Native of Czech capital Prague, Michal Ajvaz (1949), ranks nowadays among the best and most popular Czech writers at home and he has already achieved a significant response and recognition for his works internationally, too. He has published sixteen books – among them four novels, but also poetry, short stories and four books on philosophy. His most well-known books The Other City and The Golder Age were translated into several languages (e.g. English, French, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Slovenian, Swedish and Dutch. The US edition of The Golden Age reached No. 1 on UK´s list of Amazon Best Books of 2010: Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy Selections and made it also to No. 37 on US Top 100 Editor´s Choice: Best Books of 2010. One of Ajvaz´s short stories appeared recently in Korean translation, too, and it could be found in an anthology Prague – City Loved by Writers (프라하- 작가들이사랑한도시) published by Seoul-based publisher Happy Reading Books.

 

Michal Ajvaz´s visit to Korea was organized by Seoul´s Silver Train agency and the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, jr. also took part in the festival on May 14, 2011 and delivered the vote of thanks, while Michal Ajvaz recited one of Jeong Jiyong´s poems.

Thanks to the efforts of the Embassy of the Czech Republic and Ms. Ivana Bozděchová, Michal Ajvaz also visited the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies´ Global campus in Yongin to meet with the students of the Czech and Slovak languages. He presented them with a lecture, which was introduced by a short reading from his book and followed by discussion. He has also visited the Waujeongsa Temple in Yongin to see the 12 metres long and metres tall Lying Sakyamuni Wood statue, the world’s largest wooden Buddha statue and while in Seoul he also met with Korean journalists and publishers.

Bio-biblography of Michal Ajvaz – here

English-language reviews of Michal Ajvaz´s works – here