Povídka Kateřina Nováková jako náčrt hlavní vývojové linie v díle Jana Balabána

The article deals with the main line of development in Jan Balabán's prosaic works which can be called "from decline to hope". It is, unwittingly, outlined in one of the author's early short stories Kateřina Nováková: the story opens with the portrayal of an old man who is on the decline although he has never reached his peak; at the end a young couple heading towards new life and hope is depicted. The whole following author's work develops in this direction – although this development is not merely linear. The author's debut, a collection of short stories Středověk, is filled with the feelings of "decline", however, glimmers of hope are also present. They grow stronger in his following books and we could say that this line of development culminates in his collection of short stories Jsme tady. The last Balabán's novel Zeptej se táty can be considered as a view of one specific aspect of human hope.