Famous Czech Novelists

Milan Kundera is a Czech writer who became a naturalized French citizen in 1981 after going into exile in France in 1975. Although his Czechoslovak citizenship was revoked four years after going into exile, he received Czech citizenship in 2019, thanks to his achievements as a writer. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as the Jerusalem Prize.

Karel Čapek was a Czech writer, critic, and playwright. He is best remembered for his science fiction work, including his play Rossum's Universal Robots and his novel War with the Newts. Credited with introducing the word robot, Karel Čapek's works were celebrated after World War II. He was also nominated for the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature on seven occasions.

Bohumil Hrabal was a Czech writer who adapted an expressive style of writing. Hrabal, whose works have been translated into many languages, is counted among the 20th century's greatest Czech writers along with fellow satirists Karel Čapek, Jaroslav Hašek, and Milan Kundera.

Initially a bank clerk, Jaroslav Hašek later dedicated his life to writing. The Czech author is best known for his iconic historical satire The Good Soldier Schweik. He had also been imprisoned as a Russian prisoner of war during World War I and was known for his bohemian life.

Josef Skvorecky was a Czech-Canadian publisher and writer. He is best remembered for his work that aimed at supporting and publishing Czech literature, which was banned during the communist era. Josef Skvorecky received several prestigious awards, such as the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1980, Czech Republic State Prize for Literature in 1999, and the Angelus Award in 2009.

Ivan Klíma is a Czech playwright and novelist. A Holocaust survivor, Klíma went on to become an important writer. Over the course of his illustrious career, Ivan Klíma has received several prestigious awards such as the Franz Kafka Prize, the Magnesia Litera Award, and the Czech Literary Prize.

Arnošt Lustig was a Czech author best remembered for writing novels, plays, short stories, and screenplays. Some of his most popular books include A Prayer For Katerina Horowitzowa, Dita Saxová, and Lovely Green Eyes. Arnošt Lustig was honored with the National Jewish Book Award in 1980 and 1986.

Alois Jirásek was a Czech writer best remembered for writing plays and historical novels. An important literary figure, Jirásek received four nominations for the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature during his illustrious career. Alois Jirásek is counted among the most prominent Czech writers of all time.

Jiří Mahen was a Czech playwright, novelist, and essayist. After starting his career as a journalist for one of the leading Czech newspapers, Lidové noviny, Mahen went on to establish himself as a famous novelist and playwright. Among his most important works are Kamarádi svobody, Měsíc, and Jánošík.