Abstracts for Host 2/2007

When you write, you cannot pattern yourself on anybody, you only need your inner tone… Interview with Per Olov Enquist

On the occasion of publishing his novel The Book of Blanche and Marie in Czech, Per Olov Enquist, a prominent contemporary Swedish author, has given Host an interview. He speaks, among other things, about the origins and goals of his writing, about his relationship with theatre and film, and also about the role of the state in culture.

Antonín K. K. Kudlac
Daring men and women in fanciful worlds. Contemporary Czech fantasy literature

Fantasy literature presents a specific territory of literary production. Often neglected by theorists, but generally welcomed by readers. This applies not only to routine, profit-oriented products, because also high-quality literary works can be found here from time to time. Although we usually dub this genre “minority literature”, its impact on today’s culture definitely isn’t negligible. On the contrary, in view of its connections to other media, especially film, which more and more often processes its themes, this impact is growing stronger and stronger. Of course, this especially concerns the production of the Anglophone world, but also Czech fantasy participates in this process, though rather on a small scale. In spite of the fact that it mostly follows the international patterns, it still contains some original elements, particularly while using domestic background, referring to the artefacts of Czech culture, and also as concerns the typology of characters.

Marta Bartoskova
A farewell to the past. Icelandic literature at the turn of the millenium

The Icelanders have had an extraordinarily close relationship with literature since the times of the colonization of their country in the ninth century. This micro-nation’s cultural heritage, especially the medieval manuscripts, is still one the promulgated pillars of its national identity. The old Icelandic sagas are not only compulsory school reading, they are sought after by any Icelanders, regardless of their professions or educational background. The interest in contemporary creations is also vigorous. For this reason, the Icelanders like to call themselves, somewhat self-centeredly, the “literary nation”. Some malicious people, on the other hand, like to say they are rather a “book nation” – alluding to the number of new titles published each year and, logically, their unstable literary quality. Of course, it is not easy to be well versed in today’s book production. The latest works distinguish themselves by a much higher level of stylistic variety and thematic diversity than has ever been in the past.