Emil Hakl at The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and Chapter & Verse Festival

ON FLYING OBJECTS

Emil Hakl
Translated from Czech by Petr Kopet & Karen Reppin
http://www.commapress.co.uk/?section=books&page=OnFlyingObjects

The men in Emil Hakl’s fiction are, like the title of one story, oddballs. Whether evading the expectations of adult life, or finding themselves drawn to characters they’re simultaneously repulsed by, each one holds a mirror up to the peculiar failings of masculinity. But as they carouse, argue, philosophise and binge their way through the streets of Prague, they also offer the reader stark moments of insight and pathos. Given Hakl’s flair for the surreal, his laconic sense of humour, and unflinching scrutiny of those closest to him, it’s easy to see how these stories have elevated him to the status of cult hero in his native Czech Republic.

LAUNCH EVENTS:

CHELTENHAM - TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER at 7pm, Imperial Square
EUROPEAN LITERATURE NIGHT PART II
Emil Hakl, Anna Kim and Diego Marani. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith.
Leading Czech author Emil Hakl makes a rare UK appearance to launch the English translation of his collection On Flying Objects (Comma Press). In Cheltenham he will be joined by Korean-born Austrian novelist Anna Kim and Italian novelist, translator and newspaper columnist, Diego Marani.
Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Tickets: £6, Members - 10% discount
Reservations: http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/find-events/literature/l181-european-literature-night

LIVERPOOL - WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER, 8pm-9.30pm, The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool
SHORT STORIES OVER EUROPE
Emil Hakl will make a one-off appearance in the region to launch the English translation of his collection, On Flying Objects (Comma Press).
He will read with up and coming Serbian author Milos Ilic and a special Uk guest (tbc).
Emil is present thanks to the support of the Czech Centre, whilst Milos is here as part of the European Short Story Network, supported by the European Cultural Foundation.  
Part of the Chapter & Verse Festival.
With the support of the Culture Programme (2007-2013) of the European Union.
This project was subsidised by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

Tickets: £3 / £2
Reservation and information: tel: 0151 702 5324
email: info@thebluecoat.org.uk
http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/events/view/events/1144

About the Author
Emil Hakl (aka Jan Beneš) was born in Prague in 1958. After graduating from the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatorium, he worked as a copywriter and as the editor of the literary magazine Tvar. In the late 80s, Hakl founded an informal literary group called Moderní Analfabet. Hakl made his literary debut with two collections of poetry, followed shortly by a collection of stories Konec sveta [The End of the World] (2001). Since then Hakl has written a novel, Intimní schránka Sabriny Black [Sabrina Black’s Intimate Box] (2002), a novella, O rodicích a detech [On Kids and Parents] (2002), and a second collection of stories, O létajících objektech [On Flying Objects] (2004). O rodicích a detech (2002) won the distinguished Magnesia Litera Prize and has been adapted into a feature film by Vladimír Michálek.