“Jan Balabán is considered to be one of the best writers of the post-1989 period.”
— Podcasty – Best Books You Must Read

Jan Balabán (1961-2010) is one of the most popular and greatest Czech contemporary writers. He is a master of the short story, as proven by the fact that his volume of short stories Možná že odcházíme (Perhaps We Are Leaving) received the Magnesia Litera Prize in 2005, was proclaimed Book of the Year 2004 and was chosen as the best book of the noughties. In 2004 he was nominated for the Czech State Prize for Literature. In a survey on the most important Czech authors over the last 20 years, Balabán ended in the top three, together with Milan Kundera and Jáchym Topol. He was active in the literary and art scene of his hometown Ostrava. As co-founder of the group Přirození (The Natural – 1980), Balabán helped spread underground art by organising exhibitions and readings in attics, corridors, subways and terrils on the outskirts of Ostrava.
Balabán also made name with his novels, like Kudy šel anděl (Where Was the Angel Going?) and with Zeptej se táty (Ask Dad), which was posthumously published in 2010. The book was awarded with the Magnesia Litera Prize and was chosen as Book of the Year 2010.
His work focuses on the weak and less fortunate, who have to deal with the hardship of daily life and their personal traumatic history. Balabán presents very intimate pictures combined with a great eye for detail. He is a great storyteller and a master of language.
Novels
Černý beran (The Black Ram)
Host, Brno (2000)
Kudy šel anděl (Where Was the Angel Going?)
Vetus Via, Brno (2003)
Jsme tady (We’re Here)
Host, Brno (2006)
Zeptej se táty (Ask Dad)
Host, Brno (2010)
Volumes of short stories
Prázdniny (Holiday)
Host, Brno (1998)
Možna že odcházíme (Maybe We’re Leaving)
Host, Brno (2004)
Collective Works
Povídky (Short Stories)
Host Publishers, Brno (2010)
Romány a novely (Novels)
Host Publishers, Brno (2011)
Publicistika a hry (Articles and Plays)
Host Publishers, Brno (2012)