Eduard Petiška (May 14, 1924, Prague – June 6, 1987, Mariánské Lázně) was a Czech poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright, and translator. He is best known as the author of books for children.
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After matriculating from gymnazium in Brandýs nad Labem in 1943, during the German occupation, Petiška was compelled to work in a factory in Čelákovice. Following World War II, he studied comparative literature and German at Charles University in Prague. After obtaining his doctorate in 1949, Petiška began his writing career, being initially influenced by the poetry of František Halas. He published without apparent hindrance throughout the Communist period. In 1977, he was a signatory of the "Anti-Charter", a pro-socialist declaration written in reaction to the anti-socialist Charter 77, a manifesto of the artistic opposition. The Anti-Charter was signed by over 2,000 artists.
His son Martin Petiška is also an author, publishing under the pseudonym Eduard Martin.
Petiška published nearly 70 children's books worldwide (usually illustrated by Helena Zmatlíková), even though this milieu was often avoided by writers living in Socialist states. In addition he translated the works of Goethe into Czech. Petiška was also an excellent interpreter of the legends and myths of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece, and published collections of fairy tales and myths.