THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR: The Bloody Sonnets: Slovak literary giant’s warning against war comes alive on stage - in English

Hviezdoslav's message from 1914 remains just as relevant in 2025.

Oscar Brophy

Editorial

English-language theatre continues to thrive in Bratislava, exemplified by an ambitious adaptation of a Slovak literary classic. "The Bloody Sonnets" transforms the iconic poems of Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav into a compelling stage production, not only captivating local audiences but also slated for a performance in New York City.

SkryťTurn off ads SkryťTurn off ads Article continues after video advertisement SkryťTurn off ads Article continues after video advertisement

Hviezdoslav's "The Bloody Sonnets"—a cycle of 32 poems composed in August 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War—stand apart from much of the early war poetry of the time. While much of Europe's literary output during this period brimmed with patriotic fervour, Hviezdoslav's sonnets were bleak, prescient, and deeply critical. Written in Dolný Kubín, a town in what is now northern Slovakia,

Read more: LINK