Minout se přesně: Anthology of Contemporary Czech Literature

Alenka Jensterle Doležal
Czech Literature – Confidentially Known and Unknown

The Anthology of Contemporary Czech Literature presents Slovenian readers with translations of works by twenty-one representative Czech authors—both poets and prose writers—from the past decade. While these names are among the most recognized in contemporary Czech culture, they remain relatively unknown within the Slovenian literary scene.

Historically, Slovenians and Czechs have maintained strong cultural ties. The relationship between Slovenian and Czech culture was especially vibrant up until 1918, when both Central European nations were still part of the common Habsburg state. Cooperation continued throughout the 20th century, though the latter half—until a historic turning point—was marked by political pressures. Their rich dialogue is especially evident in literary translations. Slovenian prose and poetry have been translated into Czech since the 19th century, yet today’s Slovenian culture owes something of a debt in this regard. Ideally, Czech-Slovenian literary exchange should be reciprocal, but this is not always the case.

Following the political changes of 1989, Czech readers benefited more from translations of Slovenian literature—especially poetry—thanks in large part to František Benhart, who helped publish several anthologies of contemporary Slovenian poets. In contrast, only one anthology of Czech literature was published in Slovenia during that time. Few anthologies of Czech poetry or prose have been made available to the Slovenian public. The first comprehensive overview of Czech poetry (up to 1870) was edited by Ivan Lah (Češka antologija 1, 1922). It featured ten Czech poets and included a historical overview of Czech literature as part of the national movement. In 1967, editors František Benhart and Boris Urbančič published the anthology Čas nespečnosti. Izbor sodobne češke kratke proze (Time of Wakefulness. A Selection of Contemporary Czech Short Prose). The latest collection of translated Czech poetry in Slovenia, Nesrečno, srečni. Antologija češke poezije druge polovice 20. stoletja (Unhappily, Happy: An Anthology of Czech Poetry from the Second Half of the 20th Century), edited by Jana Šnytová, Tatjana Jamnik, and Petr Hruška, was published in 2012 and features thirty-three post-war Czech poets.

During the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st, individual Czech poets were translated into Slovenian, including Jaroslav Seifert, Vladimír Holan, and Jan Skácel. Among the authors included in this anthology, Petr Hruška and Petr Borkovec have also been translated. Czech prose is somewhat better represented in Slovenian, with translations dating back to Babička (The Grandmother) by Božena Němcová (translated by France Cegnar in 1862 and Joža Glonar in 1944). Hašek’s Švejk became a cult classic in Slovenia, influencing a specific style of humor.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the best-known Czech authors in Slovenia were the “Central European trio”: Bohumil Hrabal (1914–1997), a chronicler of a vanishing world and shaper of the modern novel; Milan Kundera (1929–2023), a controversial and provocative postmodern writer; and Václav Havel (1936–2011), a playwright, philosopher, and later a statesman. These three constants in Czech literature reflected the highest achievements in modern Czech prose and drama. Their work gained wider exposure partly because several Czech authors received the Vilenica Prize (Jan Skácel in 1989, Milan Kundera in 1992, Libuše Moníková in 1993, and Jáchym Topol in 2015).

Czech prose continued to be published in Slovenia even after the country’s independence, and this trend persists in the 21st century—with authors from this anthology such as Bianca Bellová, Radka Denemarková, and Jáchym Topol being featured. The era of “Normalization” significantly shaped Czech culture and restricted publishing freedoms. Only officially sanctioned socialist authors could publish, while poetry and prose were relegated to the underground. Books circulated through samizdat or were published abroad (notably by the 68 Publishers in Toronto, founded by Josef Škvorecký). Most of the authors in this anthology did not fully experience that era; a few began their careers underground (e.g., Jáchym Topol and Tereza Brdečková), but the majority are younger and know that period only secondhand.

After the end of normalization and the Velvet Revolution at the close of the 20th century, Czech literature underwent tectonic shifts that gave rise to the literature of the 21st century. Czech poetry and prose became more cosmopolitan and postmodern, embracing diverse poetics and seeing a notable decline in male dominance. One striking feature of 21st-century Czech culture is the rise of women writers. Their prominence is reflected not only in the number of literary awards they receive but also in how their presence surprises even Czech literary critics and historians.

More than thirty years after the watershed year of 1989, new authors in both poetry and prose have emerged and gained recognition. Their styles are bold, cosmopolitan, unconventional, and original. In prose, we find everything from classical storytelling to postmodern experimentation. In poetry, they construct unique and unmistakable lyrical worlds. The selected excerpts reveal authors who are original and critical of Czech society and global issues, unafraid to delve into the depths of language and push literary boundaries.

The authors presented here belong to the middle and younger generations. They work across genres, dedicating significant attention to both content and form, and often experiment with language. Some identify as regional writers, others are closely engaged with Czech cultural life, while some no longer live in the Czech Republic. Poets emphasize creativity and conceptual originality, exploring the limits of the Czech language. Prose writers are no longer confined to political and documentary literature, as was common during normalization. Nonetheless, their writing still reflects on Czech history and often addresses taboos—such as events following World War II or the forced expulsion of Germans. They also tackle contemporary social issues, criticizing nationalist responses to refugee movements and exploring threats to democracy. Amid these modern realities, they also explore universal themes, daily life, and psychological narratives.

Every selection is, by nature, selective, incomplete, and limiting. I believe that more authors could have been included—especially since many excellent Czech writers are active today. Nevertheless, I am convinced that this anthology is sufficiently representative and reflects the richness and diversity of contemporary Czech literary creativity.