Jan Křesadlo is one of the most interesting phenomenon in the Czech literature of late 20th century, yet his literary career was quite exceptional with the author’s exile and very late literary debut. This present report inquires into the main characteristics of Křesadlo‘s art, which are found to be the epic character of his prose, his rationalism, and ironic playfulness. The last point is attended to most in detail. The second part of the report follows the causes why Křesadlo‘s work is having so ambiguous reception and it is finding hardly its place in Czech literary canon. Unusual, nay, unapproved artistic methods, almost ostentatious outsiderness and heedless breaking of taboos seem to be the most probable causes.
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