Karel Havlícek Borovský monument - Duchcov (North-West Bohemia) - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com

Depicted modern monument of Czech writer, poet, critic, politician, and journalist Karel Havlícek Borovský decorates public space in the front of Rondo-Cubist Gymnasium complex in Duchcov.

The monument is an example of modern sculpture from 1927 (sculptor Josef Fojtík), which forms a compositional part of the grammar school (Gymnasium) complex. In front of the main façade of the Gymnasium, a cubic plinth is placed on a twice-graded stylobat, on which stands a sandstone Havlícek sculpture in a counterpost. The writers figure, made in life-size from fine sandstone, steps slightly forward, the head proudly erect, prints a book on his chest, the garment mostly covered by a pleated long cloak.

On the west side of the monument is an inscription:
SVOBODEN JSI BYL / SLIBY NI OKOVY TE NESPOUTALY / VELIKÝ JSI BYL / ANI SMRT TE NEDOSÁHLA / PADLO TELO UMUCENÉ / ŽIJE A V NÁRODE SÍLÍ DUCH TVUJ

In English:
YOU HAVE BEEN FREE / PROMISES OR THE SHACKLES DID NOT TIED YOU / THE GREAT YOU WAS / THE DEATH HAS NOT REACHED YOU / THE TORTURED BODY FELL / YOUR SPIRIT LIVES AND STRENGTHENES IN THE NATION

Karel Havlícek Borovský (October 31, 1821 – July 29, 1856), was a Czech writer, poet, critic, politician, journalist, and publisher. He lived and studied at the Gymnasium in Nemecký Brod (today Havlíckuv Brod is named after Borovský), and his house on the main square is today the Havlícek Museum. In 1838 he moved to Prague to study philosophy at Charles University and, influenced by the revolutionary atmosphere before the Revolutions of 1848, decided on the objective of becoming a patriotic writer. He devoted himself to studying Czech and literature. The Bohemian revolution was defeated in March 1849 with the dissolution of the Kromeríž assembly, but Havlícek continued to criticize the new regime. He was brought to court for his criticism (there was no freedom of the press in the Habsburg's territory) but was found not guilty by a sympathetic jury. Národní noviny had to cease publication in January 1850, but Havlícek did not end his activities. In May 1850 he began publishing the magazine Slovan in Kutná Hora. The magazine was a target of censorship from the start. It had to stop publication in August 1851, and Havlícek stood again at the court to answer on charges of dissent. Again, he was found not guilty by a sympathetic jury of Czech commoners. In the night of December 16, 1851, he was arrested by the police and forced into exile in Brixen, Austria (present-day Italy). He was depressed from the exile, but continued writing and wrote some of his best work: Tyrolské elegie (Tirol Laments), Krest svatého Vladimíra (Baptism of St. Vladimir) and Král Lávra (King Lavra, based on the legend of Labraid Loingsech). When he returned from Brixen in 1855, he learned that his wife had died a few days earlier. Most of his former friends, afraid of the Bach system, stood aloof from him. Only a few publicly declared support for him. In 1856, Havlícek died of tuberculosis, aged 35. Božena Nemcová put a crown of thorns on his head in the coffin. His funeral was attended by about 5,000 Czechs.

Source: excerpted from Wikipedia and National Heritage Institute portal.