Novel
Živý bič
Not translated into English
Milo Urban · 1927
Synopsis
During the First World War, Ráztoky, an imaginary village in Orava far from the front, sees its men leave; requisitions, hunger and the first maimed soldiers bring the war into it. Eva Hlavajová, left alone with her child when her husband Adam goes off to the Russian front, goes to see the notary Okolický to obtain his return, and he abuses her distress; the village, which knows nothing, condemns her. Ilčíčka trembles for her son Štefan, and anger gradually spreads through the community, a true collective hero.
Context
The novel appeared in 1927 and at once placed its young author at the centre of literary life. It consists of two parts, Stratené ruky, made up of village destinies, and Živý bič, where the community acts as a single body; it is classed among the unanimist novels. A study published in Studies in East European Thought regards it as the most important Slovak anti-war novel of the interwar period. Hmly na úsvite, in 1930, and V osídlach, in 1940, give free sequels to it. Martin Ťapák brought it to the screen in 1966, and Michel Chasteau translated it into French in 2013.
Who it is for
A broad, dark novel, in an expressive language drawing on the speech of Orava, readable in French since 2013.
Prizes and reception
The most famous novel by its author, counted among the most translated Slovak works.