Ivan Binar: Johnny in Pecka’s Pit

Ivan Binar was born in Boskovice in 1942. He studied history, art and Czech language and literature at the Institute of Education in Ostrava; throughout his life he worked as a teacher, served as an editor (or Editor-in-Chief) of the Tramp magazine and cooperated with theatres. In 1971–1973, he was imprisoned for anti-regime activities, and in 1977 he emigrated to Vienna, where he made a living as a translator and ceramics restorer. Six years later he moved to Munich, where he worked for Radio Free Europe. He returned to Prague in 1994. Binar has written around twenty books, both for children (e.g. Kam se poděl Jeníček [Where Did Johnny Go?], 2016) and for adults (Peckova jáma [Pecka’s Pit], 2016).