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Writers Under Siege
Czech Literature since 1945

Jiří Holẏ
The author, Jiří Holẏ, is Professor of Czech Literature at Charles University in Prague. The translators: Jan Ćulík is Senior Lecturer in Czech Studies at the University of Glasgow, Scotland; Elizabeth S. Morrison is a graduate of Glasgow University.

“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

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 Holẏ 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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