Jiří Žáček 80 (2025)

This Czech-language book of reminiscences brings together witty stories and greetings to Jiří Žáček from his friends, literary companions and admirers, along with an extensive interview with the poet about his life and the many twists and turns of his creative work. It also contains photographic inserts and numerous illustrations created for Jiří Žáček by the contributors. Among the greetings is one from Jiří Suchý, who recalls feeling extremely old when he was the age Žáček is now, only to realize later that youth was gradually leaving him and middle age approaching. He writes humorously about his ailments, his flourishing plants, his collection of helmets, his difficulty walking upstairs and his ability to find an equivalent advantage for every disadvantage. Since he has not been in the woods for half a century, he compensates by lying down after lunch and once even dreaming that he was walking through a forest. Above all, he celebrates the fact that he continues to write, just as Žáček does, and wishes him many similar compensations and the joy of bringing happiness to his readers. He adds that Žáček’s poems help him when he feels down, and thanks him for them.