Jaroslav Seifert (1901-1986)

Death: 10th January 1986
Location: Městském hřbitově / Municipal Cemetery, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Mělník District, Czech Republic
Photo taken by: Miaow Miaow
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Czech writer, poet and journalist. Winner of the 1984 Nobel Prize in Literature for his poetry which endowed with freshness, sensuality and rich inventiveness provides a liberating image of the indomitable spirit and versatility of man. 
He was born into a poor family in Zizkov, a working class area of Prague. He was member of the Communist Party; becoming editor of several communist magazines and newspapers. His first book of poetry was published in 1921. In 1929 he, along with several other writers, was expelled from the Communist Party for signing a manifesto against the new leadership of the Party. 
During the Second World War Seifert continued to write poetry that reflected the anguish of his country and even wrote a collection that celebrated the Prague uprising of 1945. In 1949 he left journalism to concentrate on literature. Seifert’s poetry celebrates the heritage of his country and he achieved recognition as a Czech national poet which entitled him to a state funeral when he died. As well as writing over thirty collections of poetry he also wrote children’s literature.

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