Hand-written draft of May by Karel Hynek Mácha

The hand-written draft of May represents the germ of what was to become the finished poem. It dates back to 1834–1836 and is a fragment of the Malý sešit (Little Notebook). The final version of May underwent considerable changes, including the renaming of the main female character from Milada to Jarmila. The draft of May is not the only surviving document of Mácha’s work on the poem. Excerpts of verses are also to be found in his Zápisník (Notebook) of 1833–1835. Mácha’s surviving manuscripts are among the most valuable materials held by the Museum of Czech Literature Literary Archive. The manuscript of May is in a private collection.

Subject: A Mácha intermezzo
Author: Mácha, Karel Hynek
Title: Hand-written draft of May by Karel Hynek Mácha
Date: 1834−1836
Origin: Karel Hynek Mácha fonds
Licence: Free license

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