Martin Šmaus and Jáchym Topol took part in a discussion with other finalists of the Polish award. The Czech authors were nominated for their books Dziewczynko, roznieć ogieniek (Książkowe Klimaty), translated by Dorota Dobrew, and Warsztat diabła (W.A.B.), translated by Leszek Engelking. At the award ceremony in Wrocław’s Capitol Theatre on Saturday 18.10, actors performed excerpts…
2014, Debates and recommendations
Literature and Political Commentary in the Czech Republic/ Literatur und politische Kritik in Tschechien
by Jaroslav Balvin •
Under Communism, all Czech writers who criticised conditions at the time, even indirectly, were persecuted, if not imprisoned. Today, anyone can say, write or criticise whatever they wish, without fear of being punished. But the paradox is that such criticism goes either un-noticed or ignored. The ineffectual position of the written word in Czech society…