Arnošt Lustig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arnošt Lustig
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Arnošt Lustig (2009)
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| Born | 21 December 1926 Prague, Czechoslovakia
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| Died | 26 February 2011 (aged 84) Prague, Czech Republic
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| Education | Journalism |
| Alma mater | Charles University |
| Occupation | Writer |
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Notable work
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A Prayer For Katerina Horowitzowa, Dita Saxová, Night and Hope, Lovely Green Eyes |
| Spouse(s) | Věra Weislitzová |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Franz Kafka Prize (2008), Karel Čapek Prize (1996), National Jewish Book Award for Dita Saxová (1980) and The Unloved: From the Dairy of Perla S. (1986) |
Arnošt Lustig (born December 21, 1926 – died February 26, 2011) was a famous Czech Jewish writer. He wrote many novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays. His works often told stories about the Holocaust, a terrible time in history when many Jewish people were persecuted and killed.
Contents
Life and Work of Arnošt Lustig
Arnošt Lustig was born in Prague, which is the capital city of the Czech Republic. During World War II, when he was a Jewish boy in Czechoslovakia, he faced great danger. In 1942, he was sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. These were places where people were held against their will, often because of their religion or background.
Surviving the War
From Theresienstadt, Arnošt was moved to other camps, including Auschwitz concentration camp and Buchenwald concentration camp. In 1945, he managed to escape from a train that was taking him to another camp called Dachau concentration camp. The train's engine was hit by an American plane, which gave him a chance to get away. He returned to Prague just in time to join the Prague uprising in May 1945. This was a fight against the German occupation of his country.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Lustig studied journalism at Charles University in Prague. He then worked for several years at Radio Prague, sharing news and stories. He also worked as a journalist in Israel during its War of Independence. There, he met his future wife, Věra Weislitzová, who was helping out as a volunteer.
Leaving Czechoslovakia
Arnošt Lustig was a strong voice against the Communist government in Czechoslovakia. In 1967, he spoke out at a big meeting of writers. He even left the Communist Party to protest his government's actions against Israel. After the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, ending the Prague Spring, he had to leave his home country. He first went to Yugoslavia, then Israel, and finally to the United States in 1970.
Teaching and Return to Prague
In the United States, Arnošt Lustig taught at the American University in Washington, D.C.. After the Communist government fell in Czechoslovakia in 1989, he started splitting his time between Prague and Washington, D.C. He retired from American University in 2003 and moved back to Prague full-time. He was given an apartment in the famous Prague Castle by the president, Václav Havel. In 2006, on his 80th birthday, he was honored for his important contributions to Czech culture.
Family Life
Arnošt Lustig was married to Věra Weislitzová. She had also been held in the Terezín concentration camp, but unlike her parents, she was not sent to Auschwitz. She wrote poems about her family's experiences during the Holocaust. Arnošt and Věra had two children, Josef and Eva.
Later Years
Arnošt Lustig passed away in Prague on February 26, 2011, at the age of 84. He had been battling Hodgkin lymphoma for five years.
His Famous Books
Arnošt Lustig wrote many important books that are still read today. Some of his most well-known works include A Prayer For Katerina Horowitzowa, Dita Saxová, Night and Hope, and Lovely Green Eyes. These books often explore themes of survival, hope, and the human spirit during difficult times.
Awards
Arnošt Lustig received several important awards for his writing:
- 1980: National Jewish Book Award for his book Dita Saxová.
- 1986: National Jewish Book Award for The Unloved: From the Diary of Perla S..
- 1996: Karel Čapek Prize.
- 2008: Franz Kafka Prize.
See also
- Transport from Paradise, a 1962 movie based on Lustig's novel
- Diamonds of the Night, a 1964 movie based on Lustig's short story
- A Prayer for Katerina Horovitzova, a 1965 movie based on Lustig's novel
- Dita Saxová, a 1967 movie based on Lustig's novel
- Fighter, a 2000 documentary film about Lustig
