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WitnessFrom Kundera in Texas to Czech History in New York City
Bradley Abrams is an associate professor of history at Columbia University in New York City, where he specialises in the history of the Czech lands. He received his bachelors degree from the University of Texas and his masters and doctoral degrees from Stanford University. It was at Stanford University that he studied the history of East Europe, and here he describes how a book by Milan Kundera in a Texas bookstore sparked his initial interest in Czech history. More
ArtsBookworld 2003, Central Municipal Library to reopen for public
For the last few weeks it might have seemed that the Czech world of arts
revolved almost exclusively around books. Well this time again, this
programme focuses on two events related to books and literature - as they
simply dominate the arts scene in the coming days. On Thursday, the ninth
Prague book fair, Bookworld 2003 got underway at the Prague Exhibition
Grounds. While it was "water, water everywhere" during last
August's floods, now the Art Nouveau exhibition palace is for four days
flooded with books.
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Current AffairsFerdinand Peroutka: Journalist of Czech Democracy
Twenty-five years ago, on Sunday April 20, Czech journalist and creative
writer Ferdinand Peroutka, affectionately called "Mr.
Czechoslovakia" in America, died in exile in New York. A fierce
fighter for democratic values in Czechoslovak society, Peroutka didn't let
the Nazis or Communists tell him what to think or what to write, and he
did pay dearly for not succumbing to political pressures. I
spoke with journalist and political commentator Vaclav Zak, who believes
that journalists today have something to learn from Peroutka.
More
Czechs in HistoryBittersweet prose - a look at the life and work of writer Ota Pavel
'How I Came to Know Fish' - for years I glimpsed this elegant volume of
short stories in Prague's English-language bookstores, at times wondering
over its greenish cover featuring a fish on a hook. I wondered blankly
over the name of its author, without, I admit, inquiring further. Ota
Pavel. The name, though known to most Czechs, said nothing to me then, at
most I had an inkling the author had been a sports journalist for Czech
Radio in the 1950s. Then I caught a glimpse of his photo somewhere - Ota
Pavel, writer - the author in his youth, a black and white picture of a
dashing figure with a slanted fedora, staring thoughtfully into the lens.
I caught a glimpse and when I heard of a film by the director Karel
Kachyna based on the author's work, equally suggestive, I began to wonder
about his life even more. The story of Ota Pavel, with its twists and
final haunting downfall - and 'How I Came to Know Fish' - both looked at
in today's Czechs in History.
More
Current AffairsNew book reveals unusual facts about ten presidents
Did you know that eight of the ten presidents of Czechoslovakia and the
Czech Republic spent time in prison? Or that Czechoslovakia's first
president, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, rode horses until the age of eighty
three, and one of his favourites was a bay horse called Hektor? A recently
released book titled "Ten Presidents" gives us these and other
unusual insights into the lives of the presidents of Czechoslovakia and
the Czech Republic.
More
Current AffairsInterpretations of reality: Yann Martel's Life of Pi
One of the many interesting authors invited to this year's Prague Writer's
Festival was Yann Martel, a Canadian novelist who made headlines
world-wide by winning the prestigious Man Booker prize for his novel Life
of Pi. Jan Velinger, who attended the festival, met the writer to discuss
his fascinating book.
More
Current AffairsPrague Writers' Festival hits peak with readings by Jeffrey Eugenides, Irvine Welsh
This year's annual Prague Writers' Festival has come to its final day and
already it is obvious it will go down as one of the most successful
literary events in the Czech Republic in 2003. Appearances by
world-renowned writers at Theatre Minor in Prague, have been heavily
attended to hear from famous, as well as lesser known, authors. The
festival reached probably its highest peak two nights ago: Tuesday saw
appearances by fresh Pulitzer prize winner Jeffrey Eugenides, who read
from Middlesex, and Irvine Welsh, who read from his provocative first novel
Trainspotting.
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Current AffairsPrague isn't just the names Havel and Kafka: Author Peter Demetz returns to his birthplace
During the Prague Writers' Festival's Tuesday panel discussion titled
"The Great Dream of Heaven," Prague-born Peter Demetz described
the American way of life as a sort of mythical entity that is much more
than the golden arches of the McDonald's restaurants which stand out like
eyesores throughout the American landscape. A resident of the USA since
1949, he said he considers America to be a sort of heaven because a person
doesn't need a past, doesn't have to remember. Just what does the author
of the extensive history Prague In Black and Gold have to say about his
birthplace and his current visit to the Czech capital? I spoke with him
after Tuesday's event.
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Current AffairsAnnual Prague Writers' Festival Begins
Now in its thirteenth year, the annual Prague Writers' Festival began on
Sunday evening with a gala, once again drawing well-known writers from all
over the world to the Czech capital. As usual, it was put together by
author and editor Michael March.
More
One on OneBill Bathurst - Radio Prague's Literature commentator on life in the Czech Rep and returning home
Little introduction is needed for this week's guest in One on One: Radio
Prague's own Bill Bathurst, a writer and poet who listeners know well for
his smooth-as-bourbon voice, inimitable humour, and more than a few
memorable broadcasts on Czech literature and poetry. Now, fourteen years
after Bill began at Radio Prague he's decided to hang it up in the Czech
capital and return to his home in California...
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