Milan Matějček

Milan Matějček
Milan Matějček on the Yukon River in 2005.
Born	Milan Matějček (1935-12-11) December 11, 1935 Prague, Czechoslovakia
Occupation	Writer, émigré
Nationality	Czech, Canadian
Alma mater	Czech Technical University in Prague
Literary movement	Exile literature, reflections on totalitarianism
Spouse	Jarmila Matějčková (nee Pohlová)
Children	2

Milan Matějček (born December 11, 1935) is a Czech writer and émigré, known for his novels and reflections on life under and after totalitarianism. He has resided in Canada since 1984.

Early life and education

Born into a family with deep ties to public service, grandfather was the director of the provincial customs office, and his father worked as a secretary in the same institution until his passing in 1966. His mother, a business academy graduate, died when he was ten years old.

After World War II, Matějček joined the 3rd Water Scout Troop in Prague and was a long-time member of the Slavoj Praha sports club.

Matějček attended Neruda Grammar School in Prague and was later accepted to the Central Bohemian College of King George of Poděbrady, a school that educated other notable figures such as Václav Havel and Miloš Forman. However, following the Communist coup of 1948, his family background, considered politically unreliable, prevented him from pursuing further academic education. The "final commission," a political body evaluating students’ future educational prospects based on family loyalty to the regime, assigned him to a mining apprenticeship school.

Refusing to accept this fate, Matějček trained as a carpenter while continuing his studies through evening and distance education. Despite systemic obstacles, he obtained a secondary school-leaving certificate and completed a pedagogical course designed to train teachers in polytechnic subjects, which included woodworking, metalworking, and basic technical skills.

Matějček eventually graduated with an engineering degree from the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT), despite his preference to study philosophy—a field inaccessible to him due to political restrictions.

Career

Initially working as a carpenter, Matějček later became a teacher of polytechnic education at a secondary school. His career took a transformative turn when he joined the Black Light Theatre ensemble in the 1960s. This avant-garde theatrical group combined pantomime and visual effects created through black-light illumination, captivating audiences worldwide. Starting as a technical director responsible for lighting and set design, Matějček eventually performed as an actor, touring internationally and experiencing a brief respite from the constraints of the regime.

Upon returning to Czechoslovakia, Matějček worked within the associated production of a Unified Agricultural Cooperative, an entity formed under state socialism to manage collective farming and rural industries. Here, he focused on artistic heraldry, creating intricate designs and emblems for cooperative and municipal use. Operating under the auspices of the Local National Committee, this work allowed Matějček a modicum of creative expression within an otherwise rigid system.

Emigration and life in Canada

In 1984, facing increasing pressure from the Communist regime, Matějček and his family—his wife Jarmila (née Pohlová), their nine-year-old son Petr, and ten-month-old daughter Adéla—illegally emigrated to Canada. His wife Jarmila hailed from the family of Oktavian Pohl, an entrepreneur whose factory had been nationalized post-1948. Oktavian Pohl resisted joining the Communist Party, which led to his imprisonment and his family's economic persecution. This legacy of defiance profoundly influenced the Matějček family's decision to leave Czechoslovakia.

In Canada, Matějček initially worked as a carpenter and designer before establishing himself as an entrepreneur in Vancouver. Despite the challenges of emigration, his family thrived. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Matějček returned to Prague periodically, maintaining a connection to his homeland.

Cultural activities

Matějček is a member of the Artistic Forum (Umělecká beseda) and the PEN Club, contributing to the cultural and literary community both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Literary work

Matějček's writing reflects his multifaceted life experiences. He published articles in the Czechoslovak magazine Domov - bytová kultura during the 1960s and later contributed to exile publications such as Zpravodaj and Nový domov. His essays and stories also appeared in Nový Polygon, and he writes for online platforms like Neviditelný pes and Přítomnost.

Bibliography

• Umírat se má na lačno (2008): An autobiographical novel recounting Matějček's life through the lenses of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This work explains the societal labels he endured, including being deemed "unsuitable" due to his family background, and explores his eventual decision to emigrate. Inspired by his discussions with Czech students, the book is considered one of the most powerful accounts of life in Czechoslovakia under totalitarianism.
• Cesta za svobodou (2014): This memoir details the Matějček family's arduous journey to freedom. With vivid descriptions of their clandestine departure from Prague, the book portrays the psychological and emotional toll of emigration.
• Miláček osudu (2019): A philosophical reflection on life's unpredictability, this novel blends autobiographical elements with fictionalized accounts of people confronting their destinies.