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This History presents a broad canvas of post-war Czech
literary developments within the cultural and political context
of the times. Information is provided about the many English-language
translations from Czech literature, and the circumstances in which
these translations came about. Analysis is by way of quoting from
original Czech works, especially poetry, with English translation.
“Profiles of the Most Important Czech Writers since 1945” gives
biographical and bibliographical details about the most important
post-war Czech writers, and links to secondary literature in English.
The volume also includes a bibliographical list of the most important
works in English on Czech history, literary history and politics,
as well as a list of anthologies of Czech post-war literature in
English.
Originally published in Czech as part of a larger project
(Ćeská literatura od počátků k dnešku [Czech Literature
from its Beginnings to the Present Day], Prague, 1998, expanded
edition 2002), an updated version of this History was published
in German as Geschichte der tschechischen Literatur des 20.
Jahrhunderts (Vienna 2003). This English translation has been
entirely re-worked, taking the needs of the English-speaking reader
and student into consideration. The translation was made by Elizabeth
S. Morrison, in cooperation with Jiří Holy and Jan Čulík, Senior
Lecturer in Czech Studies at the University of Glasgow.
Writers Under Siege is intended for all readers
interested in or studying the literatures and cultures of Central
Europe. It is essential reading for students of Czech and Slavonic
Studies.
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Preface and Acknowledgments
The Development of Czech Literature
THE FORTIES AND FIFTIES
From May to February
1 Reverberations of War
2 The Testimony of Poetry
3 The Politico-Cultural Debate
4 The War Generation
5 Prose
The Bleak Years
1 Stalinism
2 Literature in the Grip of Dogmatism
3 Exile
4 Underground Literature
5 Signs of the Thaw
The Thaw
1 The Decline of Stalinism
2 Poetry
3 Drama and the Theatre
4 Prose
THE SIXTIES
Between Dogmatism and Reformism
1 The Rise of Criticism
2 Freedom of Expression
3 Politico-Cultural Polemics
A Happy Era in Literature
1 Poetry
2 Changes in Prose
3 Novels of Disillusionment
4 Literary Criticism
The Sixties Generation
1 The Development of the Younger Generation
2 Poetry
3 Drama and the Theatre, Prose
4 Singers and Songwriters
The Experimental Era
1 Poetry
2 Prose
Nineteen Sixty-Eight
1 Writers in Conflict with the Communist Party
2 “The Prague Spring”
3 Defeat of the Reformers
THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
Normalization
1 Restoring “Order”
2 Literature Divided The
Three Worlds of Literature
1 Literature Published in Czechoslovakia
2 A Grey Area
3 The Creation of Samizdat
4 Samizdat Literature
5 Literature in Exile
6 Drama and the Theatre
7 Literary Criticism
The Eighties Generation and Postmodernism
1 The Eighties Generation
2 Prose and Postmodernism
3 Drama and the Theatre
4 Poets and Songwriters
THE NINETIES AND THE EARLY TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Literary Life without Barriers
1 Change of Function
2 Poetry
3 Prose
Conclusion: Lines of Development
Profiles of the Most Important Czech Writers since 1945
Anthologies of Czech Postwar Literature in English
Notes
Bibliography
Index
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“This new English translation of Holy’s
work offers a comprehensive overview of postwar Czech literature,
focusing not just on the best known figures such as Milan
Kundera and Vaclav Havel but also including many writers who
are completely unfamiliar to international readers. During
the communist period, as was the case across the Eastern Bloc,
some of the most influential writers were erased from official
literary criticism for political and ideological reasons.
Since the end of communism, Czech scholars have been able
to present a more complete account of their nation’s recent
cultural history, and with the publication of Holy’s monograph
in English, Western readers now have access to one of the
most important Czech literary reference works of the last
decade.
Holy’s Writers Under Siege is an essential source
for scholars in Slavic and Central European studies, and may become
the definitive reference work in English on post-war Czech literature.
Hopefully, its appearance (published in the 40th anniversary year
of the historic ‘Prague Spring’) will serve as a starting point
for the further study and translation of Czech writers whose work
has until now remained unknown outside their native language.”
Europe-Asia Studies
“The curious general educated public will receive a well-rounded
picture of Czech literature in the years under consideration. As
for specialists, they too will find much to ponder and possibly
even come away with a reading list of potentially rewarding works
hitherto overlooked.” Slavic and East European Journal, Michael
Heim, University of California, Los Angeles
“The appearance of Holy’s book in English fills a
long-felt gap, as there has not been an English-language compendium
on the subject since Arne Novak’s 1976 Czech Literature
(revised edition 1986) which describes what happened up to the Second
World War . . . Holy’s book, already published twice in Prague as
part of the multi-authored project Czech Literature from its
Beginnings to the Present Day, 1998; expanded edition 2002)
and translated, in a somewhat different version, in German (2003),
will remaind a standard teaching aid for Czech and Slavonic Studies
courses for years to come.” Central Europe
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Publication Details
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Hardback ISBN: |
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978-1-84519-190-0 |
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Paperback ISBN: |
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978-1-84519-440-6 |
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Page Extent / Format: |
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360 pp. / 246 x 171 mm |
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Release Date: |
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November 2007 |
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Illustrated: |
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Yes |
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Hardback Price: |
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£55.00 / $69.50 |
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Paperback Price: |
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£22.50 / $37.50 |
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