From Slovakia to the World: Discovering the Most Translated Slovak Authors and their Works

Over 600 Slovak books have been translated into various foreign languages in the last two decades. This impressive number includes not only contemporary authors but also the classics of Slovak literature. Take, for instance, Milo Urban’s Zivý bič (The Living Whip) – a groundbreaking inter-war Slovak novel that vividly depicts life during the First World War. Its translation into French, among other languages, was a major achievement for Slovak literature. 

Western markets, especially Germany, have been remarkably open to embracing Slovak literature. Many Slovak authors, including Jana Beňová, Daniela Kapitáňová, Monika Kompaníková, Mila Haugová, Pavol Rankov, Dušan Dušek, and Michal Hvorecký, have had their works translated into German. 

Further east, the great success of the contemporary Slovak author Uršula Kovalyk stands out. Her novels of women’s fiction have become quite popular on the Arab market.

Perhaps the most translated and yet least known Slovak author is Kristína Roy (1860–1936). Born in Stará Turá, she was an acclaimed religious writer and editor of novels, novellas, short stories, and spiritual songs. Thanks to the (Lutheran) Evangelical Church’s endorsement, her works have been translated into 36 languages and have reportedly been found even in bookstores in Switzerland and France.

Pavel Vilikovský (1941–2020) is undoubtedly the most translated of all Slovak authors. His books have been published in no less than 14 countries, with translations available in Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, and even Arabic. His novel Fleeting Snow (originally Letmý sneh) is now available in an acclaimed English translation. 

Pavol Rankov (b. 1964) holds the distinction of being the second most translated Slovak author, while the late Rudolf Sloboda (1938–1995) claims third place. His books have been translated, among other languages, into Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Romanian, Slovenian, Hungarian, and of course Czech. The fourth position belongs to the late Milan Rúfus (1928–2009), who is remembered for his enchanting poetry and cherished contributions to children’s literature. 

Completing the top 5 is Daniela Kapitáňová (b. 1956), known to international markets for her novel Samko Tále’s Cemetery Book, written under this pseudonym. Told from the unique perspective of a mentally disabled protagonist, the story’s humour and insight hold up a mirror to Slovak society and recent history. The novel was even translated into Amharic in 2017, reaching an audience in the world’s second most spoken Semitic language after Arabic and the official language of Ethiopia.