Art and science are compatible in the life and work of Miroslav Holub.
Poet, writer and playwright Miroslav Holub was born in Plzen, Czechoslovakia, in 1923. Considered to be one of Eastern Europe's greatest writers, he is also an internationally respected clinical pathologist and immunologist.
Miroslav Holub says that a career in medicine never stopped him from writing poetry, but provides him with an environment where his creativity continues to flow. He has no desire to abandon science and dedicate himself solely to writing.
I would be...uncertain when I would be left with my words only.
As regards differences between the artistic and the scientific mind, it is not as great a divide as people think.
For Miroslav Holub, the writing of a research paper is the most challenging aspect of his medical career. The discussion section, where results are summarised, compared to other studies, interpreted and explained requires rational critique and careful consideration and use of language,
I have too much free-flowing imagination.
The demands of a full-time job have curtailed his time, and he is open about not fully participating in the literary community in his home country, and has always felt like an outsider,
From a simple reason, they know it better than me.
This episode of 'Folio’ was broadcast on 6 November 1984. The presenter is Patrick Gallagher.
'Folio' was initially a general arts programme, first broadcast on 20 September 1977 with a performance of 'La Ventana' by the Irish Ballet Company. The first series was subtitled 'The Arts in Ireland' and 'The World of Books' on alternate weeks, with Ciarán MacGonigal presenting the arts editions while Tom McGurk and Patrick Gallagher presented the literary ones. From the second series on, it became a books programme, though still taking an occasional look at theatre and other arts. It ran until 1985.
