Radka Denemarková

“Certain words run through my head—words with a poisonous but liberating barb.”

Radka Denemarková was born in 1968 in Kutná Hora. She studied German and Czech literature at Charles University—then worked as a researcher, lecturer—and theatrical advisor at the exotic Divadlo Na Zábradlí.

“Doctor, I don’t think he can hold it any longer—his tongue is starting to hurt.”

That being said—absurdity and darkness flow through Denemarková’s work—: from Being My Own Enemy, Who’s that Banging on the Door, Money from Hitler—which received the Magnesia Litera Prize in 2007—to Death, You Are Running No Risk.

An outstanding interpreter of German-language literature, Denemarková has translated Brecht, Hauptmann, Bernhard, and Kroetz—and is presently translating the novels of Herta Müller.

“She was expecting a different reaction—one of conspiracy.”

Radka Denemarková lives in Prague.