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Antonin Dvorak was a son of butcher, but he did not follow his father's trade. While assisting his father part-time, he studied music, and graduated from the Prague Organ School in 1859. He also was an accomplished violinist and violist, and joined the Bohemian Theatre Orchestra, which was under the baton of Bedrich Smetana in 1860s. For financial reasons he quit the orchestra and focused on composing and teaching. He fell in love with one of his students, but she married another guy. Her sister was available, so Dvorak married the sister, Anna, in 1873, and they had nine children.

Dvorak's early compositions were influenced by Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, and with their promotion his music became performed in European capitals and received international acclaim. His performances in 1880s of Slavonic Dances, the Sixth Symphony and the Stabat Mater were a success in England, and Dvorak received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge. He made a successful concert tour in Russia in 1890, and became a professor at the Prauge Conservatory. In 1892 he received an invitation to America from Jeaunnette Thurber, the founder of he National Conservatory of Music in New York City. Dvorak was the Director of the National Conservatory in New York for three years (1892-95), where he also taught composition and carried on his cross-cultural studies.

Dvorak broadened his experiences through studying the music of the Native Americans and African Americans, many of whom became his students and friends. Dvorak was inspired by the originality of indigenous American music and culture, as well as by the spirituals and by the singing of his African American students. Dvorac incorporated his new ideas, blended with his Bohemian roots, into his well-known Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World". He worked on this symphony for most of the spring and summer of 1893, and made it's glorious premiere in Carnegie Hall in December, 1893. In America he also wrote the remarkable Cello Concerto and two string quartets, including the Quartet in F ("The American"). Dvorak was doing very well in New York financially, but his heart was in Prague and he left America for his Czech Motherland. He had a big family with his wife and nine children in Prague. He became the Director of the Prague Conservatory in 1901 and kept the position until his death in 1904.

A musical prodigy, Smetana was encouraged and trained by his father. His move to Prague in 1843 was disheartening when he was unable to generate interest in his abilities; however, he did form a friendship with Liszt, and dedicated several of his works to him. He opened a music school and performed privately for deposed Emperor Ferdinand, and by 1849 he had made enough money to enable him to marry Katerina Kolárová, a former student. Bohemia was torn by revolution, and, beset by financial difficulties, Smetana and his family lived hand-to-mouth for a number of years. Three of his four daughters died between 1854 and 1856, and his wife developed the tuberculosis that would kill her in 1859.

Eventually, in 1856, he went to Sweden to work as a conductor and achieved some success. He returned to Prague in 1861 and helped found a national opera house. Fired with patriotism for his native land, Smetana worked on a number of Bohemian-themed operas and also concentrated on learning the Czech language. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated rapidly in his later years; he became deaf as syphilis ravaged his body. He was confined to a mental asylum where he died in 1888, and is buried in Prague.

Jan Neruda was born on 9 July 1834 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. Jan was a writer, known for Vzhuru nohama (1938), Kam s ním? (1924) and Trhani (1936). Jan died on 22 August 1891 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Svatopluk Cech was born on 21 February 1846 in Ostredek, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer, known for Lesetínský kovár (1925), Jestrab kontra Hrdlicka (1953) and Jestráb kontra Hrdlicka (1952). He died on 23 February 1908 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Karel Jaromír Erben was a Czech folklorist and poet of the mid-19th century, best known for his collection Kytice (Czech: Bouquet), which contains poems based on traditional and folkloric themes. He also wrote Písne národní v Cechách (Folk Songs of Bohemia) which contains 500 songs and Prostonárodní ceské písne a ríkadla (Czech Folk Songs and Nursery Rhymes), a five-part book that brings together most of Czech folklore.

Karel Sabina was born on 29 December 1813 in Prague, Bohemia, Austrian Empire [now Czech Republic]. Karel was a writer, known for Prodaná nevesta (1922), Prodaná nevesta (1913) and Prodaná nevesta (1976). Karel died on 9 November 1877 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Ladislav Stroupeznický was born on 6 January 1850 in Cerhonice, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer, known for Zkazená krev (1914), Nasi furianti (1937) and Nasi furianti (1971). He was married to Anna Turkova. He died on 11 August 1892 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Zdenek Fibich was born on 21 December 1850 in Seborice, Bohemia, Austrian Empire [now Czech Republic]. He is known for Kolya (1996), Criminal Lovers (1999) and Smír Tantaluv (1978). He was married to Betty Hanusova and Ruzena Hanusova. He died on 15 October 1900 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Frantisek Ferdinand Samberk was born on 21 April 1838 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer, known for Jedenácté prikázání (1925), Podskalák (1929) and Jedenácté prikázání (1935). He died on 25 December 1904 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Karolina Svetlá was born on 24 February 1830 in Prague, Bohemia, Austrian Empire [now Czech Republic]. She was a writer, known for Nemodlenec (1928), The Cross by the Brook (1937) and Kríz u potoka (1921). She was married to Petr Muzák. She died on 7 September 1899 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Vitezslav Halek was born on 5 April 1835 in Dolínek, Melnik, Bohemia, Austrian Empire [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer, known for Muzikantská Liduska (1940). He was married to Dorota Horackova. He died on 8 October 1874 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].

Josef Svátek was born on 24 February 1835 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. Josef was a writer, known for Prazský kat (1927). Josef died on 9 December 1897 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].