Sám v požáru světovém - Vzpomínky z vojenského života za světové války 1916–1918 – Šlechta Theodor (2014)

Authentic memories of a young graduate, a boy from a good family, whose romantic notion of manly combat was suddenly confronted with the reality of the daily hardships faced by soldiers in the harsh conditions of unwelcoming trenches and the demanding physical and mental strain. His narrative surprises readers with a fresh perspective not only in describing the painful and brutal experiences but also in his sensitivity to nature, the inhabitants of unfamiliar lands, and the fates of ordinary people exposed to the merciless reality. It is the viewpoint of a young man whose homeland was the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, but whose heart was firmly rooted in love for Czech identity, for people, and for the ideals of Sokol, and therefore he must think, forced by circumstances (which turn his ideals into a simple need for survival), about how to maintain his humanity and where to find understanding for incomprehensible events; for the world he was thrust into from the nurturing environment of family, siblings, and the constant care of a beloved mother is full of violence, malice, hatred, and despair. Nevertheless, he found his way, a path of humanity and love for his fellow beings. His narrative is also filled with poetic, joyful, and comical incidents that contrast so brilliantly with the descriptions of the cruelty and horrors of war, which for him has long lost its romantic haze.