A visit to Vaclav Havel Library (22nd of August, 2018)

Vaclav Havel - a playwright, poet, intellectual and the first post-communstic President of Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic. I did not know too much about Vaclav Havel except for the fact, that Czech people respects him. That is why, on my Czech trip (20-25 of August) I have decided to explore more about him.

On the first day, I, after three hour sleep and hotel check-in, went to Wenceslas Square, visited the first bookshop and bought a biography of Havel, written by Michael Žantovský (founding member of the Civic Forum, press-secratary to Havel, the Czech ambassador to the US, Israel and the UK and Executive director of the Library).

The book is very interesting and written by a good language, that is why reading of it is a quite joyful experience (I have not yet finished). By the 22th of August, I have read about 150 pages, and it gave some information before visit to the Vaclav Havel Library.  

1. Logistic.

The Library is situated on Ostrovni street in Nové Město quarter, which is quite near to the Most Legií and subway station Národní třída. But I recommend to visit the Library after visiting the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle or some other nice attraction.

2. The Library.

When you reach the destination, you will see a little house with Knihovna Vaclava Havla billboard. You should press the call and the door will be opened by a very pleasant woman - Karolína Stránská (an ex protocol aide to Vaclav Havel, employee of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affair, Defence).

Compared to enormous JFK Library, Vaclav Havel Library have a rather small exposition, including an interactive guide to the important years and places in Vaclav Havel's life, picture gallery, little copy of Vaclav Havel's childhood house and some personal belongings (for example, a typewriter).

But the most interesting part of the visit was a half-hour discussion with Carolina (I wanted to take a picture with her, but did not have a chance) and some German man. We discussed different themes and it was a rather open, deep and intelligent discussion, and also I got a chance to find out a few facts about the late President. Because of that, the visit inspired me to discover something more about Havel, so I went to the bookstore and bought Vaclav Havel's Prague and Open Letters, and on Friday I bought Letters to Olga and To the Castle and Back.

And after reading Michael Žantovský biography, I am planning to translate it (I once translated The Age of Augustus by Werner Eck, but I need to give my brain a hard challenge) and I would like to visit the Library again, to hear or participate in some discussions.