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Archive Collection description: HAV
Havel Collection (1985)
The playwright, political dissident and politician Václav Havel (1936-)
was born in Prague and first published his writings in literary journals
in 1955. In 1968 as a result of his campaigning for human rights Havel
was identified by the Czech Government as a dissident. As a result, in
1971 his works were officially banned and later Havel was forced to take
work in a brewery. In 1977 Havel was a co-founder of Charter 77, a human
rights movement. He was put under house arrest and in 1979 was sentenced
to four and a half years in prison for sedition. During this time his
plays were becoming better known and performed in the West. In 1988 Havel
assumed leadership of the Civic Forum opposition group and after the
resignation of the Communist Government he was elected President of
Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) in 1989.
Ref: Simmons, M "The Reluctant President: a political life of Václav
Havel" (London, 1991)
Contents
Literary material including rough copies of letters from Karel Hubka to Havel, letter from Havel to Hubka, carbon copy of Havel's notes on his play "Largo Desolato" and copy of Hubka's literal translation of "Largo desolato" from which Tom Stoppard made his adaption.1985
1 box
(Language) Czech & English
Unrestricted access
Publication: "Largo desolato" was first published as Havel, V "Largo desolato" (Munich, 1985), the English version was first published as Havel, V and Stoppard, T "Largo desolato: a play in seven scenes" (London, 1987)
A record for this collection is also available on the UCL Archives web site. To see it, please type HAV into the search field.
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This page last modified Tuesday 27 April 2010.
