The ruler of the mountains, lord of the underworld, mysterious monk, furious demon, mischievous scoffer, or protector of the poor and the just? The monumental collective work Krakonoš, subtitled A Tale of the Ruler of the Krkonoš Mountains from Ancient Times to the Present, is a commented literary guide, but also a reader containing remarkable literary and significant folkloric texts about one of the most famous and popular domestic mythical figures. This 'Krakonoš literary encyclopedia' was compiled by Czech folklorist Jaromír Jech (1918–1992), who details the Krakonoš myth from its archaic beginnings to various artistic interpretations of the late 20th century. Based on commented excerpts from individual texts about Krakonoš, written or recorded over five centuries, the book thoroughly examines the origins, transformations, and mutual influences of stories on this theme in Czech, German, Polish, and Latin contexts. Jech's Krakonoš represents the most detailed monograph dedicated to this unique figure and is also one of our most extensive folkloric monographs overall. As such, it can appeal to both lovers of stories about Krakonoš and readers who wish to understand the broader cultural context...
