, Prague) was a Czech writer of the final phase of the Czech National Revival movement.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Speculations on Božena Němcová's real origin 3 Bibliography 3.1 Novels 3.2 Fairy tales and legends

[edit] Biography

She was born as Barbora Pankel in Vienna, the daughter of Johann Pankel from Lower Austria and Teresie Novotná, a maid of Bohemian origin. In her childhood she lived in the village of Ratibořice, where her grandmother Magdalena Novotná played an important part in her life. Němcová would later write her most famous novel with the main character inspired by her grandmother.

When she was 17 years old, she married the 15-years-older Josef Němec, who worked as a customs officer and was therefore a state employee. The marriage was arranged by Barbora's parents and became an unhappy one, as the married couple didn't understand each other very well. Němec was said to be a rude and authoritative man. He was a Bohemian patriot, which his superiors didn't like and they often transferred him to different locations. Later he lost his job. The family had 4 children and suffered from a lack of money. Němcová died in poverty, estranged from her husband. The Bohemian patriots arranged a magnificent funeral for her.

[edit] Speculations on Božena Němcová's real origin

Some authors question the birthdate, the preserved documents differ, and the real origin of Božena Němcová. According to one hypothesis, Němcová could have been born three to four years earlier than previously thought, and be an illegitimate daughter of Wilhemine, Duchess of Sagan (1781-1839). Helena Sobková, a writer of popular-history books about Němcová, believes that Němcová may actually have been the niece of Wilhemine. In 1816 an illegitimate daughter was born to Wilhemine's younger sister, Dorothée de Talleyrand-Périgord, and Karel Clam-Martinic (1792-1840). The child's fate is unknown, and it is possible that Wilhemine gave the child to Němcová's parents to raise as their own.

None of these speculations, however, have been definitely proved by serious historical research.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Novels

• Podhorská vesnice (The village under mountains)
• Babička (The Grandmother) (1855) – Němcová's best-known novel about a young girl named Barunka (name is a pet form of Barbora) and her childhood with her grandmother in the countryside. The book was inspired by Němcová's own childhood in the village of Ratibořice, where she lived with her parents, siblings and maternal grandmother Magdalena Novotna.

[edit] Fairy tales and legends

• Chýše pod horami
• O dvanácti měsíčkách
• Národní báchorky a pověsti (National Stories and Legends)
• Slovenské pohádky a pověsti (Slovak Fairy Tails and Legends)

• Selská politika (Country Politics)
• Hospodyně na slovíčko
• Dopisy z lázní Františkových (The Letters from Franzenbad)
• Listy přítele přítelkyni
• Silný Ctibor
• Devět křížů (Nine Crosses)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Božena Němcová