In memoriam: Veno Taufer (1933 -2023)

Veno Taufer, born in 1933 in Ljubljana, was a poet, playwright, essayist, translator with M. A. in comparative literature from the University of Ljubljana. Editor of the literary magazine Review 57 (Revija 57) until it was banned in 1959, Taufer was also a manager of the experimental theatre group Oder 57. For many years he worked as a journalist (BBC-London, Ljubljana) before founding and directing the International Literary Festival Vilenica in the early 80’s which was then in the communist governed Slovenia understood as an important part of the engagement for the democratization as well as in the case of Taufer’s Committee for Freedom of Speech and Writing, the first “unofficial” public body of Civil society, he in 1985 initiated in Slovene Writers’ Association.

Taufer was also a president of Slovenian PEN Center and of Writers of Peace Committe at PEN International.

We will remember him as a wonderful poet, brilliant translator, devoted member of PEN movement, kind man and dear friend.

Foto: MMC RTV Slovenija/Miloš Ojdanić