Josef Škvorecký Award goes to Emil Hakl

The winner was eventually determined by the head of the jury Vladimír Karfík after deciding between Emil Hakl and Ivan Klíma’s memoir Moje šílené století (My Crazy Century).

„Hakl’s book is a generation testimony and stands out largely thanks to its idiosyncratic language. He managed to tranform contemporary vernacular into a literary or even poetic one. Original language and peculiar worldview are the most crucial tools for an author. I believe that Emil Hakl’s contribution hasn’t been properly recognized yet,” says Vladimír Karfik. The fact that Ivan Klíma is Karfík‘s colleague and a friend made the decision making all the harder. „Ivan is one of the most respected Czech authors. His memoirs are remarkable and inventively put together. I’ve never even met Mr Hakl,“ concludes the head of the jury.