Ondra Lysohorsky
Encyclopedia
Óndra Łysohorsky was the pseudonym
of Ervín Goj (6 June 1905 – 19 December 1989), a Czech poet
of Silesia
n origin and awareness. He is known for his works written in Lach language (intermediate dialect between Czech
and Polish
) which was systematized and practically created as literary language by him. He also wrote in German
(Friedrich Hölderlin
was a large influence on his writing).
, Austrian Silesia
, within Austria-Hungary
, Goj began writing his poems around 1926, eventually making a name for himself in the 1930s shortly after adopting the Łysohorsky pseudonym. Following the Munich Conference, Łysohorsky quit his teaching post rather than collaborate with the Nazis. Upon German occupation, he fled to Poland
, where he joined a Czechoslovak military force shortly before the outbreak of World War II
in 1939. Captured by the Soviet Union
early in the war, he was interned by the USSR briefly before moving to Moscow
for several years.
While in Moscow his works first gained widespread recognition and were translated into Russian
by several influential writers, including Boris Pasternak
. He later returned to Czechoslovakia
after the war, but was severely hampered in his career by the local Communist officials, who disdained his poems (often openly critical of the regime) and the fact that he published in a local dialect and in German rather than write in Czech. Frustrated by all successful attempts to block his accession of any academic posts offered to him, he appealed directly to Joseph Stalin
via his Russian peers and was thus able to secure a teaching position and fellowship in local literary associations. He still continued to clash with the national authorities in the 1960s; following the successful publishing of a first volume of his collected Lachian poetry, the second volume was blocked from release by the government.
Nonetheless, over the course of decades following the war, a steady stream of Łysohorsky's work began to be translated and published abroad, such as an English release, Selected Poems (1970, ed. Ewald Osers
), which included translations by W. H. Auden
. David Gill also brought out a collection celebrating fifty years of Łysohorsky's poetry entitled In the Eye of the Storm (1976). While decently recognized by the international community during the Cold War
, it appeared as of 2011 that none of his work currently remains in print in English.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Ervín Goj (6 June 1905 – 19 December 1989), a Czech poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n origin and awareness. He is known for his works written in Lach language (intermediate dialect between Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
and Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
) which was systematized and practically created as literary language by him. He also wrote in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
(Friedrich Hölderlin
Friedrich Hölderlin
Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin was a major German lyric poet, commonly associated with the artistic movement known as Romanticism. Hölderlin was also an important thinker in the development of German Idealism, particularly his early association with and philosophical influence on his...
was a large influence on his writing).
Life
Born in FrýdekFrýdek-Místek
Frýdek-Místek is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It is the administrative center of Frýdek-Místek District. It comprises two formerly independent towns, Frýdek and Místek, divided by the Ostravice River...
, Austrian Silesia
Austrian Silesia
Austrian Silesia , officially the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia was an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Empire, from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
, within Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, Goj began writing his poems around 1926, eventually making a name for himself in the 1930s shortly after adopting the Łysohorsky pseudonym. Following the Munich Conference, Łysohorsky quit his teaching post rather than collaborate with the Nazis. Upon German occupation, he fled to Poland
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, where he joined a Czechoslovak military force shortly before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. Captured by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
early in the war, he was interned by the USSR briefly before moving to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
for several years.
While in Moscow his works first gained widespread recognition and were translated into Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
by several influential writers, including Boris Pasternak
Boris Pasternak
Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian language poet, novelist, and literary translator. In his native Russia, Pasternak's anthology My Sister Life, is one of the most influential collections ever published in the Russian language...
. He later returned to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
after the war, but was severely hampered in his career by the local Communist officials, who disdained his poems (often openly critical of the regime) and the fact that he published in a local dialect and in German rather than write in Czech. Frustrated by all successful attempts to block his accession of any academic posts offered to him, he appealed directly to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
via his Russian peers and was thus able to secure a teaching position and fellowship in local literary associations. He still continued to clash with the national authorities in the 1960s; following the successful publishing of a first volume of his collected Lachian poetry, the second volume was blocked from release by the government.
Nonetheless, over the course of decades following the war, a steady stream of Łysohorsky's work began to be translated and published abroad, such as an English release, Selected Poems (1970, ed. Ewald Osers
Ewald Osers
Ewald Osers , was a Czech translator born in Austria-Hungary. He was one of the most outstanding translators of Central European literature into English.-Career:...
), which included translations by W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
. David Gill also brought out a collection celebrating fifty years of Łysohorsky's poetry entitled In the Eye of the Storm (1976). While decently recognized by the international community during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, it appeared as of 2011 that none of his work currently remains in print in English.
Further reading
- Issue 8 of The Informer (International poetry magazine) published in 1968 in Oxford (Eds: Keith Armstrong, David Gill) translations of Óndra Łysohorsky poems with translations by Ewald OsersEwald OsersEwald Osers , was a Czech translator born in Austria-Hungary. He was one of the most outstanding translators of Central European literature into English.-Career:...
, Hugh McKinley and Lydia Pasternak Slater. Texts on Óndra Łysohorsky by Hugh McKinley and Boris PasternakBoris PasternakBoris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian language poet, novelist, and literary translator. In his native Russia, Pasternak's anthology My Sister Life, is one of the most influential collections ever published in the Russian language...
. A copy is held at the British Library - London.