Česko-slovenské vzťahy na poli knižnej kultúry (1918–1939)

Abstract

The paper offers a probe into a specific topic that has not yet been much discussed in the context of relations between Czechs and Slovaks, namely their cooperation in the field of book culture during and immediately after the end of the First Czechoslovak Republic. Using available archival and library sources, it provides information on the three most important Czech publishing projects in terms of their influence on the development of Slovak literature. On the one hand these projects took advantage of the new political context and the Slovak book market, which was undergoing a transformation, on the other hand, they also created the conditions for original artistic creation and translation and even successfully promoted Slovak authors abroad. The paper selected publishers who published Slovak literature in its original versions and omits a set of Slovak textbooks, dictionaries, anthologies and other printed materials that were intended to help in the organisation of the new state and that dominated the period discussed in terms of volume. It examines and evaluates the Slovak production of three Prague publishing houses: L. Mazáč, Melantrich and Družstevní práce.