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Magdaléna Platzová is a Czech novelist, short story writer and cultural journalist. After studying in the USA and England, she earned her Mgr (equivalent of MA) degree in Philosophy at Charles University in Prague. She is the author of 10 books of fiction, numerous essays, reviews, columns and interviews. She taught a course on Franz Kafka at NYU in Prague and at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University in New York. Beside literature, she has a life long interest in theatre. She worked as a professional actress and an Assistant Director in Prague and has written two plays. For the last 17 years she has lived in New York, USA and in Lyon, France. She returned to her native Prague in the summer of 2026. Her last novel published in English is Life After Kafka (Bellevue Literary Press, 2024)
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Aaron ́s Leap (2006) – A historical novel inspired by the life of Austrian born Jewish painter and art teacher Friedl Dicker-Brandeis who is best known for her work with Jewish children in the Ghetto of Theresienstadt in 1942-44. In English – The Bellevue Literary Press, New York, 2014
The Recycled Man (2008) – short stories. In English -The Nails. The London Literary Magazine, London.
Alphonsine, Counterfeits, Luc Sante & Rosanna Warren, Editors. Two Lines, World Writin Translation XVIII.
Anarchista (2014) - A historical novel based on lives of Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman about the legacy of radical politics and relationships. A powerful story of personal and political transformation. In English published as The Attempt, translated by Alex Zucker, The Bellevue Literary Press, New York, 2016
We Have Bare Hands (2019) - a fictional but well researched diary of a student from 1989. Book for young adults about the events of 1989 in former Czechoslovakia.
Life after Kafka (2023) - a novel dealing with the history of 20. century. Felice Bauer, Max Brod, Salman Shocken, Grete Bloch are the main characters who not only all knew Franz Kafka but also survived the Second World War and continued their lives as immigrees in different parts of the world. In English translated by Alex Zucker, Bellevue Literary Press, 2024
One Woman Phase (2025) - Short stories.
SELECTED LISTINGS AND NOMINATIONS:
Aaron‘s Leap - 2006 Lidove noviny Book of the Year Award finalist
2017 Jewish Book Council‘ s Jewish Feminist perspective reading list
Anarchista - 2015 The Czech Book Award finalist In 2017 The Attempt (Anarchista) is selected by Culture trip asi one of the „10 Books about Occupy Wall Street you Need to Read“, is among World Literature Today Notable
Translations of 2016 and is longlisted for 2018 International Dublin Literary Award
Life After Kafka – 2023 Magnesia Litera finalist.
2024 Necessary fiction Most memorable books of the year list
One Woman Phase - 2025 Magnesia Litera finalist
Some praise for Life After Kafka:
https://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/life-after-kafka-a-novel
https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/life-after-kafka
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/10/books/review/historical-fiction.html?
unlocked_article_code=1.RE4.7byc.W7PvS3DxUDOl&smid=url-share
https://www.asymptotejournal.com/blog/2024/10/03/a-literary-cocktail-of-fiction-non-fiction-and-
autofiction-on-after-kafka-by-magdalena-platzova/
https://thelongestchapter.com/2024/09/18/what-happened-to-felice-bauer/
https://www.nysun.com/article/with-kafka-its-all-relative