Do Latinské Ameriky se nestěhujte. Rady československého „globetrottera“ Václava Kotála

Abstract

This study presents the activities of the Czechoslovak traveller Václav Kotál (1894–1976) in Latin America. Although, he is an obscure figure today, he was at the height of media fame in the 1920s on account of his walking journey from Buenos Aires to Chicago. Kotal made use of this popularity to put his compatriots off moving across the ocean. The aim of this work is therefore to present this intriguing historical figure, but, above all, conduct a critical qualitative analysis to evaluate: what motivated him to discourage his compatriots; whether his information was trustworthy; and how he influenced Czechoslovak interwar migration. The principal sources are contemporary newspaper articles and the Kotál’s own publishing activities. These are supplemented by archival materials and academic literature.