Jan Zahradníček

Who was Jan Zahradníček?

Jan Zahradníček was a Czech poet of the early and mid-20th century. Because of his writings and Catholic orientation he was imprisoned as an enemy of Communists after their coup in 1948.

From 1919 to 1926 he studied at Classical Grammar School in Třebíč. He then studied literature and comparative literature at Prague University. In 1936 he moved to Uhřínov to become a free poet and translator. From 1940 until 1948 he was editor of Akord Revue in Brno. He then became editor of Brněnské tiskarny in 1945.

In June 1951 he was arrested by Communist secret state police and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. In 1960 he was granted amnesty due to his tragic health situation and died the same year. He had four children, two daughters died from mushroom poisoning in the time of his imprisonment.