Václav Hrabe
Encyclopedia
Václav Hrabě was a Czech poet and writer, and the most important member of the Beat Generation
in former Czechoslovakia
.
to Jan Hrabě and Magdalena Kalinová. He spent his childhood and youth in Lochovice
and attended a high school in nearby Hořovice
. He graduated in 1957 and moved to Prague
, where he continued his education at the Faculty of Pedagogy, studying Czech language
and History. After graduation from the university in 1961 he served two years in the army. Upon his discharge he worked in a variety of jobs - as laborer, librarian, writer for the literary magazine Tvář (Face), and finally as teacher.
Hrabě's untimely death at the age of twenty-five (he died in his sleep, accidentally poisoned by carbon monoxide
), robbed Czech literature
of the most important poet of his generation. Hrabě is buried in Lochovovice.
He was briefly married (1962-64), and his son is Jan Mikšovský.
In 1965 Hrabě met and interviewed American poet Allen Ginsberg
during his visit to Prague.
, like the writings of other Beat Generation writers, was greatly influenced by jazz
and blues
music. He taught himself to play on clarinet
and saxophone
, and played with student bands
.
; later he edited and helped publish Hrabě's poetry in several editions. Some of Hrabě's poems were also set to music in the 1980s by Vladimír Mišík.
Poetry (publication dates in brackets):
Other works:
Beat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
in former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
Life
Hrabě was born in PříbramPríbram
Příbram is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 35,147. The city is located on the Litavka river and the foothills of Brdy, 60 kilometers south-west of Prague, the country's capital...
to Jan Hrabě and Magdalena Kalinová. He spent his childhood and youth in Lochovice
Lochovice
Lochovice is a municipality and village in Beroun District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is best known as a burial place of Vaclav Hrabe, the most important Czech poet of the Beat Generation.-References:...
and attended a high school in nearby Hořovice
Horovice
Hořovice is a small town in Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is the administrative and economical center of surrounding area. Its most known building is Hořovice Castle.- History :...
. He graduated in 1957 and moved to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he continued his education at the Faculty of Pedagogy, studying Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
and History. After graduation from the university in 1961 he served two years in the army. Upon his discharge he worked in a variety of jobs - as laborer, librarian, writer for the literary magazine Tvář (Face), and finally as teacher.
Hrabě's untimely death at the age of twenty-five (he died in his sleep, accidentally poisoned by carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
), robbed Czech literature
Czech literature
Czech literature is the literature written by Czechs or other inhabitants of the Czech state, mostly in the Czech language, although other languages like Old Church Slavonic, Latin or German have been also used, especially in the past. Modern authors from the Czech territory who wrote in other...
of the most important poet of his generation. Hrabě is buried in Lochovovice.
He was briefly married (1962-64), and his son is Jan Mikšovský.
In 1965 Hrabě met and interviewed American poet Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
during his visit to Prague.
Style
Hrabě's poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, like the writings of other Beat Generation writers, was greatly influenced by jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
music. He taught himself to play on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, and played with student bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
.
Works
Hrabě debuted in 1962 in the magazine Universita Karlova (Charles University), and some of his poems were also published in army magazines Zápisník, Československý voják and Obrana lidu. As a collection, his poems were published only after his death, however. It was primarily thanks to Miroslav Kovařík that Hrabě's poetry became widely known to his peers. Kovařík began promoting Hrabě as early as in 1965. Between 1965 – 1967 he dedicated literary evenings to Hrabě at the Docela malé divadlo (Just a Small Theater) in LitvínovLitvínov
Litvínov is a town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. The largest oil refinery in the Czech Republic is located there. Models Eva Herzigová and Iva Frühlingová come from Litvínov. The HC Litvínov ice hockey club is based in the town....
; later he edited and helped publish Hrabě's poetry in several editions. Some of Hrabě's poems were also set to music in the 1980s by Vladimír Mišík.
Poetry (publication dates in brackets):
- Stop-time (1969)
- Blues v modré a bílé (1977)
- Korunovační blues (1981)
- Černé nebe nad městem (1985)
- Blues pro bláznivou holku (1991)
- Blues (1995)
Other works:
- Horečka - short story (1967, 1994)
- Margot – theatre play (autograph lost)