Lectures by T.G. Masaryk before 1914

 

 

As a university professor, Masaryk gave dozens of lectures in cities, towns, and smaller municipalities all over Bohemia and Moravia. On the invitation of various local organizations, he lectured on important personalities of Czech history such as Jan Hus, František Palacký and Karel Havlíček, or talked about contemporary social and political issues. Especially during the first decade of the 20th century, the response to these lectures was often seeped in controversy, in particular those connected with the Hilsner Affair, or Masaryk’s anticlerical or election campaigns. Oftentimes listeners did not understand him, in some cases even feared him and regarded Masaryk as the representative of some dangerous cult. On other occasions, his sympathizers had to physically protect him from angry opponents.

 

We welcome texts (articles from the local press, leaflets, recollections and so on) that capture these local incidents. We will publish the most colorful stories on our website and on our Facebook page!