Karel Čapek was a Czech writer, playwright, critic, and journalist, best known for his science fiction works. His most notable contributions include the novel War with the Newts (1936) and the play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1920), which introduced the word "robot." Čapek's writings often dealt with the social and political upheaval of his time, influenced by American pragmatic liberalism. He was an advocate for free expression and a vocal opponent of the rise of both fascism and communism in Europe.

Though he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times, Čapek never won. Nonetheless, his legacy endures, and awards such as the Karel Čapek Prize are named in his honor, celebrating literary work that upholds democratic and humanist values.

Čapek played an instrumental role in establishing the Czechoslovak PEN Club as part of International PEN. His influence as a literary figure was solidified after World War II. He passed away due to a lifelong medical condition, just before the outbreak of the war.