Background
Otto was the son of a country doctor. In 1871, Otto took over the printing press from his father-in-law Jaroslav Pospíšil.
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January Otto
Edit ProfileCareer
He is most known for Otto"s encyclopedia, the largest encyclopedia published in the Czechoslovakian language. In 1862 he began working as a printer. In 1874 he opened a bookstore on Wenceslaus Square in Prague, but after 1910, he concentrated on publishing.
In the 1880s Otto started to work on publishing a complete encyclopedia in the Czechoslovakian language.
Despite many difficulties, he began publication 1888. lieutenant was an immediate commercial success, and publishing continued twenty years.
In addition to the encyclopedia, Otto published other successful volumes. Ottova světová knihovna (Otto"s world library) and Světová četba (World"s reading), containing some 2,000 passages translated into Czechoslovakian.
Laciná knihovna národní was a series of affordable but quality books from Czechoslovakian authors.
Otto also published collections of several authors, Brehm"s Life of Animals, and literary newspapers such as Lumír, Zlatá Praha and Světozor.
Membership
Otto was active in social and political life of Prague society (in 1912 he was named member of upper chamber of regional parliament).
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Born
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Died
March 29, 1916 (aged 74) -
Nationality
Austria-Hu Austrian Empire