- Karel Michal
Karel Michal (pen name of Pavel Buksa,
December 28 ,1932 inPrague -June 30 , 1984 inBasel ,Switzerland ) was a Czech writer.After gymnasium he was not allowed by the regime to study at the university. He worked in several professions and later used this experience in his writings. Later, when the political obstacles were reduced he started to study medicine at the
Charles University in Prague but left it after sevensemester s.In 1960 Michal started to write for literary journal "
Plamen " ("Flame"), in 1961 he published successful collection of short stories. He worked as publish house editor, screen writer, as an editor in literary journal "Literární noviny " ("Literature News") and then as a professional writer. His novels were translated into foreign languages. Movie "Bílá paní" ("White Lady") directed byZdeněk Podskalský was based on one of Michal's short stories. In 1968, after suppression ofPrague Spring , he emigrated toSwitzerland . Here he worked as a guard, then as a teacher at a gymnasium. Hardness of being separated from his family and the nation contributed to premature death.elected works
* 1961: "Bubáci pro všední den", collection of short stories, one filmed as "Bílá paní" in 1965 [ [http://www.fdb.cz/filmy/4008-Bila-pani.htm] ]
* 1961: "Krok stranou", a detective novel.
* 1966: "Čest a sláva", a historical novel, filmed in 1968 [ [http://www.fdb.cz/filmy/5603-Cest-a-slava.html] ]
* 1967: "Gypsová dáma", a novel.
* 1976: "Tak to na tom světě chodí", a theatre play.
* 1973 : "My občané mélští" ("We, citizens of Melos"), a theatre play. A historical parallel between fate of islandMelos during thePeloponnesian War and modern Czechoslovakia. Written by order of Swiss TV which however failed to show it for political reasons.
* 1977: "Rodný kraj", collection of humorous historic stories, by an exile publishing house.
* Collection of Michal's works was published in 2001, ISBN 80-7106-460-2.See also the Book Database of the Czech Republic. [ [http://sigma.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=nkc&ccl_term=wau=jk01081425+or+wkw=jk01081425 Karel Michal's books] in the the Book Database of the Czech Republic]
Literature
* Milan Jungmann: "Literárky - můj osud. Kritické návraty ke kultuře padesátých a šedesátých let s aktuálními reflexemi." ("
Literární noviny - my fate"), 1999, ISBN 80-7108-182-5. History of the journal since 1952 to 1969, when it was closed down. Jugnmann also wrote short biography of Michal for the posthumous collection of works.References
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