Famous for: being a writer who became the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic Born: October 5, 1936, Prague Married: twice, Olga Splichalova, Dagmar Vestrnova Profession: playwright, writer, politician
From theatre to politics
Find words that mean: public praise, changes to a system, a place where beer is made
Havel was born to a family known for its talent for business and learning. As on the mainland in the early days of communist rule, in communist Czechoslovakia these interests were not encouraged. So, despite Havel?s love of books, he was taken out of school when he was 12 and sent to train as a chemistry laboratory assistant.
But Havel continued his studies in private. He launched a literary magazine at a cafe in Prague and began to take an interest in the theatre, working as a stage hand at first. In 1963, his first play, The Garden Party, was performed, achieving international acclaim. More plays followed, including one of his best known, The Memorandum, which was performed in New York in 1968.
At the time the young artist was writing his plays, change seemed to be coming to his country. A new leader was pushing forward reforms, and this time came to be known as the Prague Spring. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union did not approve of what was happening and in August 1968 it sent troops and tanks into Czechoslovakia to restore order. Havel was no longer allowed to work in the theatre and took a job in a brewery. He began to turn to politics.