Nezval, Vítêslav 1900-1958
Nezval, Vítêslav 1900-1958
PERSONAL:
Born May 26, 1900, in Biskoupky (one source transliterates city as Biskupy), Moravia, Austria (now Czech Republic); died April 6, 1958, in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic); son of Bohumil (a primary school teacher) and Emilie Nezval.Education: Studied law in Brno, Czech Republic; studied modern languages at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. Politics: Communist/Marxist.Hobbies and other interests: Music composition.
CAREER:
Writer. Literary adviser for Osvobozene divaldo.
WRITINGS:
Most, Koci (Brno, Czechoslovakia), 1922, 2nd edition, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
Pantomima, Ustredni studentske knihkupectvi a nakladatelstvi (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1924.
Wolker, Ustredni studentske knihkupectvi a nakladatelstvi (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1925.
Falesny marias, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1925.
Abeceda, Jan Otto (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1926.
Básne na pohlednice, Aventinum (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1926.
Diabolo, Vanek & Votava (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1926.
Karneval, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1926.
Mensí ruzová zahrada, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1926.
Akrobat, Rudolf Skerik (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1927.
Blizenci, Rozmach (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1927.
Dobrodruzstvi noci a vejire, V. Zikes (Plzn, Czechoslovakia), 1927.
Nápisy na hroby, Jan Otto (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1927.
Edison, Rudolf Skerik (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1928.
(With Karel Teige) Manifesty poetismu, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1928.
Zidovsky hrbitov, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1928.
Hra v kostky, Rudolf Skerik (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1929.
Kronika z konce tisicileti, Bohumil Janda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1929.
Smutecni hrana za Otokara Brezinu, Josef Portman (Litomysl, Czechoslovakia), 1929.
Sylvestrovska noc, Sfinx (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1929.
Básne noci, Aventinum (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Chtela okrást lorda Blamingtona, Jan Fromek (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Jan ve smutku, Bohumil Janda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Posedlost, Bohumil Janda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Slepec a labut, Ustredni studentske knihkupectvi a nakladatelstvi (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Snidane v trave, Aventinum (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Strach, Ustredni studentske knihkupectvi a nakladatelstvi (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Dolce far niente, Bohumil Janda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
Ze soboty na nedeli (screenplay story), 1931.
Schovavana na schodech, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
Sexualni nokturno, J. Styrsky (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
Signal casu, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
Tyranie nebo laska, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
Milenci z kiosku, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1932.
Pan Marat, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1932.
Pet prstu, B. Kilian (Brno, Czechoslovakia), 1932.
Skleneny havelok, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1932.
Jak vejce vejci, Druzstevni prace (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1933.
Zpatecni listek, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1933.
Na clunecní strane (screenplay), 1933.
Exstase (screenplay), 1933.
Strycek z Ameriky (screenplay scenario), 1933.
Monaco, Manes (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1934.
Sbohem a satecek, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1934.
Neviditelná Moskva, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1935.
Anicka skritek a Slameny Hubert, Dedictvi Komenskeho (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
52 horkych balad vecneho studenta Roberta Davida, anonymous, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
Frivolni basen pro slecnu Marion, Vitezslav Nezval (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
Praha s prsty deste, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
Ulice Git-le-coeur, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
Zena v mnoznem císle, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
Absolutni hrobar: Básne 1937, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
Josef Capek, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
Moderní básnické smery, Dedictvi Komenskeho (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
100 sonetu zachrankyni vecneho studenta Roberta Davida, anonymous, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
Matka Nadeje, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1938.
Prazský chodec, photographs by Jirí Vsetecka, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1938.
70 basni z podsveti na rozloucenou se stinem vecneho studenta Roberta Davida, anonymous, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1938.
Historicky obraz, Frantisek F. Muller (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1939, expanded edition, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1945.
Pet minut za mestem, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1940.
Manon Lescaut: hra o sedmi obrazech podle romanu Abbe Prevosta, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1940.
Loretka, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1941.
Za tichych noci (screenplay), 1941.
Balady Manone, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1945.
Svabi, Svoboda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1945.
Valerie a tyden divu, Frantisek F. Muller (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1945.
Stalin, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1949.
Veliky orloj, Frantisek Borovy (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1949.
(Author of verse) Bajaja (screenplay), 1950.
Zpívám zpev miru, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1950, translated by Jack Lindsay and Stephen Jolly as Song of Peace, Fore (London, England), 1951.
Z domoviny, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1951.
Antonin Slavicek, Orbis (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1952, translated by Ilse Gottheiner as Antonin Slavicek, a Great Czech Painter, Artia (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1955.
Kridla, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1952.
Tri musketyri, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1953.
Veci, kvetiny, zviratka a lide pro deti, SNDK (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1953.
Chrpy a mesta, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1955.
Dnes jeste zapadz slunce nad Atlantidou, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1956.
O nekterych problemech soucasne poesie, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1956.
Moderní poesie, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1958.
Z mého zivota (memoirs), edited by Vlastimil Fiala, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1959.
Valerie a týden divu (novel), 1970.
Alphabet, translated by Jindrich Toman and Matthew S. Witkovsky, Michigan Slavic Publications (Ann Arbor, MI), 2001.
Also author of plays.
EDITIONS AND COLLECTIONS
Dílo Vitezslava Nezvala, thirty-eight volumes, edited by Milan Blahynka and Jiri Taufer, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1950-90.
Nedokoncena, edited by Vlastimil Fiala, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1960.
Novy Figaro, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1962.
Kun a tanecnice, edited by Milan Blahynka and F. Dvorak, SNKLU (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1962.
Jak se z klubicka jezek vyklubal, SNDK (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1962.
