what is Belarusian literature?
It is generally admitted that Belarusian literature emerged from the common tradition of Kievan Rus' around the 14th or 15th century and reached its first apex in the cultural context of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania. This is when, in the 16th and 17th c., the Old Belarusian language became fully formed and several religious books were translated into it; the famous Old Belarusian Psaltyr was printed in Prague in 1517. Later on, the greatest poet, dramatist, and churchman of Belarusian Baroque was Symeon Polotsky.
Nonetheless, the tongue remained squeezed between two major languages of culture, Polish on one side, and Russian on the other. No wonder the proper development of modern Belarusian literature started in the 19th century; still, it was often a parallel expression of the local writers who also wrote in Polish (such as Jan Barszczewski, Jan Czeczot, and others). Finally, with the advent of Realism, the second half of the century brought a suitable climate for a deeper literary interest in local reality. Also, the folklore proved interesting and was written down both in Latin and Cyrillic script. The first Belarusian newspapers appeared as late as the beginning of the 20th century.
Belarusian literature in its full blossom appeared in the Interwar period, after the establishment of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. Apart from Polish, also Jewish / Yiddish components contributed to its development: Zmitrok Biadula is an example of a Belarusian Jewish presence. The group of writers gathering around the periodicals such as Maładniak and Uzvyšša started to gain consistency.
When Belarus was a part of the Soviet Union, the post-war period was a time of multiple battles for identity and freedom of speech. The effort was crowned in 2015 with the Noble prize given to the journalist and prose writer Svetlana Alexievich.
Nonetheless, the tongue remained squeezed between two major languages of culture, Polish on one side, and Russian on the other. No wonder the proper development of modern Belarusian literature started in the 19th century; still, it was often a parallel expression of the local writers who also wrote in Polish (such as Jan Barszczewski, Jan Czeczot, and others). Finally, with the advent of Realism, the second half of the century brought a suitable climate for a deeper literary interest in local reality. Also, the folklore proved interesting and was written down both in Latin and Cyrillic script. The first Belarusian newspapers appeared as late as the beginning of the 20th century.
Belarusian literature in its full blossom appeared in the Interwar period, after the establishment of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. Apart from Polish, also Jewish / Yiddish components contributed to its development: Zmitrok Biadula is an example of a Belarusian Jewish presence. The group of writers gathering around the periodicals such as Maładniak and Uzvyšša started to gain consistency.
When Belarus was a part of the Soviet Union, the post-war period was a time of multiple battles for identity and freedom of speech. The effort was crowned in 2015 with the Noble prize given to the journalist and prose writer Svetlana Alexievich.
I have readEliza Orzeszkowa, Nad Niemnem | On the Niemen (1888)
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I have written... nothing ...
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There are minor countries that remain in the shadow of other minor countries. Just to give an example, Moldova remains in the shadow of Romania, and Belarus remains - in my awareness - in the shadow of Ukraine. The country, so close from where I was born, was more mysterious than a distant island on the Pacific, especially if it is to be seen for its own specificity, not for Polish history that happened there.
Arguably, the Byelorussians became visible in Poland, for the first time, after the hard turn in the authoritarian politics in 2020, at something like the third election falsified by the autocrat. And even then, the colonial contempt of the Poles toward the subaltern nation was shamelessly displayed, even at the official level. How should I find any trace of Byelorussian literature then? Beyond the saga of Bohatyrowicze, by Eliza Orzeszkowa, that was once forced upon me at school, and that is to Belarus just like Karen Blixen's Out of Africa is to Kenya.
Arguably, the Byelorussians became visible in Poland, for the first time, after the hard turn in the authoritarian politics in 2020, at something like the third election falsified by the autocrat. And even then, the colonial contempt of the Poles toward the subaltern nation was shamelessly displayed, even at the official level. How should I find any trace of Byelorussian literature then? Beyond the saga of Bohatyrowicze, by Eliza Orzeszkowa, that was once forced upon me at school, and that is to Belarus just like Karen Blixen's Out of Africa is to Kenya.
