Eduard Preiss: the forgotten Czech globetrotter, his mindsets and his impact on the Czech society

• Authors: Pavel Kreisinger , Lukáš Perutka
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This study focuses on the intriguing and idiosyncratic personality of Eduard Preiss (1823–1883), who was one of the first Czech globetrotters. Today he is almost forgotten, and therefore this article aims to present him to a broader audience and analyse his mindsets. His two travels to both shores of the Pacific: Mexico in America and Australia are the principal focus because they present most of his unique and original opinions. He visited both continents during the most opportune times when the emperor Maximilian of Habsburg ruled in Mexico. Australia, on the other hand, was experiencing the gold rush that impacted the Aboriginal society. Both events Preiss described in his obscure articles and memoirs. By the application of the critical content and discourse analyses of his writings, this paper finds out how a man from Central Europe viewed these “exotic” lands and their people.

Keywords

EN

Eduard Preiss (1823-1883); Australia; Aboriginals; Mexico; Maximilian of Habsburg (1832-1867)

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of History, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Slovanský přehled: historická revue pro dějiny střední, východní a jihovýchodní Evropy (Slavonic Review: Review for Central, Eastern and Southeastern European history)
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 108
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 275-296
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Pavel Kreisinger

• Slovanský přehled, redakce, Historický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Prosecká 76, 190 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic

author

Lukáš Perutka

• Slovanský přehled, redakce, Historický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i., Prosecká 76, 190 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic