Wittgenstein’s Book of Facts
- Where: Václav Havel Library, Ostrovní 13, Prague 110 00
- When: April 26, 2017, 19:00 – 21:00
Ladislav Čumba’s literary text explores with perspective the story of Ludwig Wittgenstein, one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. The son of a Kladno steelmaker, one of the richest people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whose mother Poldi is still remembered by some residents of Kladno, he turned his back on that enormous wealth. He became a gardener and, after a colourful journey, a philosophy teacher at Cambridge.
This story of the Czech traces in the family and life of the philosopher Wittgenstein is a testimony of the tenacity of both capitalists and writers, of intransigence and tolerance, of arts patronage and of the power of the spoken and written word. It also takes in eminent artists of the period, in many cases family friends. Names like Rilke, Trakl, Klimt, Brahms, Hindemith and Ravel.
This special programme, including many musical excerpts and the screening of period documentaries, is being held on the anniversary of Wittgenstein’s birth. Wittgensteinovu knihu faktů (Wittgenstein’s Book of Facts) will be presented by Milan Gelnar, head of publishers Argo, while author Ladislav Čumba will discuss the genesis of the text and actress Alžběta Kostrhunová will read excerpts.