LIC publishes specialist periodicals and books of literary scholarship and criticism, which would otherwise have difficulties in finding a publisher. (LIC publishes no fiction or translations.)

PERIODICALS

KNIŽNÁ REVUE

A bi-weekly bringing information about currently published books: the only journal in Slovakia that systematically records new publications on the market. In addition to the information about new books, it brings reviews, lists of best-sellers, information about the activities of publishing houses, libraries and bookshops both in Slovakia and abroad, and interviews with literary personalities. Every quarter, a consolidated list of all new publications appears.

SLNIEČKO

Children's monthly with a long tradition (founded in 1927). Aimed at 8--12-year-olds, it brings stories and illustrations by Slovak authors and artists. Its consistently high standards have played an important role in developing the aethetic sensistivities of the young reader. Several generations of authors have found in its pages the inspiration for their later production.

SLOVAK LITERARY REVIEW

A periodical appearing twice a year in English (cca two thirds of the texts) and German. Its main aim is to bring information about Slovak writers of the 20th century. Until now, over 100 authors of all generations have appeared in its pages, including authors writing in the languages of national minorities. It has a print run of 2000 copies distributed to Slovak diplomatic representations, cultural centres (Slovak Institutes), translators, scholars, publishers and other persons interested in Slovak literature.

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BOOKS

In accordance with its remit, LIC publishes books of historical and literary scholarship, criticism, essays and literary theory. The readership it tries to address consists of literary scholars, students, translators of Slovak literature as well as all persons interested in Slovakia, its history, literature and culture.
           Among recent publications we may find the History of Slovak Literature (Dejiny slovenskej literatúry) by Prof. Stanislav Šmatlák, a synthetic work offering the results of a lifetime of research; Historical Documents concerning Slovakia and Slovaks (Pramene k dejinám Slovenska a Slovákov), a monumental collection of historical documents; The Documents of Slovak National Identity and Statehood (Dokumenty slovenskej národnej indentity a štátnosti), a smaller collection of official and legal documents.
           A document of a different kind is Tape Talk (Navrávačky), a complete transcript of 20 tape cassettes containing the thoughts of Dominik Tatarka, a Slovak writer and dissident, who had been banned from publishing after the 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia and thus he used the opportunities offered by his Prague friend Eva Štolbová and her tape recorder to unburden himself of his sharp comments and observations. (Published in January 2001.)
           Books of essays by well-known writers are represented by Talking to Oneself and to You (Rozhovory so sebou a s tebou) by the foremost poet Milan Rúfus; Inspirations (Inšpirácie) by Miroslav Válek, another poet (and former Minister of Culture); The Return to Certainties (Návraty k istotám) by the theatrologist, translator and critic, Professor Ján Boor; and The Poem and Silence (Báseň a ticho) by another poet, Ján Zambor.
           The reader interested in critical works may choose from numerous titles, for example a discussion of the work of ţhe poet Ján Stacho by Dalibor Hajko, or the analysis of the prosaic work of Peter Jaroš by Viktor Timura. Literary theory is represented by the book of Nora Krausova Poetics in the Age of For or Against (Poetika v casoch za a proti).

 

ALBUMS OF SLOVAK WRITERS

Publications which bring portraits of outstanding Slovak writers on free sheets.
Each album consists of 33 unbound sheets offering a concise but well-rounded profile of an author. It consists of a brief biography, bibliography (including foreign translations of the author's works), selected literary criticism and quotations from literary scholars and translators concerning the author and his work. The verso contains short selections from the author's writings. Naturally, there is also a photograph of the writer.

Published so far:

Album of Slovak Writers I. - the English version bringing the portraits of 16 writers and 17 poets.

Album of Slovak Writers II. – the English version bringing the portraits of 16 writers and 17 poets.

Album of Slovak Writers III. – the English version bringing the portraits of 16 writers and 16 poets.

Album der Slowakischen Schriftsteller I. - the German version bringing the portraits of 17 writers and 16 poets.

Album der Slowakischen Schriftsteller II. - the German version bringing the portraits of 16 writers and 17 poets.

Album des écrivians Slovaques - the French version bringing the portraits of 16 writers and 17 poets.

The project is to continue. The choice of authors varies from one version of the Album to another: it depends largely on what is being considered suitable for a given country as well as on the fact of a particular author having been translated into the language of the Album.

Further information about LIC (The Centre for Information about Literature) 
can be found at www.litcentrum.sk