Modernistic title page of the first edition of R.U.R.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

Modernistic title page of the first edition of R.U.R.

This copy of the first edition of R.U.R. was inscribed by Capek.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

This copy of the first edition of R.U.R. was inscribed by Capek on its decorative half-title.

Detail map of Hlavní město Praha, Czechia Overview map of Hlavní město Praha, Czechia

A: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia

Capek Introduces the Word "Robot" in His Play "R.U.R." "Rossum's Universal Robots"

1920
First edition of Capek's RUR.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons

First edition of Capek's RUR.

In 1920 Czech novelist, playwright, journalist and translator Karel Capek published R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) in Prague. This play, written in Czech except for the title, introduced the word “robot” and explored the issue of whether worker-machines would replace people.

Timeline Themes

Human-Computer Interaction
Technology / Engineering
Computers & Society
Robotics / Automata
Fiction, Poetry, Theater; Literature