The Grandmother

The Grandmother (Czech: Babička) is a novella written by Czech writer Božena Němcová between 1853 and 1854. It was first published in 1855 and quickly became very popular. It is her most famous work and is considered a classic of Czech literature.

This story is the most loved book in the Czech nation. It has been published more than 300 times just in Czech and has been translated into 21 different languages. People still read and enjoy it today because of its touching tale and beautiful writing.

Plot

This book tells a special story about a young girl's childhood, written by the author Božena Němcová. It mixes memories of old farming traditions and neighborhood customs with love stories from several women. These stories show more about the history and ways of life in that area.

The main events happen during the first year or two after the Grandmother moves in to help her daughter's family at the Old Bleachery. The father is often away because of his job, working for a local noblewoman and traveling to Vienna in the winter. The story mainly follows the connected tales of three characters: Viktorka, Kristla, and the Countess. The author uses the character Barunka, the oldest daughter in the Prošek family, to share these stories, but the book is not told from her perspective.