Unesco Cities of Literature celebrate book baptism

Posted: Friday Mar 20, 2015

The launch of Jindra Tichá’s first novel in English will present an opportunity to unite two UNESCO Cities of Literature at the Dunedin City Library later this month.

Born in Prague in 1937, Jindra Tichá gained her PhD from the Faculty of Arts at Charles University there, before immigrating to New Zealand in September 1970. She has worked for many years at the University of Otago, lecturing in philosophy and political science.

Since Dr Tichá’s first collection of short stories was published in the late 1980s by the exiled Czech publishing house 68-Publishers, she has had 18 novels published in the Czech Republic, and in 2012 was voted one of the most influential Czech personalities living in exile in a poll conducted by Czech Radio and Czech Television. Her latest novel Death and Forgiveness is published by Mary Egan Publishing and journeys between Dunedin and Prague exploring the loss of a homeland and the subsequent shattering of relationships. This is Dr Tichá’s first novel to be published in both Czechoslovakia and New Zealand.

The publication of Death and Forgiveness in English could not come at a more appropriate time, as Dunedin settles into the mantle of its first year as a UNESCO City of Literature. Reflecting the significance of the occasion, Mayor of Dunedin, Dave Cull, will ‘baptise’ the book with a sprinkling of champagne in a traditional Czechoslovakian ceremony.

Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the launch, courtesy of University Book Shop.

Event details:
Mary Egan Publishing extends a warm invitation to the launch of Death and Forgiveness.
Tuesday, 31 March at 5.30pm
Dunningham Suite, 4th Floor, Dunedin City Library
RSVP to: 03 474 3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz

All welcome

Books will be available to purchase through University Book Shop during the evening – EFTPOS available