Slovak Literature in English Translation

Peter Pišťanek’s reputation is assured by Rivers of Babylon and by its hero, the most mesmerizing character of Slovak literature, Rácz, an idiot of genius, a psychopathic gangster. Rácz and his novel tell the story of a Central Europe, where criminals, intellectuals and ex-secret policemen have infiltrated a new ‘democracy.’ Slovak readers acknowledge Peter Pišťanek as their most flamboyant and fearless writer, stripping the nation of its myths and false self-esteem.  The novel is an uproarious and unsparing satire on both socialism and capitalism in the best Rabelaisian tradition, and in his monstrous anti-hero Rácz, Pišťanek has created a prescient portrait of Slovakia’s future prime minister Mečiar and other many other post-communist strongmen.