The story of Letters from England began in 1924, when Karel Čapek (1892–1938) accepted an invitation from the English PEN Club and embarked on a two-month tour of Great Britain. By then, he was already known in the United Kingdom for his plays R. U. R. and Pictures from the Insects’ Life. During his visit, Čapek encountered many notable individuals and interesting places, sending travel notes almost daily to the editors of Lidové noviny. These remarkable texts, accompanied by original illustrations, were later compiled into a book that went through numerous editions. Translated by Paul Selver, selections from the work were published as columns in The Manchester Guardian. The response was swift: Čapek’s travelogues, marked by his appreciation for the Anglo-Saxon model of democracy, elicited amused, appreciative, and critical reactions across various newspapers and magazines.

One particular copy of Letter from England became a significant testament to the heroism of Czechoslovak soldiers in World War II. In September 1941, twenty paratroopers undergoing training in Britain presented the English translation of the book as a gift to their instructor, Lieutenant Ernest Van Maurik (1916–2012). He later donated the copy to the Imperial War Museums. Karel Čapek’s advocacy for democracy, his call for individual responsibility, and his powerful denunciation of war’s inhumanity resonate deeply with the courage and sacrifice of these soldiers —twelve of whom were killed in action and two executed by the communist regime after the war. Čapek’s legacy, along with the actions of those inspired by his ideals, remains not only enduring but, regrettably, still relevant today.