Died August 15, 1995 Language Czech, Esperanto Nationality Czech | Pen name Karolo Pic Name Karel Pic Occupation writer | |
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Resting place The Litomysl Cemetery | ||
Karel Píč (Esperanto: Karolo Piĉ, December 6, 1920 – August 15, 1995) was a leading Czech Esperantist, a member of the Academy of Esperanto, a poet and writer of short stories, essays, and novels in Esperanto.
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Role in Esperanto literature
Karel Píč was a famous and influential Esperanto author. He introduced and used many neologisms, which was controversial. Aside from neologisms, he was noted for his experimental usage of Esperanto; some commentators go so far as to call his usage "piĉido" and imply it is almost another language.
His best known work, epitomizing his linguistic experimentation , is the semi-autobiographical novel La Litomiŝla tombejo (The Litomyšl Cemetery) (1981) set in his hometown of Litomyšl. Upon his death, Píč was buried in that cemetery, and his tombstone bears the Czech words “Esperantský spisovatel” (“Esperanto writer”).
The "Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto" quotes several influential Esperantists about the importance of La Litomiŝla tombejo. Osmo Buller wrote "it is something truly important in Esperanto literature", and Jorge Camacho claimed it as "probably the highest achievement of [Esperanto's] original literature". Esperanto poet William Auld included the novel on his list of Esperanto classics.