Literature about Belarus or by Belarusians (in Belarusian or related languages)

And, Say, Who Goes There? [А Хто Там Ідзе?], by Yanka Kupala; Mensk, Mastatzkaya Litaratura, 1983. 160 pages; illustrated. Format: 84 X 108/16; Print run: 10,000. (no ISBN)

• Short poem in Belarusian, with facsimile of author's draft copy, and bulk of book is in "languages of the world."

• Information in Unicode (UTF-8) encoding: А Хто Там Ідзе (на мовах свету), Янка Купала, Мінск, Мастацкая Літаратура, 1983. формат 84Х108 1/16, Тыраж 10 000 экз.

• Copies of Belarusian, Belarusian facsimile, English, and Russian language versions on this A Belarus Miscellany Web site. Follow this link to Yanka Kupala section.




Анталогія Беларускай Паэзіі: Вершы і паэмы; у трох тамах; укладальнік: Гніламёдаў Уладзімір Васільевіч, Мінск. Мастацкая літаратура выданне, 1993. (т. 1: 622 pages); (т. 3: 671 pages); illustrated. Фармат: 60 X 84 1/16; Тыраж: 6,000. ISBN 5-340-00119-9 (т. 1); ISBN 5-340-00121-0 (т. 3); ISBN 5-340-00180-6 (set);.

• Title in English: Anthology of Belarusian Poetry: Verses and Poems, Volume 3. (Note:This work appears in 3 volumes, but I only have volumes 1 & 3, so I do not have the details about volume 2.)




Беларускія пісменнікі (1917—1990): Даведнік; Склад. А.К.Гардзіцкі Нав.рэд. А.Л.Верабей. Мінск, «Мастацкая літаратура» (1994), ISBN: 5-340-00709-X, 653 с. іл.

• Title in English: Belarusian Writers (1917—1990): Handbook.




Беларускія пісменнікі: Біябібліяграфічні слоўнік у 6 тамах; Талалай - Яфімаў/Дадатак Ін-т літ. Я.Купалы АН Беларус. Энцыкл.; Нацыянальны навукова-асветны цэнтр імя Ф. Скарыны. Пад рэд. А.В.Мальдзіса.; Рэдклад.: І.Э. Багдановіч і інш. -- Мінск, «Беларуская Энцыклапедыя» імя Петруся Броўкі. (т.1 - 1992) (т.1): 5-85700-060-2, 542 с. іл. ISBN: 5-85700-061-0 (т.1). - (т.6 - 1995), (т.6): 5-85700-190-0, 684 с. іл. ISBN: 985-11-0022-6.

• Title in English: Belarusian Writers: Bibliographic Dictionary (in 6 volumes).
• "This edition is a table reference book for all those who have an interest and concern in Belarusian culture. The book comprises more than 1100 articles containing full, many-sided, and systematized information on the Belarusian literature representatives who created their works in Old Slavonic, Belarusian, Russian, Latin, Polish, and other literary languages of Belarus. The bibliographic references represent more than 600 thousand various publications."   (from the publication information page)
• Available from Kniharnija Krajavid (Lithuania) and EastView Books (USA), among other sources.




Верш на Свабоду.   Рэдактар: Валянціна Аксак; Мастак: Генадзь Мацур; Карэктар: Аляксандра Макавік. Published as part of (and available from) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's "Бібліятэка Свабоды. ХХІ стагодзьдзе" (Library of Liberty, 21st Century). (2002) 464 с. ISBN 0-929849-02-7.

• Title in English: Poems on Liberty.

• Every evening in 2001, Radio Svaboda, Belarusian Service, broadcast a poem-a-day in Belarusian (with background music by G. Verdi). Those 365 poems are collected here. See also poems on liberty: reflections for Belarus (2004) for bilingual (Belarusian-English) versions of 122 of these poems.




Вінцэнт Якуб Дунін-Марцінкевіч: жыццё і творчасць; аўтар-складальнік: Уладзімір Содаль Мінск, Народная Асвета выданне, 1997. 104 pages; illustrated. Фармат: 60 X 90 1/8; Тыраж: 3,000. ISBN 985-03-0066-3.

• Title in English: Vincent Jakub Dunin Marciniekevic^: His Life and Times.

• For those who read (Cyrillic) Belarusian, a very interesting summary of his life and words; highly illustrated (in black & white).




The Chornobyl Prayer: The Chronicle of the Future, Svetlana Aleksiyevich, Moscow: Ostozhe Publishers, 1997 [224 pp.; 5" x 6.75"], ISBN 5-86095-088-8; print run: 2500.

• Title/Subtitle in transliterated Russian: Chernobyl'skaia molitva: Khronika budushchego. Russian language version available through East View Publications; a US-based book- & periodical-seller specializing in the CIS.

• In late 1999, available in English (in the UK) as: Voices from Chernobyl: Chronicle Of The Future by Svetlana Alexievich. Aurum Press Ltd., 1999. (25 Bedford Av., London WC1B 3AT). 197 pp. Also available from www.amazon.co.uk. (Note: A summary of the book is at the amazon.co.uk Web site as well.)

• Although translated into several languages, the book is difficult to find in Belarus, and then only in Russian.

• A Review of the English-language version of book is at the Belarusians in Great Britain Web Site: book review.

