End of the World

Ivan Jirous, a pivotal figure in Czechoslovakia's cultural underground during the 1960s to '80s, believed rock and roll was key to enacting change against the oppressive communist regime. As the artistic director of The Plastic People of the Universe, he faced multiple prison sentences for his dissent, contributing to the civil rights movement Charter 77. This collection, the first major English anthology of his works, showcases his sophisticated poetry, prison letters, and critical essays, offering insight into the life of this complex and influential writer.