Education
In 1950, Pokorný graduated from Charles University in Prague.
In 1950, Pokorný graduated from Charles University in Prague.
He translated in French, German, Italian, Latin and Flemish. He did further study under January Patočka and later worked for Czechoslovakian Radio from 1965-1970. After his retirement from radio, Pokorný became active in samizdat activities.
He sat on the Czechoslovakian Radio Council from 1992–1997 and served the Rainer Maria Rilke Foundation as its president from 1992–1998.
Pokorný also had two stints as a lecturer at his alma mater. He was known for his translation of Edmond Rostand"s play Cyrano de Bergerac.
Pokorný also translated the works of Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Rainer Maria Rilke, among others In 2009 he published a book titled Parsifal.
He died on 23 August 2014 at the age of 87.