At this revived traditional meeting of small publishers in  Táboř, South Bohemia we look forward to meeting you at (and beyond) our stand carrying new titles and tried and tested publications, as well as other essentials, from the Václav Havel Library. 

How dangerous is our environment? How unsafe are we making it? And what in our environment is harming us the most? The guest of Petr Koubský and Vítek Svoboda at the Václav Havel Library will be scientist Jana Klánová, director of the RECETOX Centre at Masaryk University; she has long been researching how our health is affected by chemicals that are added to products and migrate from them into the air, water and food and accumulate in nature and in human bodies. 

Why do schools still not reflect young people’s interest in 20th century history? According to a recent report from the Czech Schools Inspectorate, two-thirds of pupils and students consider the amount of time devoted to teaching contemporary history to be insufficient. Which topics are young people most interested in, and how do they believe they would contribute to their future lives? How do they think teaching ought to be conducted? And why is it so difficult to heed their concerns? Students and future and current primary and secondary school teachers will take part in the discussion.

Since taking up the post of U.S. Ambassador in Prague in January 2023, Bijan Sabet has been one of the most visible diplomats in the Czech Republic. In this special edition of In Conversation With… Ambassador Sabet will discuss a range of issues, including ties between Washington and Prague today, entering the world of diplomacy at a later stage of his career and the values he is keen to promote as his country’s representative in Czechia. 

Another episode of Josef Chuchma’s cultural quarterly Let’s get stuck in! 

A discussion featuring Respekt editors and their guests. Tomáš Brolík will chair the debate. For more information visit www.vaclavhavel.cz prior to the event. 

Will AI become the most successful author of all time? Will she write novels like Rushdie, Nabokov or Šabach? How will she influence the book industry? Whose job will AI make easier, and whose will it take away? Will she assist in editing texts, finding sources, or designing covers? And where do the ethical boundaries of using AI lie? Debating the future of the book industry in the age of artificial intelligence will be: graphic designer and founder of the AI for Children initiative Eva Nečasová, philosopher and AI researcher Dita Malečková and Czech Radio data journalist Michal Kašpárek. Moderated by Matěj Senft. 

What can we expect from the upcoming U.S. presidential elections? What difficulties are likely to accompany them? What is at stake for America, Central Europe, and the Czech Republic? Guests: Dan Grant (Carter Center), Cameron Munter, Martin Weiss (Echo) Moderator: Milan Babik

An evening dedicated to the founder of the Libri prohibiti samizdat library, the former political prisoner and activist Jiří Gruntorád, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday. Jáchym Topol will introduce the evening while Petr Placák will conduct a talk with the man of the evening. Among those sharing birthday wishes and stories will be friends, colleagues and supporters, men and women, including Eva Sedlářová and John Bok. 

This year once again the Václav Havel Library is taking part in the neighbourhood street festival on the nearby Opatovická St. Throughout the daylong cultural programme you will find our stand and exhibition in the garden on V Jirchářích.

Independent media play a vital role in democratic societies by reporting accurate information, free of government or other influence and pressure. Increasingly, they also play a crucial part in countering disinformation narratives. Independent media are, however, hugely outspent by state actors who invest billions of dollars in disseminating propaganda and exerting malign influence. Join the Václav Havel Library and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty for a discussion on the challenges of reporting the facts at a time when disinformation and propaganda are on the rise. 

On the 110th anniversary of the birth of Jiří Kolář (24 September 1914), his diary, from 1957–1958 is being published. It was discovered and prepared for publication by Vladimír Karfík. Excerpts from Jiří Kolář’s diaries will be read by Jáchym Topol. Evening organised in cooperation with the Czech Center of the International Pen Club and the Novela bohemica publishing house. 

The Argo publishing house is bringing out the book Zápas o Ameriku (The Struggle for America) by Jan Kaliba, Czech Radio’s former Washington correspondent, just as the U.S. prepares for a major electoral battle. Six weeks before election day, we will introduce this book, based on authentic voices from the field, in a debate on the underbelly of Trumpism. However, we will also talk about more timeless topics that the book focuses on. Do Native Americans feel American? What do Black Americans mean when they talk about systemic racism? And what is life like on the southern U.S.-Mexico border and just across it? Guests: the book’s author Jan Kaliba, former Czech Television U.S. correspondent David Miřejovský and Daniela Vrbová, a Czech Radio journalist with experience of America. Czech Radio Plus editor-in-chief Josef Pazderka will moderate.

Forty years ago, in September 1984, one of the most important post-war Czech translators, Jan Zábrana – who was also an outstanding poet, prose writer, essayist and editor, and a friend of Václav Havel’s since the first half of the 1950s – died at the age of 53. On this occasion, his new book EXCERPCE (EXTRACTS) is being published by Torst and will be presented during this evening. Two people who knew Jan Zábrana personally and edited his books with him at the Odeon publishing house will discuss the writer: Professor Jiří Pelán and Jan Zelenka, an editor of Anglo-American literature. Professor Jiří Trávníček from Brno, who has edited three of Zábrana’s books, will speak about his place in Czech culture in the second half of the 20th century. The evening will be hosted by Jan Šulc, who has edited the new Zábrana work.

How should the government create concrete economic policy? We often overlook the basics. Many measures should not need to be taken at all, given that they are better taken care of by markets, i.e., by the decision-making of a fragmented community of people. That said, markets themselves often fail and need politicians to put in place well-crafted rules or a suitable environment. We will discuss the basic principles of how to make use of the free decisions of entrepreneurs and workers, and how to help ensure such decisions do not cause harm top one another.