Blatný, the son of the writer Lev Blatný, was a member of the Skupina 42 (Group 42 - association of Czech modern artists).[1]
In March 1948, after the communist seizure of power in his native country, Blatný left his country - just one of many figures in Czech Literature who chose to emigrate rather than go underground. However, he found life in exile difficult, as did many other émigré Czech writers such as Ivan Diviš. During his subsequent life in the United Kingdom, he spent time in various mental hospitals, suffering from paranoid fear that StB agents will kidnap him back to Czechoslovakia.[2]
From 1984 until shortly before his death, he lived in a retirement home in Clacton-on-Sea. A plaque commemorating his stay can be seen on the wall of the Edensor Care Home in Orwell Road. His ashes were taken to the Central Cemetery in Brno.[3]
In 2017 a new road on the site of the old St Clements Hospital in Ipswich was named Ivan Blatny Close in memory of the one time resident.
WorksEdit
At the beginning of his career, Blatný mostly wrote using conventional rhyming and rhythmic forms such as alexandrine quatrains, most notably in the Brno Elegies (Czech, Melancholické procházky; Prague: Melantrich, 1941). The correct translation of the Czech title is 'Melancholic Walks', but Blatný's original title Brněnské elegie was forbidden by the war-time censor for its suggestion that the poet might have been regretful about the German invasion of Czechoslovakia. The poems themselves make no reference whatsoever to contemporary events, but concentrate on Brno and its hinterland, with a beautiful hypnotic lyricism.
^Balajka: Přehledné dějiny literatury II. Prague: Fortuna 2005 p. 151. (ISBN80-7168-781-2)
^"Ivan Blatny: the strange story of a Czech poet in English exile", 2004
^Eva Bloch u.a. (Hg.): Grundbegriffe und Autoren ostmitteleuropäischer Exilliteraturen 1945-1989. Ein Beitrag zur Systematisierung und Typologisierung. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2004, ISBN3-515-08389-8)
External linksEdit
August 29, 2023
ivan, blatný, czech, ˈɪvan, ˈblatniː, listen, december, 1919, brno, czechoslovakia, august, 1990, colchester, united, kingdom, czech, poet, member, skupina, group, contents, life, works, publications, criticism, also, references, external, linkslife, editblatn. Ivan Blatny Czech ˈɪvan ˈblatniː listen 21 December 1919 in Brno Czechoslovakia 5 August 1990 in Colchester United Kingdom was a Czech poet and a member of Skupina 42 Group 42 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Publications 4 Criticism 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksLife EditBlatny the son of the writer Lev Blatny was a member of the Skupina 42 Group 42 association of Czech modern artists 1 In March 1948 after the communist seizure of power in his native country Blatny left his country just one of many figures in Czech Literature who chose to emigrate rather than go underground However he found life in exile difficult as did many other emigre Czech writers such as Ivan Divis During his subsequent life in the United Kingdom he spent time in various mental hospitals suffering from paranoid fear that StB agents will kidnap him back to Czechoslovakia 2 From 1984 until shortly before his death he lived in a retirement home in Clacton on Sea A plaque commemorating his stay can be seen on the wall of the Edensor Care Home in Orwell Road His ashes were taken to the Central Cemetery in Brno 3 In 2017 a new road on the site of the old St Clements Hospital in Ipswich was named Ivan Blatny Close in memory of the one time resident Works EditAt the beginning of his career Blatny mostly wrote using conventional rhyming and rhythmic forms such as alexandrine quatrains most notably in the Brno Elegies Czech Melancholicke prochazky Prague Melantrich 1941 The correct translation of the Czech title is Melancholic Walks but Blatny s original title Brnenske elegie was forbidden by the war time censor for its suggestion that the poet might have been regretful about the German invasion of Czechoslovakia The poems themselves make no reference whatsoever to contemporary events but concentrate on Brno and its hinterland with a beautiful hypnotic lyricism Publications EditMelancholicke prochazky Prague Melantrich 1941 Tento vecer 1945 Hledani pritomneho casu 1947 Stara bydliste 1979 Pomocna skola Bixley 1979 Praha KDM 1982 Ivan Blatny The Drug of Art Selected Poems ed Veronika Tuckerova New York Ugly Duckling Presse 2007 Translations by Anna Moschovakis Matthew Sweney Justin Quinn Veronika Tuckerova Alex Zucker Criticism EditNenik Francis The Marvel of Biographical Bookkeeping Translated from German by Katy Derbyshire Readux Books 2013 Sample Hejda Zbynek Passer By The Poetry of Ivan Blatny Metre 12 Autumn 2002 171 84 See also Ivan Blatny The Drug of Art 2007 for essays by Josef Skvorecky Veronika Tuckerova and Antonin Petruzelka Review of The Drug of Art by Benjamin Paloff The Nation December 24 2007 Review of The Drug of Art by David Wheatley Contemporary Poetry Review October 2008 1 See also Edit Poetry portalList of Czech writersReferences Edit Balajka Prehledne dejiny literatury II Prague Fortuna 2005 p 151 ISBN 80 7168 781 2 Ivan Blatny the strange story of a Czech poet in English exile 2004 Eva Bloch u a Hg Grundbegriffe und Autoren ostmitteleuropaischer Exilliteraturen 1945 1989 Ein Beitrag zur Systematisierung und Typologisierung Stuttgart Franz Steiner Verlag 2004 ISBN 3 515 08389 8 External links EditEdensor Care Home and location of plaque Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ivan Blatny amp oldid 1165203156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
