Good evening. Here is the Friday, August 1 edition of Today in Slovakia – the main news of the day in a few minutes.
How Slovak literature is breaking through in English
A new book aims to open a window into Slovak literature for English-speakers. (source: Institute of Slovak literature)
When Slovak-born professor Katarina Gephardt set out to teach Slovak literature in the USA, she found almost nothing in English. Gephardt began designing a study programme on Central European literature in 2007, but she quickly realised there was a gaping void: virtually no English-language resources on Slovak literature. “Paradoxically, I ended up writing the book I had once needed myself,” she told The Slovak Spectator.
That book, Home and the World in Slovak Writing: A Small Nation’s Literature in Context, was published by McGill-Queen’s University Press in March 2025. Co-edited by Ivana Taranenková and Charles Sabatos, the volume bridges domestic and international perspectives to spotlight contemporary Slovak literature and its cultural roots.
At a London book launch, scholar Tim Beasley-Murray praised its tone as “confident” – a sentiment Gephardt said echoed their aim: “This new tone of self-assurance … offers a fresh and powerful voice within the landscape of small literatures.”
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? The book explores key historical moments – from the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918 to the Velvet Revolution – and features themes like autofiction, memory, feminism, minority voices and translation. It includes contributions from scholars across Europe and North America, and concludes with a bibliography of Slovak works in English.
MORE READERS: Gephardt hopes the book reaches both academic and general readers, including descendants of Slovaks abroad: “Literature offers a powerful gateway to understanding a country’s history, identity and values.”
She believes Slovak literature offers “creative freedom and surprise” often missing from larger markets: “You never know what you’re going to get when you open a Slovak book.”
GOING GLOBAL? Recent translated works gaining traction abroad include Nicol Hochholczerová’s This Room is Impossible to Eat, Monika Kompaníková’s Boat Number Five, and In the Name of the Father by the mononymic author Balla. While Slovak literature may lack a Kundera-like global figure, Gephardt says it’s gaining momentum: “There’s a growing openness to reading beyond the Anglophone canon.”
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
Weekend: Slovakia is bursting with metal festivals, folklore celebrations, scenic hikes, medieval re-enactments, and much more to keep you entertained from city streets to mountain peaks.
Good news: This week brings the heartwarming story of a Zvolen boy who’s got local drivers beeping their encouragement, Slovak students demonstrating that you don’t have to drink to have fun, and a fairy-tale site coming to life in Orava – these feel-good stories will not only warm your heart but also boost your mood.
Infrastructure: The collapse of Retrack Slovakia, once a rising star in rail freight, has left over 100 workers unpaid and a €33m-a-year company facing bankruptcy – here’s what went wrong.
Russian connections: A key Smer party figure in Pezinok is linked to TV OTV, a pro-Kremlin disinformation outlet spreading Russian propaganda and stirring political controversy in Slovakia.
Development scandals: A Slovak motorhome rental company funded by EU farm subsidies vanished after selling its fleet, sparking fresh questions about misuse of rural development funds.
Investment: Slovakia’s revamped Green Dolphin bond-scoring scheme aims to boost market transparency and inform investors – but major players are so far refusing to cooperate.
