A gathering of storytellers

"The story begins with my wife saying that we should bring writers together that no one wants to see. And so I chose writers that represent three ancient cultures: Arabia, China and Berkeley, California."

The eminently quotable Michael March, poet and literary impresario, sits in his book-lined office overlooking St. Martin in the Wall Church in Old Town juggling three interconnected stories. The first is of the Prague Writers' Festival, now in its 19th year. The second is of the current festival, which launches this weekend, while the third is the sorry state of culture in this age of ours, something March's festival stands as a corrective to.

"In literature, there is no missing link," March declares, an apt characterization of the festival, which grows in strength with every annual staging. You wouldn't know it from the Czech press, which has been slow to recognize a major literary gathering in its own capital. But the foreign press has certainly taken notice: Along with the usual British, French and American journalists, Al-Jazeera will also be on hand this year. And, for March, an early victory is the number of Czech reporters scheduled to attend this year, suggesting that there's finally been a change in local media perceptions.

The Prague Writers' Festival always begins with a thematic idea that March and his associates then set about to concretely realize. The idea this year is "the story," and, as we live in a heightened political era, the stories are by necessity protests against the political status quo. "You might say that the writers this year are offering reports from besieged cities," March says.

As there are currently many besieged cities in the world, the festival's roster is wildly eclectic, more so than in years past. "It's a bit of a Chinese menu," allows March. "But that is necessary for the story." The Middle East will be represented by two of its greatest Arabic voices, Mourid Barghouti of Palestine and the renowned Adonis from Syria. There are also three important voices from China: Yang Lian, Ma Jian and Gao Xingjian.

As for that fabled third culture of Berkeley, California, it's more a state of mind. The poet Anne Waldman certainly represents the generation of American writers following on the heels of the Beats. But her fellow Berkeleyites are a few of the legends from the world of underground comics (if you want to stretch the theme, artists from the besieged American cities of the Vietnam years): Gilbert Shelton, Robert Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb.

All of these writers and artists, plus Anne Michaels from Canada, Wolf Biermann of Germany and Scotsman Iain Banks, are worthy examples of Shelley's idea that "poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world," an idea that March certainly subscribes to. "We stand in the face of kamikaze democracy."

Of all political entities, none is as excoriated by March as the Czech Culture Ministry, which has simply refused to give any support to the festival over the years. Prague City Hall has been very supportive, but that has not translated to higher levels of government.

"The ministry seems more dedicated to the prevention or abolition of culture," March says. "Literature frightens politicians, of course, because literature releases possibilities upon the world; we become aware of alternatives. The festival is living culture, while cultural ministers would rather approach culture as morticians."

There's another story within the stories of the Prague Writers' Festival, found in its poster and program art. For the first time, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art has granted permission for commercial use of a painting by Philip Guston. "For us, it's a perfect choice," March says of Guston's "Edge of Town," which has two of the painter's signature cartoon Klansmen in it. "Guston understood the power of stories in his work. His paintings are complex stories, with their simultaneity of humor and violence."

"It's funny, March adds. "When Czechs look at his characters, they think they're paneláky."

March also commissioned an original piece of art from Robert Crumb. His take on the state of the European Union debuts on this week's Night & Day cover.

The Prague Post will be doing in-depth interviews with a number of visiting writers, starting this week with Iain Banks (on page A8). Look for more in subsequent issues of the paper and on our Web site. And if you want to ask your own questions, a number of the authors will be doing signings at Big Ben bookstore.

The story continues?

Steffen Silvis can be reached at
ssilvis@praguepost.com