Discovering Wallachia by Ludvík Vaculík and the Novel Axe

Vaculík was born in Brumov, which is now part of Brumov-Bylnice, into a family where his father worked as a carpenter. He began his career in Zlín at Bata, where he finished business school before moving to Prague. After studying at the University of Politics, he worked for the Czechoslovak Radio as Editor of the Main Editorial Office for Children and Youth, and also edited for Red Law and Literary Newspapers. His significant leap into major literature is widely seen as his novel Hatchet. This book was first published in 1966 and is noted as one of the last official works by Vaculík. Following this, the Prague Spring occurred, leading to the occupation by Warsaw Pact forces, resulting in Vaculík being banned from publishing. In the years that followed, Hatchet could only be found in samizdat and through translations by foreign publishers.
Join Kudy z boredy and the series Česko mezi řádky on a journey to explore the setting of the novel, Wallachia and Brumov.

The White Carpathians: a region that speaks softly but firmly

Hatchet represents Vaculík’s journey back to his roots – reconnecting with his language, the hills of Wallachia, and his family ties. This autobiographical novel depicts a father-son relationship through small events, reflections, and acknowledged contradictions. The storyline centers on a Prague editor traveling to see his brother in a village in Wallachia after their father passes away. This is not a journey focused on folklore but an exploration of what “home” means within a person, despite the changes in the world around them.

Vaculík’s story unfolds in the rugged borderlands of Moravia and Slovakia, near the White Carpathians and Wallachia, along with the town of Brumov-Bylnice, Brumov Castle, and the Vlárský Pass valley. These elements shape Axe: craftsmanship, authentic dialogue, dry humor, and a steadfast commitment to one’s beliefs. You can sense this in the landscape—steep hills, bubbling streams, yards, and farms where everything is evaluated based on durability. The austere allure of the frontier compels one to reflect on every step taken. This quality is mirrored in Hatchet: humor exists without exaggeration, and the prose does not seek applause.

Axe delivers a homecoming that is free of sentimentality. The father is a carpenter, while the son is an editor. Between them lies a plank that needs precise cutting; if not, its ripples will last forever. Brumov and the White Carpathians are not mere backgrounds but co-creators: contributing the novel’s seriousness, humor, and steadfastness. They also present readers with a straightforward question: What remains of home within oneself when time has taken everything else?

Readers describe the book with sentiments like “…as if you were at a family gathering listening to someone’s tale. Some stories weave together coherently, while others may not connect as much, prompting you to delve into the family’s life.” Vaculík himself noted on the author’s bookmark: “Different readers have differing opinions about my writing, but I often hear that Hatchet is the best… I recently proofread Hatchet, thinking it would bore me since I already knew everything about it. Yet, I was taken by surprise! It felt new to me! I was struck by how well it was written—intense and precise. It captures reality while being imaginative. I believe I could only achieve that once. What the author decides to write next is always uncertain since the core idea was fully realized in the first book…”

Two Thousand Words, samizdat and Petlice edition

After Axe, what else did the writer, columnist, and essayist Vaculík produce? He was among those who vocally demanded reform of the communist regime in 1968. He was a key figure behind the manifesto Two Thousand Words—a text that holds significant weight in Czech history. The onset of normalization led to Two Thousand Words being regarded as the high point of counterrevolution, marking Vaculík as one of the most persecuted journalists and writers in later years. Unlike many others, Vaculík chose not to emigrate; instead, he dedicated himself to publishing unofficial and banned literature. From the early 1970s, he led the samizdat edition Petlice, which published hundreds of volumes. Aside from his own works, Vaculík was also responsible for publishing works by authors like Ivan Klíma, Václav Havel, Karol Sidon, Pavel Kohout, Edy Kriseová, Lenka Procházková, Bohumil Hrabal, philosopher Jan Patočka, poets Jan Skácel and Jaroslav Seifert, and travel writers Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund, including reports and essays. These works were later made available officially after the Velvet Revolution, compiled into two collections: Spring is here and August Year.
Edition Petlice continued until 1990, but even after that, Vaculík frequently represented an uncomfortable viewpoint that challenged the prevailing trends in society. As one of the most notable and persecuted intellectuals in Prague during the latter half of the 20th century, he remained true to his unique and stubborn Valach roots. His thoughts from that era are most thoroughly documented in feuilletons that appeared weekly in Lidové noviny from 1989-2015, totaling over 1200 pieces. While he allowed his novels to be influenced by his origins, his feuilletons showcased his ability to be both personal and rigorously detailed.

Brumov-Bylnice and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ludvík Vaculík

Vaculík passed away on 6 June 2015 in Dobřichovice, and he is buried in his hometown. The inscription on his tombstone“I was here and perhaps I will come again” suggests a return to life from the same essence and possibly indicates the soul’s immortality. The Municipal Museum in Brumov-Bylnica honors his life and contributions through various exhibitions. In recognition of the 100 years since Vaculík’s birth in 2026, several events are planned, including a theater production based on the novel Hatchet, performed by Brno’s HaDivadlo at Brumov Castle. In Brumov-Bylnice, there will also be an educational trail guiding hikers through locations featured in his books and his life. It is also mentioned that a goat sculpture will be created, symbolizing Vaculík’s favorite animal that appears in his works.