Letter from Milada Součková to Jindřich Chalupecký dated 28 January 1969
28 January 1969
Dear friend,
Here I am writing to you again, but I don’t know if you’ll be in the right mood for me. That’s why I write hesitantly. But I think of you and your wife almost every day.
Sometimes I meet people from our country around here. Sviták was here, for example. The most encouraging encounter was with two young people, whom I had never met before. They were returning to Czechoslovakia. I got along with them. But with the mostly “official“ people I did not. It is interesting to me that the people who a few years ago – for they were already living here then – barely spoke to us “renegades“ and were full of patriotic fervour and conformism, now don’t seem intent on returning.
I’ve received a letter from Strahov – a second letter already. They said in the first one that they were preparing an exhibition of “neglected” authors – what a euphemism!! I sent them what’s been published. They wrote again and talked about possibly publishing a “selection“ of my works. Well, a selection of works makes sense a hundred years after your death, if that. And that’s a very different tune, and one I’m not dancing to yet. They even mentioned a royalty payment for my manuscript. But I think if you wanted to be so kind and had the time and felt like leading the effort, I’d be very happy. I’m a bit worried they might turn me into someone like Jan Čep – with all due respect – or a “Karolína Světlá du pauvre“. I’d either like to be presented as a living writer, or not at all. I’m most interested in the possibility of getting published, and I’d like it to be something that hasn’t been published yet.
I've been busy doing some urgent work, which is why it has taken me so long to write to you. But now I want to start working on my poetry again; I already have a draft, and in some time I'd like to send it to you in any case and you could do with it as you’d see fit and as time allowed.
The letter from the Museum of Literature was signed by Marta Dandová, Head of the Department of Literary Exhibitions and Education.
As ever and always,
Yours,
Součková
Dear friend,
Here I am writing to you again, but I don’t know if you’ll be in the right mood for me. That’s why I write hesitantly. But I think of you and your wife almost every day.
Sometimes I meet people from our country around here. Sviták was here, for example. The most encouraging encounter was with two young people, whom I had never met before. They were returning to Czechoslovakia. I got along with them. But with the mostly “official“ people I did not. It is interesting to me that the people who a few years ago – for they were already living here then – barely spoke to us “renegades“ and were full of patriotic fervour and conformism, now don’t seem intent on returning.
I’ve received a letter from Strahov – a second letter already. They said in the first one that they were preparing an exhibition of “neglected” authors – what a euphemism!! I sent them what’s been published. They wrote again and talked about possibly publishing a “selection“ of my works. Well, a selection of works makes sense a hundred years after your death, if that. And that’s a very different tune, and one I’m not dancing to yet. They even mentioned a royalty payment for my manuscript. But I think if you wanted to be so kind and had the time and felt like leading the effort, I’d be very happy. I’m a bit worried they might turn me into someone like Jan Čep – with all due respect – or a “Karolína Světlá du pauvre“. I’d either like to be presented as a living writer, or not at all. I’m most interested in the possibility of getting published, and I’d like it to be something that hasn’t been published yet.
I've been busy doing some urgent work, which is why it has taken me so long to write to you. But now I want to start working on my poetry again; I already have a draft, and in some time I'd like to send it to you in any case and you could do with it as you’d see fit and as time allowed.
The letter from the Museum of Literature was signed by Marta Dandová, Head of the Department of Literary Exhibitions and Education.
As ever and always,
Yours,
Součková
| Subject: | A Woman in the Pantheon |
| Author: | Součková, Milada |
| Title: | Letter from Milada Součková to Jindřich Chalupecký dated 28 January 1969 |
| Place of publication: | Chicago |
| Origin: | Jindřich Chalupecký fonds |
| Licence: | Free license |
