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Czech BooksA new “Czech Literature Guide” gives useful insights into the world of Czech books
If you’re looking for an overview of the current Czech literary scene in
English – everything from surrealist poets to second-hand bookshops –
the new “Czech Literature Guide” should be just the book for you. As it
states in its introduction, the book’s aim is to present a “panorama of
the contemporary life of Czech literature”. David Vaughan reports. More
Czech Books“Heaven, distance, light and dazzling brightness”: Czech literary links with Scandinavia
Did you know that one of Norway’s popular writers is actually Czech, or
that in the mid 1930s Karel Čapek fell in love with the forests and skies
of Scandinavia? And do Czechs and Danes have more in common than just beer?
David Vaughan looks at Czech-Scandinavian literary links. More
Czech BooksTomáš Zmeškal: The Biography of a Black-and-White Lamb
When Tomáš Zmeškal’s first novel was published four years ago, one
critic described it in ecstatic terms as a “gold vein amid the deadwood
of contemporary Czech scribbling”. The book, A Love Letter in Cuneiform
Script, went on to win the coveted European Union Prize for Literature last
year and Tomáš Zmeškal has won international acclaim, although we are
still waiting for either of his two novels published so far to appear in
English. David Vaughan talks to the writer. More
Czech BooksDickens and the Good Soldier Švejk
Here is a question for the Dickens bicentenary. What is the connection
between the great 19th century English novelist and the best-loved Czech
literary anti-hero? The answer is, surprisingly enough, that without
Dickens we quite possibly wouldn’t have Švejk at all. David Vaughan
looks at this and some other Czech links with Dickens in this week’s
Czech Books. More
Czech HistoryJaroslav Foglar and his “Rapid Arrows”
Writer and youth movement activist Jaroslav Foglar left a deep trace in
Czech popular culture. Besides more than 25 novels for children, Jaroslav
Foglar is also the father of Rychlé šípy, or “Rapid Arrows”, a
legendary comics that has earned a following with generations of Czech
readers. Persecuted by the Nazis and the communists, the writer also
single-handedly founded his own youth organization which, in its heyday,
had tens of thousands of members across the country. More
Czech BooksHana Andronikova: mourning a powerful Czech literary voice
It seems very strange to be talking about the Czech writer Hana Andronikova
in the past tense. When she died of cancer on December 20th last year, she
was only 44, and until the last months of her life had been at the height
of her creative powers. Author of two successful novels, several plays and
numerous short stories, she was one of the most versatile younger Czech
writers, and will be hugely missed. David Vaughan looks at her life and
work. More
Arts‘Adolf Loos – A Private Portrait’ offers readers a unique glimpse into the life of the modernist architect
In today’s Arts I talk to artist and editor Carrie Paterson about the
first English-language edition of a rare and fascinating book originally
published in 1936. Written by the third wife of modernist architect Adolf
Loos, Claire Beck Loos (Klára Becková-Loosová of Plzeň) it was
previously available only in German; the new edition, published by
Doppelhouse Press, is called Adolf Loos – A Private Portrait. More
ArtsJosef Škvorecký – Part 2 – ’68 Publishers and writing in Canada
In this week’s Arts enjoy Part 2 of our look at the life and work of
renowned author Josef Škvorecký, who died at the age of 87 earlier this
month. I continue my discussion with respected Czech critic, translator,
and specialist in Czech studies Petr Onufer, who talks about how Miloš
Forman almost made a film version of The Cowards, Škvorecký’s style as
an author and his role as co-founder of ‘68 Publishers. More
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