Ivan Štrpka

 – Slovakia

The poet Ivan Štrpka (born in Hlohovec in 1944) published his first collection The Short Childhood of the Spearmen in 1969. Since then he has been an essential part of Slovak culture. He is co-founder of the poetry group Lonely Runners (Osamelí bežci). He has published a number of poetry books, a novel called The Hostage, a volume of essays. He was also the song lyricist for Dežo Ursiny and has received numerous awards. “Writing is a process I constantly exist in. There are many things I haven’t learned yet and haven’t given such concrete form that I would need. One needs writing not only to avoid insentience and madness, but also as an aide in his effort to develop the world of his own perception but giving it articulation,” says the octogenarian author.