Scenicke básne, hry, scenaria a libreta, 1920-1932,edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1964.
Hry, rozhlasove hry a libreta (1935-1940), edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1965.
Manifesty, eseje a kriticke projevy z poetismu, 1921-1930, edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1967.
Oci milenek. Výbor z milostné poezie, [Prague, Czechoslovakia], 1970.
Manifesty, eseje a kriticke projevy z let 1931-1941,edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1974.
Eseje a projevy po osvobozeni 1945-1948, edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1976.
Zázracné promeny, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1980.
Nezarazené bá: balady Manone, kun a tanecnice a verse z dalsích knih, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1980.
Deství, domovu, Morave: montáz versú, Knihovna Jirího Mahena (Brno, Czechoslovakia), 1980.
Az se ti zasteskne, Odeon (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1983.
Kniha basni v proze: Básne v proze: Veci, kvetiny, zviratka a lide pro deti: Juvenilie: Namety k filmum,edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1985.
Vesela Praha: Preklady libret: Pasma: Pisne, edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1986.
Nezarazené básne: Balady Manone: Kun a tanecnice,edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1988.
Balady a jiné básne vecného studenta Roberta Davida, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1988.
Pozustale básne: Melancholicti upiri: Jitro: Rikadla: Styrsky a Toyen: Prazska domovni znameni, edited by Milan Blahynka, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1990.
TRANSLATOR
Edgar Allan Poe, Básne, Rudolf Skerik (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1928.
J.A. Dílo, Rimbauda, Odeon-Druzstevni prace (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1930.
Stephane Mallarme, Poesie, Rudolf Skerik (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1931.
(With Jindrich Honzl) Andre Breton, Spojite nadoby,Manes (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1934.
(With Milos Hlavka and Bedrich Vanicek) Andre Breton,Nadja, Frantisek F. Muller (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1935.
(With Bedrich Vanicek) Paul Eluard, Verejna ruze,Manes (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1936.
(With Karel Teige) Andre Breton, Co je surrealismus?,Joza Jicha (Brno, Czechoslovakia), 1937.
Dora Gabe, Davno, Dedictvi Komenskeho (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1938.
Aleksandr Pushkin, Povidky versem a prozou, Melantrich (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1938.
(With Jan Rypka) Nezami, Pribeh panice, Evropsky literarni klub (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1939.
Raniero da Calzabigi, Orfeus a Eurydika, Frantisek F. Muller (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1940.
Heinrich Heine, Kniha pisni. Vybor z poezie, Svoboda (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1950.
Pablo Neruda, Juliu Fucikovi, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1953.
(With Josef Hejzlar) Mao Zedong, Osmnact basni na stare napevy, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1958.
Charles Baudelaire, Kvety zla, edited by Milan Blahynka, Mlada fronta (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1964.
SIDELIGHTS:
Vítêslav Nezval's prolific writings were distinguished by what was considered his unrivaled inventiveness and versatility. Many of his poems, including those in the collections Praha s prsty deste (title means "Prague with Fingers of Rain") and Absolutni hrobar: Básne 1937 (title means "The Absolute Gravedigger"), reflect the surrealism that Nezval embraced after the early 1930s. During that time the poet focused on death and darkness, often creating bizarre and grotesque images. Other works, such as 1924's Pantomima, feature comedy and fantastic rhymes, revealing Nezval's playful and lighthearted intent. These latter types of poems most represent the "pure" poetry he sought to achieve through his involvement in the movement called poetism. According to the theory of poetism, pure poetry—like music—appeals directly to the emotions rather than the intellect.
A nonconformist who was rebellious by nature, Nezval joined the avant-garde Devetsil organization in 1922. He fast became a leading exponent of the group's efforts to transform society through a revolution in the arts. That same year Nezval published his first volume of poetry, Most (title means "The Bridge"), and the epic poem Podivuhodny kouzelnik(title means "Marvelous Magician"). Another long—and popular—poem, "Edison," appeared in Nezval's 1930 collection Básne noci (title means "Poems of the Night"). Originally thought to be an ode to modern technology, the piece actually celebrates the poet as a liberator who transforms darkness into light. When Czechoslovakia became Communist after World War II, Nezval turned to writing propagandist poems, like those collected in Stalin. A change in his political stance is evidenced, however, in later works revealing the poet's disillusionment with Communist doctrine. In addition to poetry, Nezval wrote a number of plays and novels, as well as a volume of memoirs, Z mého zivota (title means "From My Life"), published in 1959.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:
BOOKS
Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 215:Twentieth-Century Eastern European Writers, First Series, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1999, pp. 289-294.
Bruby, Peter, Daydreams and Nightmares: Czech Communist and Ex-Communist Literature 1917-1987, East European Monographs, 1990, pp. 21-39.
Nezval, Vítêslav, Z mého zivota, edited by Vlastimil Fiala, Ceskoslovenský spisovatel (Prague, Czechoslovakia), 1959.
Martin, Graham, Three Czech Poets: Vitezslav Nezval, Antonin Bartusek, Josef Hanzlik, translated by Ewald Osers and George Theiner, Penguin (New York, NY), 1971, pp. 11-22.
Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism, Volume 44, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1992.
PERIODICALS
Melbourne Slavonic Studies, number 2, 1968, A. French, "The Czech Lyric Poet: Vítêzslav Nezval," pp. 21-38.
Panorama of Czech Literature, Volume 9, 1987, Milan Blahynka, "Vítêzslav Nezval," pp. 86-87.
Slavic and East-European Journal, winter, 1979, Maria Nêmcová Banerjee, "Nezval's ‘Prague with Fingers of Rain’: A Surrealistic Image," pp. 505-514.