Category: News

Timrava’s Journey Continues as Banáš’s Novel Debuts in Arabic

May 2026. Jozef Banáš’s latest work, the novel The Silent Rebel about the first Slovak national artist, writer Timrava, was published in Arabic at the end of May. The book was published by the Egyptian publishing house Saray for Culture and Arts in Cairo. The publishing house’s executive director Sara Abdeen said on this occasion: The story of Timrava carries a deeply human and universal significance that goes beyond its Slovak setting. At its core, it is not only the story of a writer, but the story of an individual who struggled to affirm her […]

“The Silent Rebel”: Jozef Banáš Introduces a Powerful New Portrait of Timrava

On October 23, 2025, Bratislava became the literary center of Slovakia as acclaimed author Jozef Banáš officially launched his newest work — a biographical novel about one of the country’s greatest literary figures, Božena Slančíková Timrava. Aptly titled The Silent Rebel, the book brings to life a woman whose quiet strength, uncompromising honesty, and creative courage helped define Slovak literature. The ceremonial launch was graced by two distinguished guests: Mrs. Renáta Vinczeová, general supervisor of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, and Mr. Marek Néma, general director of Ikar, Slovakia’s largest publishing house. As […]

Premier Presents Three People with Dubcek Award on Occasion of Constitution Day

Bratislava, 1 September 2025 (TASR) – On Monday, on the occasion of the Constitution Day, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) bestowed the Alexander Dubcek State Award on Stefan Grman, Jozef Banas and Jan Telensky. “It was an honour for me to present the three laureates with the Alexander Dubcek State Award today. I hope that the awarding of the honour bearing the name of Alexander Dubcek will encourage them in the activities for which we’ve presented them with this important award,” Fico said on a social network. The premier also pointed out that the Constitution […]

Code 9 and AI

Friends, I am thrilled to unveil one of the most groundbreaking milestones in my authorial journey! My book, CODE 9, has come to life through voices that aren’t played by traditional actors. Every character—from the main heroes to the enigmatic supporting figures—and even my own narration in the introduction has been rendered by artificial intelligence. I must admit, the realism and emotion left me almost in disbelief. But that’s not the whole story. Watching the trailer for this audiobook was a delightful shock—a true testament to what’s achievable today! I’m incredibly proud to see my […]

Jozef Banáš as President’s advisor?

In the summer of 2024, the newly elected President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Peter Pellegrini, invited Jozef Banáš to serve as his cultural advisor. However, Banáš graciously declined the offer, citing his desire to preserve his independence as a writer.

Jozef Banáš received two Platinum Book Awards

The largest publishing house in Slovakia – Ikar Bratislava, which also publishes the bestselling author Jozef Banáš, awarded the highest prizes this year again. Jozef Banáš was the only author to win two Platinum Book Awards for selling more than 25,000 copies. “I’m pleasantly surprised because I was counting on the novel about Baťa, but Code 7 surprised positively. It’s the biggest award for me because it’s a jury of 25,000 readers that gave me such credit. And to me it means more than any literary award because a book is only written when it […]

Jozef Banáš among top three most popular Slovak writers

The largest book distributor in Slovakia – Panta Rhei, announced the results of the thirteenth year of the prestigious survey Panta Rhei Awards recognizing the most popular writers in Slovakia in 2021. In the men’s category, Jozef Banáš came in third. What did the author say about this success? „I am very pleased and honored, I would like to thank every reader who sent me a vote. Being in an elite trio with the legendary Milan Lasica and the detective master Dominik Dán is a great honor for me. It’s a pity that Milan is […]

A novel about Tomáš Baťa, the founder of a footwear empire

My name is Baťa, I can do it! is a new motivational novel by the Slovak author Jozef Banáš published simultaneously in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. On Wednesday, 3 November 2021, the story of the genius entrepreneur and visionary Tomáš Baťa was introduced to the readers in Prague. The book was launched by the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. “Today’s society, Czech as well as Slovak, needs positive role models guided by high moral and ethical values. Baťa was strict not accepting any compromises and mainly, he was hard on himself categorically refusing […]

Jozef Banáš won the Russian National Prize for his novel about M. R. Štefánik

Bratislava, April 6 (TASR) – The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Slovakia Igor Borisovich Bratchikov congratulated the writer Jozef Banáš on winning the Russian National Prize “Best book and publisher of the year 2020”. Banáš won the first prize in the biography category for the novel Prebijem sa! Štefánik (I´ll break through! Štefánik. A Man of Iron Will), published by the Moscow publishing house M.I.K. An expert jury composed of representatives of the Russian National Library, the weekly Literaturnaja gazeta and the Russian Biographical Institute selected from among 300 domestic and foreign language books. The […]

Slovak bestseller about Christ in the USA

The New York publishing house Hybrid Global Publishing has released one of the best-selling Slovak novels (40,000 sold copies), From Jerusalem to Kashmir: The Secret Life of Jesus in India (original title Kód 1). The novel has also been published in the Czech Republic and in India (by the largest Indian publishing house Rajpal and Sons). After the novels I Shall Prevail! Štefánik and Stop Dubček!, From Jerusalem to Kashmir: The Secret Life of Jesus in India is Banáš’s third novel introduced to the US book market. The foreword is written by Dr. Clint G. […]