Jáchym Topol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jáchym Topol
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Jáchym Topol with his book Chladnou zemí (September 2010)
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| Born | 4 August 1962 |
| Occupation | Journalist, novelist, poet |
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Notable work
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City Sister Silver |
| Parent(s) | Josef Topol and Jiřina Topolová |
| Relatives | Filip Topol (brother) |
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Jáchym Topol (born August 4, 1962) is a famous Czech writer. He writes poetry, novels, and works as a journalist. In 2017, he won the important Czech State Award for Literature for his book A Sensitive Person and for all his writing over the years.
Contents
Life
Jáchym Topol was born in Prague, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. His father, Josef Topol, was a writer and poet. His mother, Jiřina Topolová, was the daughter of another well-known Czech writer, Karel Schulz.
Early Writing and Activism
Jáchym Topol started writing song lyrics for the rock band Psí vojáci. His younger brother, Filip Topol, led this band in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
During this time, Czechoslovakia was under a communist government. People were not allowed to publish books or magazines freely. So, Jáchym Topol helped create secret, unofficial magazines. These were called samizdat publications. In 1982, he helped start Violit, and in 1985, Revolver Revue. These magazines shared modern Czech writing that the government did not approve of.
Because his father spoke out against the government, Jáchym was not allowed to go to university. He worked many different jobs after finishing high school. He was also arrested a few times for his secret publishing work. He also helped smuggle things across the Polish border. He was one of the people who signed Charter 77. This was a brave document asking the government to respect human rights.
After the Velvet Revolution
In 1989, a peaceful change happened in Czechoslovakia. This was called the Velvet Revolution. During this time, Jáchym Topol wrote for an independent newspaper called Informační servis. This newspaper later became a well-known weekly magazine called Respekt. He also worked for another daily newspaper, Lidové noviny.
Today, Jáchym Topol works as a program director for the Václav Havel Library in Prague. This library is named after Václav Havel, a famous Czech writer and former president.
Jáchym Topol has two daughters, Josefína and Marie, from his first marriage. He also has a son, Vojtěch Eliáš, from his second marriage.
Works
Jáchym Topol has written many different types of books. He is known for his poetry and novels.
Poetry
- Eskymáckej pes (Eskimo dog) (1982)
- Stěhovavá tvář (Migratory face) (1983)
- Noty pro podzimní bytost (Notes for an autumn creature) (1984)
- Miluju tě k zbláznění (I love you madly) (1988)
- This was his first collection of poems. It won the Tom Stoppard Prize for unofficial literature.
- V úterý bude válka (The war will be on Tuesday) (1992)
- Děsivý spřežení (Horrifying dog team) (2016)
- Udržuj svou ledničku plnou. Písňové texty a zhudebněné básně 1979-2021 (Keep your refrigerator full: Song lyrics and poems set to music, 1979-2021) (2021)
Novels
- Sestra (Sister) (1994)
- This book won the Egon Hostovský Prize in 1995. It was translated into English as City Sister Silver.
- Anděl (Angel) (1995)
- Noční práce (Nightwork) (2001)
- Kloktat dehet (Gargling tar) (2005)
- Chladnou zemí (Through a chilly land) (2009)
- This novel won the Cena Jaroslava Seiferta award in 2010. It was translated into English as The Devil's Workshop.
- Citlivý člověk (A Sensitive Person) (2017)
- This book helped him win the State Prize for Literature in 2017.
Novellas
- Výlet k nádražní hale (Outing to the train station concourse) (1994)
- This short novel was translated into English as A Trip to the Train Station.
Short Stories
- Zlatá hlava (Golden head) (2005)
- Supermarket sovětských hrdinů (Supermarket of Soviet heroes) (2007)
- Trochu Medu (A Little Honey)
Plays
- Cesta do Bugulmy (Road to Bugulma) (2006)
- This play has been performed in theaters like Divadlo Na zábradlí in Prague.
Translations by Topol
- Trnová dívka (Thorn girl) (1997)
- This is a collection of Native American legends and myths that Jáchym Topol translated from English into Czech.
Films Based on His Work
- Anděl Exit (Angel Exit) (2000)
- This movie was based on his novel Anděl.
- Sestra (Sister) (2008)
- This film was based on his novel Sestra.
- Citlivý člověk (A Sensitive Person) (2023)
- This movie was based on his novel of the same name.
Awards and Honors
- 1995 – Egon Hostovský Prize for City Sister Silver
- 2010 – Jaroslav Seifert Prize for The Devil's Workshop
- 2015 – Vilenica Prize
- 2017 – Czech State Award for Literature for A Sensitive Person and his life work
See also
In Spanish: Jáchym Topol para niños
