Edvard Valenta

Background

Valenta was born into a family of a medical doctor.

Education

After secondary school (finished in 1918) he started to study at a technical university but left soon for the work of journalist.

Career

In 1920 Valenta joined the Brno office of the newspaper Lidové noviny and stayed here until February 1948 when he was purged away by the new communist regime. In December 1948 Valenta was taken into custody and in July 1949 given a short sentence. Although imprisoned for relatively short time his health has deteriorated.

Valenta was allowed to publish again during period of cultural liberalisation.

The novel depicts life of an intellectual who, affected by tragic events, decides to start a new life in a small quiet village, in distance from the civilisation. The cruelty of World World War II occupation graduates and at the end the main character of the novel is shot by retreating German soldiers.

Connections

colleague:

January Welzl