Josef Škvorecký (1924-2012) was a Czech novelist, publisher, and professor. He is best known for his novels about life in Czechoslovakia during the Communist era. His works often focus on the struggles of ordinary people to survive and maintain their dignity in a repressive political system. He was also an outspoken critic of the Soviet Union and its policies in Eastern Europe. Škvorecký was awarded numerous literary awards, including the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1984 and the Order of Canada in 1995. He was also a founding member of the Charter 77 movement, which sought to promote human rights in Czechoslovakia.