The recent centennial of Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal and the publication of Harlequin’s Millions in a translation by Stacey Knecht is the impetus for a number of Hrabal-based events coming up this week.
On May 6, Knecht will be in conversation with writer Caleb Crain at 192 Books in New York City. And NYRB and New Directions are co-hosting a book release/100th birthday party on May 13 at DumboSky in Brooklyn that includes a screening of Closely Watched Trains, refreshments and a nice view of the city. The next day Knecht will be in conversation with fellow Czech translator Alex Zucker at the Word Bookstore.
There will also be Hrabal events in Boston and Washington D.C.
Anasoft litera 2014
There are a bonanza of literary events coming in the second week of May for whatever reason. Another of these is a festival associated with Slovakia’s biggest literary prize, the Anasoft litera, taking place in Bratislava, the shortlist for which was just announced last month.
The program is all in Slovak but so is the festival and among the highlights are readings by Jana Beňová, Uršuľa Kovalyk, Pavel Vilikovský and many others as well as discussions on subjects such as literature and politics, along with concerts, films and theatrical performances.
Read the festival program here
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