Josef Škvorecký

Czech-Canadian writer and publisher (1924-2012)
Person human Q333741
Josef Škvorecký
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Josef Škvorecký was born on September 27, 1924, in Náchod[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], and died of cancer on January 3, 2012, in Toronto[9][1][2][3][4][6][7][8]. He held citizenship in both the Czech Republic and Canada. He was married to Zdena Salivarová and received his education at the University of California, Berkeley, and Charles University.

His professional occupations included writer, linguist, translator, publisher, poet, and prose writer[6][4]. He worked in the fields of literature, literary criticism, translation, and publishing house[4]. His notable works include The Cowards.

Throughout his career, Škvorecký received numerous awards, including the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Order of the White Lion 3rd Class, the Member of the Order of Canada, the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, and the Jaroslav Seifert Prize, among two others[10].

Josef Škvorecký

Summary

Josef Škvorecký is a human[1]. Born in Náchod[2], he… he was born on September 27, 1924[3]. He died in Toronto[4]. He died on January 3, 2012[5]. He worked as a writer[6], linguist[7], translator[8], publisher[9], and poet[10]. He ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (143 views/month, #7,258 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Josef Škvorecký's place of birth was Náchod[2].
  • Josef Škvorecký passed away in Toronto[4].
  • Josef Škvorecký was born on September 27, 1924[3].
  • Josef Škvorecký was born on January 1, 1924[12].
  • Josef Škvorecký died on January 3, 2012[5].
  • Josef Škvorecký died on January 1, 2012[13].
  • Among Josef Škvorecký's spouses was Zdena Salivarová[14].
  • Josef Škvorecký held citizenship in Czech Republic[15].
  • Josef Škvorecký held citizenship in Canada[16].
  • Josef Škvorecký worked as a writer[6].
  • Josef Škvorecký worked as a linguist[7].
  • Josef Škvorecký's professions included translator[8].
  • Josef Škvorecký worked as a publisher[9].
  • Josef Škvorecký's professions included poet[10].
  • Josef Škvorecký worked as a prose writer[17].
  • Josef Škvorecký's field of work was literature[18].
  • Josef Škvorecký's field of work was literary criticism[19].
  • Josef Škvorecký's field of work was translation[20].
  • Josef Škvorecký's field of work was publishing house[21].
  • Josef Škvorecký was employed by University of Toronto[22].
  • Josef Škvorecký was educated at University of California, Berkeley[23].
  • Josef Škvorecký's education included a stint at Charles University[24].
  • A notable work attributed to Josef Škvorecký is The Cowards[25].
  • Josef Škvorecký received the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[26].
  • Josef Škvorecký received the Guggenheim Fellowship[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Josef Škvorecký's place of birth was Náchod[2]. Recorded date of birth include September 27, 1924[3] and January 1, 1924[12].

Education

Educated at University of California, Berkeley[23], a public research university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1868[30], headquartered in Berkeley[31] and Charles University[24], a public university[32], in Czech Republic[33], founded in 1348[34], headquartered in Prague[35].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include writer[6], linguist[7], translator[8], publisher[9], poet[10], and prose writer[17]. Fields of work include literature[18], a type of arts[36]; literary criticism[19], a literary genre[37]; translation[20], an academic major[38]; and publishing house[21], a type of organization[39]. Josef Škvorecký was employed by University of Toronto[22].

Works and Contributions

A notable work attributed to Josef Škvorecký is The Cowards[25]. Things named for him include 26314 Škvorecký[40], an asteroid[41].

Recognition

Awards received include Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[26], a grade of an order[42], in France[43]; Guggenheim Fellowship[27], a fellowship grant[44], in United States[45], founded in 1925[46]; Order of the White Lion 3rd Class[47], a grade of an order[48], in Czech Republic[49]; Member of the Order of Canada[50], a grade of an order[51], in Canada[52]; Neustadt International Prize for Literature[53], a literary award[54], in United States[55], founded in 1969[56]; and Jaroslav Seifert Prize[57], a literary award[58], in Czechoslovakia[59], founded in 1986[60].

Personal Life

Among Josef Škvorecký's spouses was Zdena Salivarová[14].

Death and Burial

Recorded date of death include January 3, 2012[5] and January 1, 2012[13]. Josef Škvorecký passed away in Toronto[4]. The cause of death was cancer[61].

Why It Matters

Josef Škvorecký ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (143 views/month, #7,258 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 19 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[62] He is known by 36 alternative names across languages and contexts.[63]

Works attributed to him include The Cowards[64], a literary work[65]. Entities named for him include 26314 Škvorecký[40], an asteroid[41].

FAQs

Where was Josef Škvorecký born?

Josef Škvorecký's place of birth was Náchod[2].

Where did Josef Škvorecký die?

Josef Škvorecký passed away in Toronto[4].

Who was Josef Škvorecký married to?

Josef Škvorecký's spouses include Zdena Salivarová[14].

What did Josef Škvorecký do for work?

Josef Škvorecký worked as writer[6], linguist[7], translator[8], publisher[9], and poet[10].

Where did Josef Škvorecký go to school?

Josef Škvorecký was educated at University of California, Berkeley[23] and Charles University[24].

What awards did Josef Škvorecký receive?

Honors received include Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[26], Guggenheim Fellowship[27], Order of the White Lion 3rd Class[47], and Member of the Order of Canada[50].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Records of persons of interest. Retrieved . svazky.cz. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . svkhk.cz. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  3. [14] . wikidata.org.
  4. [15] . wikidata.org.
  5. [16] . wikidata.org.
  6. [23] . wikidata.org.
  7. [24] . wikidata.org.
  8. [18] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [19] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [20] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [21] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [6] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [7] . wikidata.org.
  14. [8] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  15. [9] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  16. [10] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [17] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  18. [22] . wikidata.org.
  19. [26] . wikidata.org.
  20. [27] . wikidata.org.
  21. [47] . wikidata.org.
  22. [50] . wikidata.org.
  23. [53] . neustadtprize.org. Retrieved . neustadtprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [57] . wikidata.org.
  25. [61] . wikidata.org.
  26. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . svazky.cz. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  27. [12] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . toronto.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  29. [13] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  30. [25] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [64] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [40] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [62] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [63] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_josef-skvorecky_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Josef Škvorecký}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/josef-skvorecky}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-19}}
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  1. 16d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Occupation writer, linguist, translator +5
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    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32084|batch #32084]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (26)"
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