Jan Otto
Encyclopedia
Jan Otto was a Czech publisher and bookseller. He is most known for Otto's encyclopedia
, the largest encyclopedia published in the Czech language
.
Otto was the son of a country doctor. In 1862 he began working as a printer. In 1871, Otto took over the printing press
from his father-in-law Jaroslav Pospíšil. In 1874 he opened a bookstore on Wenceslaus Square in Prague
, but after 1910, he concentrated on publishing. After his death his son and son-in-law took over the company but after lasting troubles, went bankrupt in 1934.
In the 1880s Otto started to work on publishing a complete encyclopedia in the Czech language
. Despite many difficulties, he began publication 1888. It was an immediate commercial success, and publishing continued twenty years.
In addition to the encyclopedia, Otto published other successful volumes. Ottova světová knihovna (Otto's world library) and Světová četba (World's reading), containing some 2,000 passages translated into Czech. Laciná knihovna národní was a series of affordable but quality books from Czech authors. Otto also published collections of several authors, Brehm's
Life of Animals
, and literary newspapers such as Lumír, Zlatá Praha and Světozor
. Otto was active in social and political life of Prague
society (in 1912 he was named member of upper chamber of regional parliament).
Otto's encyclopedia
Otto's encyclopedia , published at the turn of the 20th century, is the largest encyclopedia written in the Czech language. For its scope and the quality of the writing, it is comparable to the greatest world encyclopedias of its time, such as Encyclopædia Britannica.-The first edition:At the...
, the largest encyclopedia published in the Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
.
Otto was the son of a country doctor. In 1862 he began working as a printer. In 1871, Otto took over the printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
from his father-in-law Jaroslav Pospíšil. In 1874 he opened a bookstore on Wenceslaus Square in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, but after 1910, he concentrated on publishing. After his death his son and son-in-law took over the company but after lasting troubles, went bankrupt in 1934.
In the 1880s Otto started to work on publishing a complete encyclopedia in the Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
. Despite many difficulties, he began publication 1888. It was an immediate commercial success, and publishing continued twenty years.
In addition to the encyclopedia, Otto published other successful volumes. Ottova světová knihovna (Otto's world library) and Světová četba (World's reading), containing some 2,000 passages translated into Czech. Laciná knihovna národní was a series of affordable but quality books from Czech authors. Otto also published collections of several authors, Brehm's
Alfred Brehm
Alfred Edmund Brehm was aGerman zoologist, natural history illustrator and writer, the son ofChristian Ludwig Brehm....
Life of Animals
Brehms Tierleben
Brehms Tierleben is a reference book, first published in the 1860s,which made its author, Alfred Edmund Brehm ,known around the world.- Publishing history :...
, and literary newspapers such as Lumír, Zlatá Praha and Světozor
Svetozor
Světozor was a Czech language illustrated magazine published in 19th and 20th century.Světozor was created by Pavel Josef Šafařík in 1834. Šafařík was inspired by the British penny press and the German Pfennig-Magazin...
. Otto was active in social and political life of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
society (in 1912 he was named member of upper chamber of regional parliament).