JIŘÍ DRAŠNAR – DESPERÁT ČESKÉ PRÓZY
JIŘÍ DRAŠNAR –A DESPERADO OF CZECH PROSE FICTION

Summary/Abstract: The article is based on a parallel between two Czech authors, Jiří Drašnar and Josef Škvorecký, who apart from being born in Náchod, shared common exilic experience on the American continent. Their work was marked by both vivid storytelling and sceptical-critical depiction of the living conditions in the socialist Czechoslovakia. However, while Škvorecky, in his books, constantly showed admiration for the USA, Drašnar described also the negative elements of American society, and he did so in a rather ruthless and poignant way. Drašnar’s focus on the dark side of human beings and their societies was so consistent that it caused many readers’ disagreement and reservation. The article also points out, as well as appreciates, both experimental and lyric features of Drašnar’s work. Finally, the author of the article asks for more adequate evaluation of Drašnar’s literary legacy which is, of course, not so extensive as Škvorecky’s, but offers much more to Czech literature and its readers than it may seem to offer according to the current state of reception of Drašnar’s prose works.

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