Aleš Rajský presents debut poetry collection in Prague’s Holešovice

The launch of the debut poetry collection “Kráskozvíře” by Aleš T. Rajský, a poet from the town of Slaný, took place in Prague’s Holešovice district. The book is published by Otevření and goes on sale on November 3.

The evening was hosted by poet and event organizer David Pillow. Rajský’s poems and their own work were read by Eva Blondýna Suková, Lunanera, Arturka Višněvá and Vojteška Hrazová; the author himself presented the book. Music was provided by Suková on guitar and Barbora Reiterová, who performs as BARRA, on piano and guitar.

According to the organizers, this is a long-matured debut by the Slaný bard with an underground bent: it recalls Charles Bukowski blended with the absurd flavor of Karel Pligal. Self-irony mixed with hangovers and melancholy builds into a frank story of a tireless bohemian hero who searches for himself through women’s charms and imperfections. The poems are accompanied by caricature-style illustrations by poet and artist Nika Krpa.

“It is a mix of lyricism and the underground, and a part of my life is hidden in it and thrown wide open at the same time,” the author said.

Aleš T. Rajský was born in 1976 and loves beer, coffee and electronic music. He has written poetry and short prose since his school days and has been published in “Lidové noviny” (2020), the almanac “Zpěvy ulice” (2023), the Brno fanzine DIO (2025) and a number of collections. He is also a “non-playing” member of the alternative band “Klářino odpoledne.” The main theme of his poems is women, he is inspired by the Czech underground and by poetry of the absurd and satire, and mythological motifs appear as well.

David Pillow called “Kráskozvíře” the book of a man worn smooth by life, an outsider who no longer wants to be one: “It is raw, underground and poetic. Anyone who loves Pligal, Bukowski or Krchovský will find their favorites here.”

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Around Prague, based on reporting by prazskypatriot.cz