Forming of the "new woman" : The Influence of the Prague women Writers to the literary Work by Zofka Kveder
Abstract
At the beginning of 20th century the Slovenian and Croatian author Zofka Kveder (1878-1926) was a typical monarchical intellectual, a modernist writer and feminist balancing between different cultures. Nevertheless later she established herself as one of the recognised women writer of Central Europe.
She lived in Prague from 1900 to 1906. In the article we focus on the first period of her writing of her Prague period.
We stress the influence of Czech culture and Czech writers on the formation of her writing style and also gender identity. Above all we focus on the influence of Růžena Svobodová (1868-1920) as a famous Czech author with distinguished impressionistic poetics in her literary work.
Her critical representation of women in patriarchal society was crucial for Kveder's approach to writing about women and her perception of art. The other person in Czech society, who helped her find her place in Czech culture, was Zdenka Hásková (1878-1946), her translator who later in life became the main critic of her literary work.
Female authors from Prague were connected to each other with personal sympathies as well as gender solidary. It was Prague's cultural life which formed the identity of Z.
Kveder as the first professional Slovenian women writer and editor.