Vladimír Páral

Vladimír Páral (10 August 1932 – 10 August 2026) was a Czech writer whose work ranged from biting satire to works of Socialist Realism, produced under the communist regime.

Life and career Although born in Prague, he spent his early years in Brno, where his father was a military officer. After graduating from secondary school, he received technical training then went on to study chemical engineering at a branch of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Pardubice; graduating in 1954.

Páral worked at various locations until 1967, when he took a permanent position at the Institute of Scientific, Technical and Economic Information. He had begun writing in 1962, and made contributions to the local daily, Průboj, under the name Jan Laban. Five years later, he started to write novels and, in 1972, became an editor at Severočeském nakladatelství.

In 1977, he was one of the signatories to , a formal government document condemning Charter 77, a human rights initiative. In 1992, some classified documents were leaked, including a list of people who had allegedly worked for the StB (secret police), and Páral's name was on that list.

From 1995, he divided his time between Prague and Mariánské Lázně.

Páral died at a hospital in Cheb, on 10 August 2026, his 94th birthday.