The Beginning of a Novel (PoÃÂátek Románu) is an opera by Leoà ¡ JanáÃÂek to a Czech libretto by Jaroslav Tichý after a short story by Gabriela Preissová, itself suggested by a painting by Jaroslav VÃÂà ¡ÃÂn. Composed in 1891, it was first produced on 2 October 1894 in Brno.
Although not a successful work, it is significant because it marks the beginning of JanáÃÂek's association with Gabriela Preissová, who also wrote the story on which Jenà ¯fa, his first great opera, was based. Originally planned as a singspiel with spoken dialogue, The Beginning of a Novel is unusual among JanáÃÂek's stage works in being a "numbers opera" rather than composed with continuous music.
Poluà ¡ka, a pretty village girl, flirts with Baron Adolf despite her engagement to Tonek, a boy of her own class. Tonek is downcast. The gamekeeper catches Adolf and Poluà ¡ka courting and tells Poluà ¡ka's parents. Her father disapproves, but her mother is excited and arranges a meeting with Baron Adolf's father. This does not go well, and Poluà ¡ka returns chastened to the faithful Tonek, while the Baron finds happiness with a Countess. The characters reflect on the folly of .