Božena Němcová (1820 – 1862)

Božena Němcová was one of the most famous female Czech writers from the past and participated in the last part of the Czech national revival. Božena Němcová is most famous for the book The Grandmother, a novel about a child named Barunka (short for Barbora) who lives with her Grandmother in the Czech countryside. Božena Němcová was married when she was only 17, due to an arranged marriage to Josef Němec, 15 years her senior and a customs officer. Disliked by his superiors for being too authoritative he was moved from town to town and eventually lost his job leaving his estranged self, Božena and their 4 children without any money. Božena Němcová died in poverty. She is famous for not only The Grandmother, but also for numerous stories concerning Czech myths and legends.