Czech Americans Share Velvet Reflections

Lawyer Vladimira Papirnik and her brother, writer JanNovak. Photo U.S. Embassy

November 27 — Two distinguished Czech-Americans, lawyer Vladimira Papirnik and her brother, writer Jan Novak, helped the members of the American Center´s Ladies' Club celebrate the Velvet Revolution's 20th anniversary. Their family immigrated to the U.S. in 1969 and Ms. Papirnik returned to the Czech Republic after 1989 while Mr. Novak has lately been splitting his time between Chicago and Prague.

Daily Hospodarske noviny described Vladimira Papirnik as one of the Czech Republic's most influential businesswomen. She is the managing partner of the Prague office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and focuses her international practice on banking, project finance and corporate law. Ms. Papirnik has more than 25 years of experience representing financial institutions in international transactions.

Jan Novak writes more in English than in Czech. He earned the Magnesia Litera award for his ´true novel´ "So Far, So Good," inspired in part by the escape of Ctirad and Josef Masin to West Berlin in 1953. His first book "Striptease Chicago" draws on the American immigrant experience. Noval based another one of his novels, "The Willys Dream Kit," on the family´s experience. As a screenwriter, Novak has worked with movie director Milos Forman and he also recently made two documentaries about Vaclav Havel.