Ivan Wernisch

Ivan Wernisch (born 18 June 1942) is a Czech poet, editor and a collage artist.

In 1961, after publishing his debut poetry book, he quickly established himself as one of the best and most loved writers of his generation.

During the 70s and 80s he prepared many radio shows about famous poets of the world (in which he often – true to his interest in mystifications – wrote many of the poems himself), but his books could not be published officially.

His poems, full of great imagery based on neologisms, absurd landscapes and mis-quoting other writers, become increasingly sad, if not tragic, with each new book since 1989.

His books were published in translations in Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Poland and United States.