BOHEMIAN POETRY
An Anthology of Modern Bohemian Poetry, translated by P. Selver (Henry J. Drane, London).
This is a good anthology of modern Bohemian poetry, accurately translated into bad and sometimes even ridiculous English. Great credit is due the young translator for his care in research and selection. The faults of his style, though deplorable, are not such as to obscure the force and beauty of his originals.
One is glad to be thus thoroughly assured that contemporary Bohemia has a literature in verse, sensitive to the outer world and yet national. Mr. Selver's greatest revelation is Petr Bezruc, poet of the mines.
The poetry of Brezina, Sova and Vrchlicky is interesting, but Bezruc's Songs of Silesia have the strength of a voice coming de profundis.
A hundred years in silence I dwelt in the pit,
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The dust of the coal has settled upon my eyes—
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Bread with coal is the fruit that my toiling bore;—