Parrott, Cecil

Sir Cecil Parrott (1909-1984), diplomat, translator, writer and scholar, is best known for his definitive translation of Jaroslav Haek's "The Good Soldier vejk". He also wrote two autobiographical volumes, "The Tightrope" and "The Serpent and the Nightingale" as well as his biography of Jaroslav Haek, "The Bad Bohemian" (reissued in Faber Finds as is his translation of some of Haek's short stories, "The Red Commissar")). His diplomatic career culminated with his posting to Prague where he was the British Ambassador from 1960 to 1966. On retiring from the Foreign Office, he became first Profess...