In 1989, the so-called Velvet Revolution took place in Czechoslovakia . Like many important political and social events, she influenced the development of prose and poetry. Czech writers of the late XX century - Milan Kundera, Michal Viveg, Jachim Topol, Patrick Orzhednik. The creative path of these authors is the topic of our article.
Historical background
In November 1989, protests began to take place on the streets of Czechoslovakia. The freedom-loving people wanted the overthrow of the communist system. Numerous actions were accompanied by slogans about democracy and rapprochement with Europe. Bloodshed, fortunately, did not happen. Therefore, the name of the event received a completely peaceful - Velvet revolution.
Although Czech literature developed in the second half of the 20th century, it was very slow. The authors were in the grip of censorship. In the nineties, many new publishers appeared. On the shelves of bookstores, one could see the creations of previously banned authors. Among them are many famous Czech writers, whose names are familiar to readers around the world today.
Features of Czech literature
In the culture of every nation there are characteristic features. They are formed under the influence of important social and historical features, as well as what is commonly called a national character. Books by Czech writers are original and original. They have something that is not found in any European literature. Complex philosophical thoughts are strangely combined with the joys and sorrows of a simple person. The irony goes hand in hand with compassion and sentimentality.
The list of "Modern Czech Writers", as a rule, begins with the name of Milan Kundera. But there are quite a few other authors on this list, although less well-known to the Russian-speaking reader.
Michal Viveg
This author is one of the most popular in the Czech Republic. The works of Michal Vivega are published in ten languages in huge print runs. His novels are, as a rule, autobiographical. The hero of Vivega is himself. The solution of deep social and philosophical problems through the prism of individual members of society is the main task of this author.
Vivega's most famous novel is “The Best Years - A Dog Down the Tail”. In addition to this work, more than twenty have been published, and almost all belong to different genres. Among them there are not only socio-psychological novels and action-packed detective stories, but also creations intended for young readers. Therefore, Vivega can be safely attributed to the category "Czech children's writers."
Jachim Topol
In the early eighties, among the Czech intelligentsia, this author became famous, first of all, thanks to his dissident activities, and then to his active participation in the Velvet Revolution. He was prosecuted more than once, often changing his place of work. The road to the university for Topol was closed due to the human rights activities of his father, a famous playwright at that time.
He began his career with poetry. But in the nineties he switched to postmodern prose. At this time, several novels and storybooks by Jáchim Topol were published, which subsequently gained fame outside the Czech Republic thanks to translations into English, French, German and Italian.
Patrick Orzhednik
Many Czech writers were forced to leave their homeland for political reasons. One of them is Patrick Orzhednik. He was born in Prague in an intelligent family. However, in his youth he took an extremely active part in banned public associations and even signed a petition to protect political prisoners. Such actions were able to deprive any citizen of the opportunity to receive a decent education, and therefore doomed to a dubious social status.
In the eighties, the Orzhednik, like other famous Czech writers, emigrated to France. There he managed to get an education. The trainer attended a course in French literature, the history of religion, and then even became one of the founders of the Free University, where he lectured until 2010.
Milan Kundera
When it comes to such a concept as Czech writers, any fan of intellectual prose comes up with the name of this author. Milan Kundera emigrated to France in 1975. Until 1952, he taught a course in world literature at home.
However, the early awakened political consciousness prevented him from working calmly in the teaching field . The fact is that as a child, Kundera survived the German occupation, and therefore any manifestations of fascism disgusted him. In the post-war era, the idea of communism seemed saving for many young people in the Czech Republic. Kundera joined the party. But it was quickly ruled out. The reasons are “erroneous views” and “anti-party activity”.
Kundera’s early works were nevertheless approved by official critics. However, over the years, he began to gravitate more and more toward studying the inner world of a single person. A similar feature of prose was contrary to conventional attitudes. When Milan Kundera began to openly criticize any kind of censorship, his social situation was significantly shaken. He was fired. Kundera's works fell into the category of prohibited.
The most famous novels of the Czech writer were published for the first time in France. Among them - "Life is not here," "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." A special place in the work of this writer is occupied by motives of emigration. In recent years, Milan Kundera writes mainly in French.