The poet Jakub Deml is one of the most original and controversial figures in Czech literature. It is no exaggeration to call him the most execrated of all Czech poets. His literary output was staggering. Besides poetry, poems in prose, and short stories he also wrote meditations, essays, newspaper columns, pamphlets, critical reviews, religious works, and translations. Poetry and poetic prose, however, formed the most important part of his output.

Deml was born on 20 August 1878 in the little Moravian town of Tasov, where his father was a farmer and village grocer. Deml went to secondary school in the nearby town of Trebíc. While he was still at school, he met the poet Otokar Brezina, a leading figure not only in Czech but also in European literary symbolism. Because of his friendship with Brezina, Deml decided on a literary career. Even though Brezina remained Deml's poetic idol...