Ballek, Ladislav

He spent his childhood in the cities of Dudince and Shagi. In 1959–1963, he studied at the pedagogical faculty in Banská Bystrica , studied the Slovak language, history and art history. After serving in the army, then was a teacher in a primary school in Habovka. In 1966 he was hired by radio Banska Bystritsa as editor. In 1968-1972 he was in charge of the culture department in the Smer daily newspaper. Since 1972 he has been working in Bratislava: at first he became the editor of the Slovak Writer Publishing House, and from 1977 he headed the literary department of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. Since 1980 - Deputy Director of the Slovak Literary Fund, in 1984-1989 - Secretary of the Slovak Writers' Union. In 1992-1994 he was a member of the Council of the Left Democratic Party, he taught at the Faculty of Education in Nitra and the Comenius Pedagogical University in Bratislava. In 1998, unsuccessfully ran for president of Slovakia. From 2001 to 2008 he was the ambassador of Slovakia to the Czech Republic ^[3] .

He first began writing in his university years, published the first story in 1964, three years later, the first novel. In the 1970s, he became a well-known writer in Slovakia. In 1980 he received the National Prize of the Slovak Republic, in 1982 - the title of Honored Artist.