Charles De Coster's celebrated novel reimagines the legendary Flemish folk hero Thyl Ulenspiegel and his loyal companion Lamme Goedzak against the turbulent background of sixteenth-century Flanders under Spanish rule. Initially portrayed as a carefree wanderer, prankster and sharp-witted trickster, Thyl gradually becomes a symbol of resistance as he witnesses the cruelty of the Spanish authorities and the persecution carried out by the Inquisition. Following the suffering inflicted on his family, his travels take on a more serious purpose: the search for freedom and the awakening of popular resistance. Blending humour, folk wisdom, adventure and tragedy, the story celebrates the resilience of ordinary people and their struggle against religious and political oppression. De Coster transformed the traditional figure of Ulenspiegel into a powerful emblem of Flemish identity and the revolt against Spanish domination. This Czech edition was translated from the French original by Pavel Eisner, who adapted the text for younger readers and provided a foreword and explanatory notes. Illustrated by Vojtech Kubasta, the volume is an important example of the international reception of a landmark work of Belgian literature and of its adaptation for a younger audience. Charles Théodore Henri De Coster (1827-1879) was a Belgian writer who wrote in French and is regarded as one of the founders of modern Belgian French-language literature. Born in Munich and later based in Brussels, he drew inspiration from Flemish folklore, history and popular traditions. His best-known work, The Legend and the Adventures of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak, published in 1867, recast the traditional trickster as a symbol of freedom and resistance during the sixteenth-century struggle against Spanish rule. Although written in French, the novel became deeply associated with Flemish cultural identity and achieved international recognition through translations into numerous languages. (AI-generated content description)