Daniel Hevier is an almost universal writer: he writes poetry, prose, essays, lyrics and scripts. He is also a dramatist and translator and editor of many anthologies. However, his extensive work bears the mark of top artistic quality, originality of form and appeal to readers. Hevier the miraculous child, by no means enfant terrible, started to write poetry that was playful, light, and rich with metaphors and humour. This was something new during the Seventies, when his first books were published (Butterfly Merry-go-round, In the Garden with My Father, Bird Drinking from the Track). His books from the early Eighties, Non-stop, Electronic Clown, and A Man Seeking the Sea, expressed the spirit of a generation that rejected the ideological clicháland pseudo-poetical ballast of the past, a generation that was enchanted by town life rather than the village and perceived the world with all its smells, tastes and darker aspects of reality. According to critics Hevier was the most remarkable talent in young Slovak poetry. After writing lyrical poems for adult readers he came with original poetry for children. Even his first works show characteristics that would later become typical for all his children`s books: playful lyricism, subdued comicality, masterful use of words, conciseness of expression in both prosaic and poetic forms. The playfulness of Hevier`s poetry has very much in common with children`s playfulness. However, his books for children are well composed and the author always works with an illustrator and typographer. He himself illustrated some of his latest books. Hevier`s texts for children are usually set in reality and shaped by his imagination. After several years spent in the publishing business Hevier made his comeback to poetry in the collection entitled Poems from the Advertising Campaign for the End of the World and also in the collection of song lyrics A Rusty-haired Girl.
