Across the Great Pond : Remembrances of the Moravian worker Matěj Poláček to Africa and South America
Abstract
The book presents a critical edition of the life history of the Moravian worker Matěj Poláček (1883-1973) in many respect embodies the destinies of many economic migrants from the Czech Lands of the modern period who were looking for a better life overseas. At the same time, it presents some very specific features.
The carpenter Poláček was employed by a German company (Grün & Bilfinger). Besides working at various locations in Europe, in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Belgium before World War I and during the interwar period, he spent several years in Argentina (1926-29) and Angola (1930-33).
After returning to Argentina for a second time in 1934, he unexpectedly had to remain in the country until 1946, due to World War II. In the 1970s, shortly before his death, he wrote down his memoirs, unique by their language as well as contents.
The edition is supplemented by introductory study that places the life story of Poláček into broader context, especially with respect to the Czech and Moravian migration overseas. The book is supplemented by 50 original photographs, valuable especially as documentation for the history of technology.