Václav Hrabě
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Václav Hrabě (June 13, 1940, Příbram, Czechoslovakia – March 5, 1965, Prague, Czechoslovakia) was a Czech poet and writer, in Czech lands the only one important member of Beat generation, which was above all developed in the country of its origin, US.
Hrabě was born in Příbram as son of railwayman Jan Hrabě and Magdalena (nee Kalinová). His early years he lived in Lochovice near Beroun. He graduated at high school in Hořovice in 1957, then he went to Prague, where he graduated at Pedagogic college in Czech language and History in 1961. He joined (compulsory) army and after he returned from it, he worked in various jobs, e.g.: assistant worker, warden at school hostel, librarian at Town people library and worked also as poetry lector at magazine Tvář (in Czech language face). At last he has worked as a teacher in Prague 5th district since 1964.
In February 1962 he married and in August was born his son Jan Mikšovský. In 1964 he divorced.
Work of Václav Hrabě, as well as other Beat generation writers, was highly influenced by jazz and blues music. He learnt himself playing on several musical instruments, among other clarinet and saxophone, and concerted with student musical groups.
He met American poet Allen Ginsberg and wrote an interview with him (in 1965 when he performed in Prague).
Poetry of Hrabě wasn't published in books in his lifetime, all his collections was released posthumously, because of his tragical death in the age of twenty five, poisoned by carbon monoxide. He is buried in Lochvovice.
[edit] Work
Next to poetry and some prose he wrote presumably also a play, but that hasn't been never found. From his prose comes down only a short story Horečka (Fever).
The author debuted in 1962 in magazine Univerzita Karlova (Charles University) and in military newspapers Zápisník (Notebook). He contributed as a poet and publicist to Tvář, which he edited.
Between 1965 – 1967 his poems were in Docela malé divadlo (Just little theater) in Litvínov used to create a poetic work Stop-time (in 1967 published as a book) and got even musical, e.g. by Vladimír Mišík (record Pár tónů, které přebývají in 1989).
His verses evoke authenticity, free verse this effect increases.
- Horečka, in magazine 1967, as a book 1994 – the only come-down short story
- Stop-time, 1969
- Blues v modré a bílé, 1977
- Korunovační blues, 1981
- Černé nebe nad městem, 1985
- Blues pro bláznivou holku, 1991 – collection, which he has prepared in his lifetime already
- Blues, 1995]
- Margot – play, its holograph was lost
