Abstract
This book features the letters of two outstanding Czech intellectuals (who also happened to be brothers in law), namely Zdeněk Neubauer (1942-2016) and Václav Benda (1946-1999). They corresponded during Neubauer's academic stay in the biochemistry lab in Naples in 1967-1969.
They exchanged views on current political events but the main focus is the intellectual flair of the era during which both thinkers strived to formulate their own way to relate philosophical thought, Catholic faith and art. We can read their discussions about the Roman-Catholic theology after the Second Vatican Council (Karl Rahner), about Ladislav Klíma, a radical independent philosopher regarded by some as the 'Czech Nietzsche', or the spiritual principles in the art of Josef Šíma.
The letters are accompanied by explications, comments and translation of non-Czech text passages, a biographic interview with Kamila Bendová, wife of Václav Benda and Zdeněk Neubauer's sister. For the first time ever, this interview outlines the backdrop of the origins, education and life's work of Zdeněk Neubauer.