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FEATURE STORY
A summer cycling escape along the Little Danube
Štrkovisko, a lake near Ivanka pri Dunaji, is part of our ride. (source: Matúš Beňo)
Looking for an unforgettable way to escape the city without leaving your bike behind? Just beyond Bratislava’s edge lies a scenic 35-kilometre cycling adventure perfect for families, weekend riders, or anyone craving river views, lakeside swims, and a legendary langoš stop. From airport runways to the impossibly cute ground squirrels who live by a national monument, hop on this relaxed ride along the Little Danube with The Slovak Spectator’s Matúš Beňo and discover a surprising side of Slovakia’s capital.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Pedal into the weekend
Nay Gran Fondo (source: Nay Gran Fondo/Facebook)
Not everyone will enjoy a leisurely ride this weekend – some will be sweating in their lycra and grinding their gears in search of victory! Whether you’re a pro, an amateur, or coming with family, you’re more than welcome to take part in the Gran Fondo bike race. Grab your bike and get ready to ride! For more details about this and other weekend activities, read on here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Foreign children in Slovakia need more support to integrate into society, according to the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). Its recent findings highlight the lack of clear procedures for public institutions during migration crises and the absence of an education strategy to support these children. Mandatory schooling for foreign minors will begin only in September 2025 – three and a half years after the start of the war in Ukraine, which brought thousands of children to Slovakia; neighbouring Czechia introduced it in 2022. The NKÚ warns that some children remain outside the education system, putting them at risk of isolation, poverty and future unemployment because of language barriers. It recommends that parliament’s education committee push the Education Ministry to develop a clear integration strategy and propose legislation to improve data sharing on foreign minors. (Sme, TASR)
The state has acquired full control over the public ports in Bratislava and Komárno after purchasing cranes, warehouses, buildings and other infrastructure from Slovenská plavba a prístavy (SPaP) for €170 million. The deal ends decades of fragmented ownership caused by 1990s privatisation and paves the way for major port modernisation. A €165 million loan from ČSOB will finance the acquisition, with SPaP becoming a tenant and generating €6.5 million in annual rental income for the state. Plans include expanding the Pálenisko terminal and building a new logistics hub capable of tripling current capacity. By 2035, the government aims to have a fully modernised, state-owned port; meanwhile, land from the Winter Harbour area will be offered for redevelopment via an international tender. (Sme, TASR)
A car carrying Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS) was involved in an incident on the motorway due to what the Culture Ministry has described as a “serious technical failure”. The vehicle suddenly lost power, all warning lights came on, and smoke began to pour from the engine while travelling in the fast lane outside Bratislava. Police and firefighters called to the scene found oil leaking from the vehicle. The ministry stressed that both cars available to the minister have had ongoing “technical issues”. The minister has a troubled relationship with her official vehicles. In April, she attracted criticism after a state limousine was driven to Italy for her use (while she herself flew there). In June, it was reported that she had somehow managed to spend €158,000 on a used luxury car. (Sme)
Nearly €400,000 in emergency funds have been transferred to 16 Slovak municipalities affected by the early July windstorm, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) announced on Friday, August 1. The funds were sent to district offices on Thursday to help cover immediate recovery costs. Over 200 households have also received €1,500 each in humanitarian aid. State Secretary Michal Kaliňák confirmed more support will follow in August and highlighted ongoing work on a new crisis management strategy aimed at faster response times. A parliamentary committee will visit Gelnica on 6 August to address concerns over delayed aid; the minister, who declined to interrupt a foreign holiday to visit Gelnica after the storm, has dismissed the concerns as unfounded. (TASR)
Ján Štovka has been appointed as the new director of Slovakia’s public Fund for the Support of the Culture of National Minorities (FPKNM), following a selection process led by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. A long-time leader of the folk ensemble Dúbrava and a Master Qualified European Photographer, Štovka has been active in preserving traditional culture and creating visual projects promoting regional identity. The ministry highlighted his collaborations with institutions such as STVR and Slovakia Travel. The selection process faced criticism from MP Jozef Hajko (KDH) for a lack of transparency, which the ministry rejected. The FPKNM, established in 2017, has an annual budget of €8.8 million to support minority cultures. (TASR)
Slovakia recorded one of the highest inflation rates in the eurozone, reaching 4.5 percent in July, according to Eurostat’s flash estimate. Only Estonia saw faster price growth at 5.6 percent, while Croatia matched Slovakia’s rate. In contrast, eurozone inflation averaged 2 percent, with Cyprus reporting the lowest at just 0.1 percent. Food, alcohol and tobacco prices rose the fastest, while energy prices declined by 2.5 percent. The European Central Bank aims for 2 percent inflation to ensure price stability and avoid deflation, which can harm economic growth. (Denník N)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: It will be cloudy this weekend, with occasional thunderstorms and showers, some of which may be intense – so be prepared for rain if you’re planning to be out and about. There will also be a light breeze, which may strengthen after the storms. Overall, it will be warm. (SHMÚ)
Saturday temperatures: 20°C to 25°C, reaching 26°C to 31°C in some parts of the south and east.
Sunday temperatures: 19°C to 24°C, rising to 24°C to 29°C in some areas of Banská Bystrica Region and in the east.
WEEKEND PARTY TIME: This weekend, Gustáv, Jerguš, plus Dominik and Dominika are the lucky ones celebrating their name days. Don’t forget to send your best wishes to all the Gustávs (on Saturday, August 2), Jergušes (on Sunday, August 3) and, last but not least, all the Dominiks and Dominikas (on Monday, August 4) in your life.
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You made it to the weekend, now enjoy it to the fullest and see you Monday!
P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
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