Petr Sís: The Wall

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Petr Sís's most important book, THE WALL, is published in Hungarian by Csirimojó Publishers. The world-famous author, who turns 70 this year, will present the book in person in Budapest.

The book launch will start with a photo presentation by Petr Sís, which is also recommended for children, followed by a discussion and a book signing. The event will be in English, with Hungarian interpretation provided.

Moderator: Emese Révész, art historian
Translated by Flóra Peťovská

The WALL will be available for purchase at the event for the first time and can be ordered via www.csirimojo.hu/afal.

The birth of The Wall was inspired by a personal experience. When Petr Sís's son Matěj, aged ten, was asked on his way home from school whether his dad was one of the good or bad settlers, the author realized that pictures would be the easiest way to tell his American-born children about where he came from and how he grew up behind the Iron Curtain. (Of particular interest is that his wife Terry Lajtha is of Hungarian descent—the granddaughter of composer László Lajtha). The story is told in three voices: the voice of the historical chronicler, the voice of the adult reminiscing and the voice of the boy writing the diary. The oppressive black and white historical background, with only the red of stars and ties, contrasts with the bright colors of desire and freedom. It is the imagery and the personal diary entries that make the book truly special for children and adults alike.

In cooperation with Csirimojó Publishing, Czech Centrum, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Embassy of the United States of America