Karel Michal (pen name of Pavel Buksa, 28 December 1932 in

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

- 30 June 1984 in

Basel , french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese , neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

) was a Czech writer. After gymnasium he was not allowed by the regime to study at the university. He worked in several professions and later used this experience in his writings. Later, when the political obstacles were reduced, he started to study medicine at the

Charles University in Prague Charles University ( cs, Univerzita Karlova, UK; la, Universitas Carolina; german: Karls-Universität), also known as Charles University in Prague or historically as the University of Prague ( la, Universitas Pragensis, links=no), is the oldest an ...

but left it after seven semesters. In 1960 Michal started to write for literary journal '' Plamen'' ("Flame"), in 1961 he published successful collection of short stories. He worked as publish house editor, screen writer, as an editor in literary journal '' Literární noviny'' ("Literature News") and then as a professional writer. His novels were translated into foreign languages. Movie ''Bílá paní'' ("White Lady") directed by

Zdeněk Podskalský Zdeněk Podskalský (18 February 1923 – 29 October 1993) was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He directed 32 films between 1950 and 1987. Selected filmography * ''When the Woman Butts In'' (''Kam čert nemůže'') (1959) * '' Mu ...

was based on one of Michal's short stories. In 1968, after suppression of

Prague Spring The Prague Spring ( cs, Pražské jaro, sk, Pražská jar) was a period of political liberalization and mass protest in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. It began on 5 January 1968, when reformist Alexander Dubček was elected First Sec ...

, he emigrated to

. Here he worked as a guard, then as a teacher at a gymnasium. He married Viola Fischerová. Hardness of being separated from his family and the nation contributed to premature death.

Selected works

* 1961: ''Bubáci pro všední den'', collection of short stories, one filmed as ''Bílá paní'' in 1965 * 1961: ''Krok stranou'', a detective novel. * 1966: ''Čest a sláva'', a historical novel, filmed in 1968 * 1967: ''Gypsová dáma'', a novel. * 1976: ''Tak to na tom světě chodí'', a theatre play. * 1973: ''My občané mélští'' (''We, citizens of Melos''), a theatre play. A historical parallel between fate of island

Melos Milos or Melos (; el, label=Modern Greek, Μήλος, Mílos, ; grc, Μῆλος, Mêlos) is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea, just north of the Sea of Crete. Milos is the southwesternmost island in the Cyclades group. The ''Venus d ...

during the

Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) was an ancient Greek war fought between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies for the hegemony of the Greek world. The war remained undecided for a long time until the decisive intervention of th ...

and modern Czechoslovakia. Written by order of Swiss TV which however failed to show it for political reasons. * 1977: ''Rodný kraj'', collection of humorous historic stories, by an exile publishing house. * Collection of Michal's works was published in 2001, . See also the Book Database of the Czech Republic.Karel Michal's books
in the Book Database of the Czech Republic

Literature

* Milan Jungmann: ''Literárky - můj osud. Kritické návraty ke kultuře padesátých a šedesátých let s aktuálními reflexemi.'' ('' Literární noviny - my fate''), 1999, . History of the journal since 1952 to 1969, when it was closed down. Jugnmann also wrote short biography of Michal for the posthumous collection of works.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michal, Karel 1932 births 1984 deaths Czech male writers 1984 suicides Charles University alumni