The War with the Newts

Karel Čapek (1890 – 1938) was a Czech writer of the early 20th century best known for his science fiction, including his novel War with the Newts and the play R.U.R. that introduced the word robot. Arthur Miller wrote in 1990: "I read Karel Čapek for the first time when I was a college student long ago in the Thirties. There was no writer like him...prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination...he is a joy to read".