Anton Hykisch Slovak novelist, playwright Date of Birth: 23.02.1932 Country: Slovakia

1. Early Life and Education
2. Professional Career
3. Literary Debut and Major Works
4. Historical Novels and Themes
5. Scientific and Children's Literature
6. Travel Writing and Awards

Early Life and Education

Anton Hykisch was born into a civil servant's family in Slovakia and received his education in various cities, including Banská Štiavnica, Pukanec, Levice, and Bratislava, where he studied at the Bratislava University of Economics from 1951 to 1956.

Professional Career

After completing his education, Hykisch held a series of jobs, including working at a research institute, participating in the construction of a railway, and working for an enterprise focused on horticulture and leisure activities. From 1962 to 1969, he served as a literary editor at Czechoslovak Radio, and later worked at the Central Library of the Slovak Academy of Sciences from 1969 to 1974. In 1987, he became editor and later director of the Mladé letá publishing house. He also served as a member of parliament from 1990 to 1992 and as Slovakia's ambassador to Canada in 1993.

Literary Debut and Major Works

As a member of the so-called Generation '56, Hykisch made his literary debut with the novel Krok do neznáma (Step into the Unknown) in 1959. The book was initially banned due to ideological concerns but was eventually published four years later. Hykisch's subsequent novels, including Sen prichádza na stanicu (A Dream Arrives at the Station, 1961), Naďa (1964), and Námestie v Meringe (The Square in Mering, 1965), explored the lives and ethical dilemmas of his contemporaries. Námestie v Meringe, based on Hykisch's own youthful experiences of attempting to flee the country in 1949, became a particularly acclaimed work.

Historical Novels and Themes

In the 1970s and 1980s, Hykisch published several historical novels, including Čas majstrov (Time of Champions, 1977), set in Banská Štiavnica in the 15th and 16th centuries. The novel's exploration of creative freedom and its convincing narrative structure made it one of the most widely read historical novels in Slovakia. Hykisch's subsequent historical novel, Milujte kráľovnú (Love the Queen, 1984), delved into the life of Queen Maria Theresa and the European history of the time.

Scientific and Children's Literature

Hykisch's interest in contemporary technology was evident in works such as the non-fiction book Kormidlo po nebo (Helm to the Sky, 1975) and Budúcnosť už teraz (The Future Is Now, 1987), which targeted young readers. For younger children, he authored Kamarát Čipko (Friend Čipko, 1989), a blend of fantasy and educational content about electronics.

Travel Writing and Awards

Hykisch also penned travelogues based on his experiences in Canada and China. In 1968, he published Kanada nie je "kanada" (Canada Is Not "Canada"), a reflection on his visit to the World's Fair Expo '67 in Montreal. Among Hykisch's numerous awards, he was honored with the "Cross of Pribina, 1st Class" by the President of Slovakia in 1998.