War with the Newts is not a new novel. Karel Čapek wrote and published it before World War II as a satire of, among others on capitalism, media, racism and even science. Karel Čapek was a Czech writer and pioneer of science fiction. A man who lived only 48 years and was known for his visionary lyrics and predictions, published War with the Newts as the last book of his life.
Ts, ts, ts!
Terrifying for some, charming for others and worth raising and caring for. An unusual and new species of intelligent amphibian discovered in the South Pacific began to gather in both enemies and supporters after its appearance. However, no one predicted that these strange creatures would quickly adapt to any conditions imposed on them, and even begin to put their own. By mistakenly assuming that primitive lizards were fit for use only, humanity was put in a difficult position and a struggle ensued.
Prophetic satire
Despite the fact that Čapek’s book is primarily a satire, reading it causes us a slight fear and anxiety, because many topics, despite the passage of time (the title appeared on the market almost 90 years ago!) Still seem to be relevant. Without looking far – be it the presentation of the work of the media or the ecological themes definitely coincide with what is also now being discussed. The writer has skillfully created a world full of real human reactions and situations, on the one hand making fun of everything, on the other hand drawing from history and weaving his own visions of the consequences of our behavior and decisions. It is not an easy book if one wishes to understand it more deeply than at the literal level. The writer’s style differs from what contemporary literature offers us, so I suspect that not everyone will like and appreciate this story,
The beauty of the release
Two sisters publishing house has prepared a beautiful publication for us. Not only was it decided to publish the book in a graphic design by Hans Tichy, but the translation was also polished for the first time since 1988, ensuring the elimination of linguistic handicaps or ensuring substantive correctness in the field of zoological terminology. Hardcover in an intense honey color, integrated overlap and fantastic-quality print emphasizing the artistry of Tichy’s work perfectly harmonize with the whole character of the novel. It is a small masterpiece that reads quite differently than a novel that was published without artistic frills.
Literature classic in a new version
War with the Newts is the first of the books in the “Fresh Eye” series and if the next ones are treated with equal care, I will definitely become its faithful fan. The novel itself is worth getting to know and evokes a lot of reflection, despite the fact that the story is of the fantastic genre.
