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INTRODUCTION
39

Dr. Jan Gebauer wrote many invaluable philological works and as an authority was ranged on the side opposing the authenticity of the famous Queen’s Court Manuscripts.

Dr. Fr. Drtina professor of pedagogy and Dr. Fr. Krejčí professor of psychology of the faculty of the University of Prague are like Prof. Masaryk, of the positivist school and have written valuable philosophical discussions on the subjects of their life study as has also Prof. Fr. Čáda, likewise a philosopher.

HISTORICAL NOVELISTS

Undoubtedly the foremost figure in this group is Alois Jirásek who has devoted himself exclusively to the rich material offered by the aspirations and struggles of his native land. Třebízský and Winter have been only a little less active in this field.

Václav Beneš Třebízský, completed the theological course in Prague, was ordained in 1875 and served as chaplain from that time until his death. Most of his works are shorter than novels, of which the best are his “Anežka Přemyslovna” a story of the era of Václav I.; “Královna Dagmar” (Queen Dagmar) “Trnová Koruna” (The Crown of Thorns) of the period of the Thirty Years’ War and “Bludné Duše” (Lost Souls) descriptive of the religious strife during the reign of Joseph II. Many collections of his stirring short stories, some ninety in all, based on the events in Czech history appear under the titles “Pod Doškovými