Erben, Vaclav

Czech author and journalist, born in Náchod where he also grew up. After finishing school in 1944, he worked in a factory but the following year started to study at the business academy Absolvoval Obchodní akademii in his home town, taking his exam in 1949. He then moved to Prague and studied drama at Akademie múzických umění 1949–53. After doing his military service 1953-55, he started working as a journalist, at first for the radio but from 1957 for specialist magazines. For a while he was also connected with the military intelligence service.