I Don’t Talk to the Devil, But He Talks to Me

S Ďáblem se nebavím, ale on se baví se mnou (I Don’t Talk to the Devil, But He Talks to Me) by Jan Hábl is loosely inspired by C. S. Lewis's famous work The Screwtape Letters, which the author references respectfully while adapting it to today's reality. In the spirit of the original, an old tempter passes on his malicious advice to a younger disciple – and through this devilish correspondence creates a sharp, sometimes bitterly funny, sometimes disturbingly true mirror of the modern human soul. The author does not aim to imitate Lewis's classic, but to use its framework to reveal his own doubts, failures and searching. What tempts people nowadays? What warps them, destroys them and leads them away from the truth? And is it still possible to stand firm? The result is a text that is unafraid to name modern temptations and deceptions and the twists and turns of the human mind. Wisely and ironically, it reveals how subtly evil works today – unobtrusively, elegantly and often precisely where we don't notice it. The author does not claim to have the answers, but rather shares his own inner struggles and social observations in a literary form that is clever, fresh and chillingly relevant.

This evening with Professor Jan Hábl will be hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Jan Školník.

Opening remarks will be given by Tomáš Sedláček, director of the Václav Halva Library.

Excerpts from the book will be read by chaplain Daniel Kvasnička.

Jan Matásek will provide musical accompaniment.

Organised by the Václav Havel Library in cooperation with the Centre for Character Development.