Forbidden Edition Surfaces: The Brothers Lionheart in 1980s Czechoslovakia
In a period when the Communist regime tightly controlled what could be published and read, a powerful act of quiet defiance arose around Astrid Lindgren’s beloved book, The Brothers Lionheart. A Czech-Slovak publisher refused to bring the title to Czech readers, labeling it unsuitable for children. In response, translator Jarka Vrbová took a courageous, clandestine route: she printed a small run of secret copies, preserving the book’s message of courage, friendship, and the courage to imagine a better world.
Background: Censorship in 1980s Czechoslovakia
Under a surveillance-heavy system, the state dictated not only what could be written but how stories could be translated and distributed. Literature, especially works perceived as potentially subversive, was often subjected to political edits or shelved entirely. The decision to censor The Brothers Lionheart was less about the text’s merit and more about signaling control over children’s literature and the values it carried. For readers who sought stories that encouraged questioning authority and imagining alternatives to oppression, the regime’s restraint stood as a barrier, one made especially tangible for translators and publishers working in a constrained market.
Jarka Vrbová’s Secret Print Run
Faced with a formal refusal from the official Czech-Slovak publisher, Vrbová took a path that many in similar circumstances chose: she produced a handful of clandestine copies herself. About ten copies circulated, tucked away and shared among trusted friends who valued the book’s themes of resilience and moral courage. The act carried real risk: distributing banned literature could invite scrutiny, censorship, or worse. Yet Vrbová’s initiative preserved an essential thread of literary freedom, a reminder that translators, editors, and readers can be the last line of defense when official channels fall short.
A New Edition: A Public Memory and a Quiet Tribute
Today, the book reappears in a new edition designed to honor that hidden history while making the story accessible to a broader audience. Notably, the first spread features a photograph of Vrbová’s typewriter—the very instrument that turned a secret wish into a printed page. This opening image reframes the work as a collective memory, a testament to the power of translation and the stubborn persistence of storytelling under pressure. The new edition invites readers to reflect on how literature travels across borders and political borders alike, and how a single writer, one translator, and a handful of copies can challenge the status quo.
The Role of Svenska PEN
Among the supporters of this release is Svenska PEN, the Swedish writers’ association devoted to defending freedom of expression. By amplifying the story of Jarka Vrbová and the clandestine copies, Svenska PEN helps spark conversations about censorship, authorship, and the responsibilities of publishers, translators, and literary institutions. The project situates a children’s classic within a larger debate about who gets to read, who gets to publish, and how societies remember attempts to silence dissenting voices.
Why This Story Matters Today
The episode around The Brothers Lionheart is more than a historical footnote. It highlights the enduring tension between safeguarding cultural norms and protecting individual conscience. In an era where information can be instantly amplified and restricted at the pull of a political lever, the tale of a silent revolution through translation remains remarkably relevant. It asks readers to consider how translations can carry subversive ideas and how the act of publishing becomes a form of resistance—sometimes as simple as printing a handful of copies with a faithful, fearless breath of imagination.
Conclusion: A Reminder That Freedom Begins with the Page
The “forbidden edition” of The Brothers Lionheart, with its intimate image of a typewriter on the first page, is a celebration of literary resilience. It honors the translator who refused to let censorship erase a powerful story and shines a light on the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression. As Svenska PEN and others continue to advocate for writers and readers around the world, this edition serves as a reminder that books can defy borders, that courage can be translated, and that every page turned is a quiet victory for the human spirit.
