1. ^The World and Its Peoples: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland 1965 "Jirdsek's historical novels, which are animated by fervent patriotism, were acclaimed by critics and public alike. ... the Currents (1891) and Against the Whole World (1894), both about the Hussite movement, and Darkness (1915), about ... The Nationalists Alois Jirasek (1851-1930) was a popular Czech novelist who used themes from Czech history. ... Soul and Work (1913) was his best volume of essays."