Writer Magdaléna Platzová will introduce her book Máme holý ruce (We Are Unarmed), about the events of 1989, and helm a debate on the theme “History doesn’t repeat itself”.

Until the final moment, it was unclear how elections in Slovakia would go. Will the rise of the extreme right continue, or can a government be formed from democratic opposition parties? Meanwhile in the Czech Republic it seems that neither scandals nor opposition parties can undermine the position of PM Andrej Babiš. What have the latest elections told us about Slovak society? What shape is Czech and Slovak democracy in 30 years after the attainment of freedom? And what role should journalists play in this area?

The life story of dissident and politician Ján Langoš, co-founder of the Public Against Violence movement, federal interior minister from 1990 to 1992 and founder of Slovakia’s National Memory Institute. Drawing on photographs and archival footage, the documentary Strážce paměti Ján Langoš (Guardian of Memory Ján Langoš) (directed by Břetislav Rychlík, original idea and screenplay by Alexander Balogh and Břetislav Rychlík) follows his widow Gaby as she visits a number of important places in his life and also features recollections from his childhood friends, two daughters, brother, colleagues and friends. The film doesn’t set out to map Ján Langoš’s life. Rather it attempts, in poetic cinematic language, to sketch the journey of an engaged person who tackled evil (and not just communism) head-on, a person governed by the belief that we must find the courage to be responsible for our own fates.

Ukraine’s bloody revolution of dignity took place six years ago. How much have the country and the then revolutionaries changed? What remains of revolutionary ideals? How does experience of revolution and persistent state of war bring together, or divide, a country? What to do with aggressive Russia? And how do the Czech public actually perceive Ukrainian events? Do we have anything in common? These questions will be discussed by elite Czech journalists who not only were “there” six years ago but follow Ukrainian events to this day.

Readings by authors nominated in some of the seven categories in the annual Magnesia Litera book awards. Presented by Pavel Mandys of organisers Litera.

On the human and religious rights of America’s original inhabitants

How “Our Foreigners” View the Czech Republic

There are many places and groups around the world who deserve the attention of human rights advocates. However, we would like to speak chiefly about the situation of minorities within Czech society. The focus will be on relations between majority society and minorities (including Roma, Muslims, single parents, the homeless the LGBT community), the challenges facing our society and combating prejudices and the problems that stem from those relations.

Readings by authors nominated in some of the seven categories in the annual Magnesia Litera book awards. Presented by Pavel Mandys of organisers Litera.

The Brno publishing house Větrné mlýny has brought out a collection of the dramatic works of Milan Uhde, written between 1964 and 2019, spanning over 1,000 pages. The book’s first introduction is taking place at the Václav Havel Library in the presence of the author and his guests.

The book Lidé roku 1989 (People of 1989) (Universum, 2019) presents the life stories of over 30 actors in the Velvet Revolution. Portraits of major figures in Czech and Slovak history, such as Václav Havel, Cardinal František Tomášek, Gustáv Husák, Jiří Dienstbier and Alexandr Dubček, are complemented by profiles of student leaders, senior figures in the Communist regime and its security forces and artists, as well as individuals who departed from public life soon after the events of 1989.

This year we mark a major anniversary for the founding document of modern Czech history. On 29 February 1920, the Czechoslovak National Assembly passed the first full constitution, a fundamental compact between free citizens concerning the functioning of democracy in our country. This constitution codified the basic legal framework of Czech statehood for over a quarter century. Or for even longer? Are its provisions still topical? What key principles were carried over to later Czechoslovak constitutions, and how did it inspire the current one?

Readings by authors nominated in some of the seven categories in the annual Magnesia Litera book awards. Presented by Pavel Mandys of organisers Litera.

The latest translators’ evening at the Václav Havel Library could be named “What does a new translation deliver?” The theme of the discussion will be repeat translations and the publication of previously translated of classic literature (and not just such works) in these new translations. Should this even be done? And if so, why and under what conditions? A poor or out of date existing translation, new findings in literary history or literary science and an attempt at a new grasp of poetics are all possible reasons. But are there others? The discussion will bring together leading translators who possess experience of such work, have critical spirits that allow them to weigh up reasons for and against and, above all, can reflect on the reasons why they have done so themselves at some time.

The Creative Mornings project takes place at many cities throughout the world and offers open encounters with noteworthy figures. Its aim is to inspire, connect people from different fields and to make interesting views and opinions from all kinds of areas accessible. The last Friday of every month brings inspiring orators, breakfast in the company of creative people and a visit to a notable venue in Prague. The theme of the March meeting is IDENTITY, from the perspectives of genetics and anthropology, and the guest will be forensic geneticist Halina Šimková.

The Stříbrná Skalice-born (1993) musician and composer Jan Senft has been performing under the pseudonym Člověk Krve for six years but has only brought out his first album, V kuchyni (Divnosti, 2020), this year. He proudly identifies with the tradition of Czech tramping and folk song-writing and discovers the forgotten stories of his region and brings them to life. However, he does not just describe the external landscape but also the spiritual and psychic ones. These are songs of forests, hills, trains, castle ruins and post-apocalyptic boarding houses.