Pavel Šrut facts for kids
Pavel Šrut (born April 3, 1940, in Prague – died April 20, 2018) was a well-known Czech poet and writer. He wrote many books, especially for children, and also translated works from other languages.
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Pavel Šrut: A Life in Words
Pavel Šrut started his journey in the world of words by studying English and Spanish. He went to Charles University in Prague and finished his studies in 1967. After university, he worked as an editor. This means he helped prepare books for publishing.
Becoming a Full-Time Writer
From 1972, Pavel Šrut became a freelance writer and translator. This meant he worked for himself, writing and translating books. He was part of a special group of Czech poets who published their first books in the 1960s. These poets were very important in Czech literature.
During a time when the Soviet government was in control, it was hard for many writers to publish their poems. Pavel Šrut faced this too. However, he was still allowed to publish books for children, which was great news for young readers!
Working with Artists and Musicians
Pavel Šrut often worked with Galina Miklínová, a famous Czech painter and illustrator. Together, they created wonderful books for children. One of their books, Verunka a kokosový dědek (published in 2004), was even recognized by IBBY, an international organization for children's books. His 1992 book, Kočičí král, was also on the IBBY list. This book was a collection of fairy tales from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Besides writing books, Pavel Šrut also wrote song lyrics for Czech musicians. He worked with artists like Petr Skoumal and the band Framus Five.
A Gifted Translator
Pavel Šrut was not only a celebrated poet and children's author but also a very talented translator. He translated many books from English and Spanish into Czech. He helped Czech readers enjoy stories and poems by famous writers from other countries. Some of the authors he translated include Dylan Thomas, Robert Graves, D. H. Lawrence, Leonard Cohen, John Updike, and Federico García Lorca.
Later Life and Recognition
Pavel Šrut lived in a town called Zdice. His work was recognized internationally. Western Michigan University even offered a special poetry fellowship named after him in their Prague Summer program. Pavel Šrut sometimes visited this program as a guest or a teacher.