• Further information, including awards for this book and author, at the following link: Svetlana Aleksiyevich.




Frantzisk Skaryna [Francis Skoryna] and His Time: An Encyclopediac Handbook, Belarusian Soviet Encyclopedia, in the name Peytrus Broika, Mensk, 1988; copious illustrations; [608 pp.; 84 cm x 108 cm; 8" x 10.75"], ISBN 5-85700-003-3; First printing: 9,000 copies.

• Out of print; sometimes available in the used bookstores in Mensk, plus other sources.

• Includes a few facsimile pages of Skaryna's printing of the bible, with notes in Belarusian and Russian. (Note: A 3-volume, facsimile edition of a Skaryna bible is often available in Belarus from second-hand and antiquarian book dealers.)

• For those interested in Belarusian culture, this definitive book is well worth the effort to find it, even if one is not fluent in Belarusian.

• Go to this link for some background information about Skaryna.




His Battalion and Live Until Dawn, Vasil Bykov (Vasil' Bykaw; Bykau); translated by Jennifer and Robert Woodhouse, University of Queensland Press, Contemporary Russian Writing series, New York, 1981 [412 pp.; 14 cm x 22 cm; 5.5" x 8.5"], ISBN 0-7022-1605-4, Call Number: PG2835.2 B9 E313.

• "The translations offered here have been made from the Russian-language versions prepared by the author from his Belorussian originals."

• Two novellas — Focuses on personal/psychological stories of soldiers in combat against the Nazis during World War II.




Кандрат Крапіва: Байкі. Mastatzkaya Litaratura Publishers, Mensk; 1996. In Cyrillic Belarusian. Includes very nice selected illustrations by І.А. Дзямкоўскі. 128 pages with selected illustrations; format: 3" x 3.5" (70 x 84); no ISBN; Print Run: 1,500.

• Title in English: Kandrat Krapiva: Fables; illustrated by E. A. Dzyamkousky.
• For several examples of illustrations, including the cover. from this book, see the Kandrat Krapiva Web page, and his works linked from it.




Кандрат Крапіва: Збор твораў у шасці тамах, edited by (with commentary) Stzyapana Laushuka; Mensk; Mastatzkaya Litaratura Publishers, 1997; ISBN 985-02-0254-8 (set). Volume 1: 464 pages with photographs & section illustrations; ISBN 985-02-0247-5 (т.1); Print Run: 3,300. Volume 2: 480 pages with section illustrations; ISBN 985-02-0372-2 (т.2); Print Run: 3,300 [Note: As far as I know, only Volumes 1 & 2 have been published to date.]

• Title in English: Kandrat Krapiva: Collected Works in Six Volumes; Volume 1 (1997): Verse, Fables, Epigrams, Poems; Volume 2 (1997): Stories, Satire, Pamplets, Articles.
• For additional information and several examples of his work (in Belarusian and English), see the Kandrat Krapiva Web page.




Ларыса Геніюш: Выбраныя Вершы; Менск, 1997. 320 pages; Фармат: 60 X 80 1/16; Тыраж: 500. (in Cyrillic Belarusian, only) ISBN: 5-85968-0 19-8.

• Title in English: Larysa Hienijush: Selected Works.

• See an example of (and Web links to) her poetry and background information about her at: Ларыса Геніюш (Larysa Hienijush).




Літаратура Беларусі: Першая палова XIX стагодцзя: Хрэстаматыя; Укладальнік, аўтар прадмовы, біяграфічных даведак і каментарыяў кандыдат гістарычных навук Кастусь А. Цвірка. Рэдактар Ф. І. Савіцкі, Мастак Л. М. Гоманаў, Мастацкі рэдактар В. А. Жахавец, Тэхнічны рэдактар Т. В. Лецьен, Карэктар В. X. Балвановіч; Мінск, «Беларуская навука»; 2000. — 572 с. Падпісана ў друк 13.07.2000 г. Фармат 60х90 1/16. Папера газетная. Гарнітура Таймс. Афсетны друк. Ум. друк. арк. 36,0. Ум. фарб. адб. 36,0. Ул.-выд. арк. 33,89. Тыраж 2200 экз. Заказ1964. ISBN: 985-08-0398-3.

• Хрэстаматыя прысвечана перыяду нараджэння і станаўлення новай беларускай літаратуры, які прыпадас на псршую палову XIX стагоддзя. У яс ўключаны ўсс творы бсларускіх пісьменнікаў, вывучэнне якіх пра-дугледжана праграмай курса беларускай літаратуры агульнаадукацыйных школ і ВНУ. Побач з Імі ўпершыню шырока падаюцца ў перакладзе на сучасную беларускую мову польскамоўныя і рускамоўныя творы ўра-джэнцаў Беларусі, творы, без якіх немагчыма ўявіць тагачасны літара-турны працэс і якія нспасрэдна ўздзейнічалі на развіццё ўласна беларускай літаратуры. Прызначана студэнтам ВНУ, вучням старэйшых класаў СШ.
• Title in English: Belarusian Literature: First Half of the 19^th Century, A Reader.
• Biographical sketches of two of the writers discussed in this book are included on this Web site: Vikentzi Paulavič Ravinski, probable author of The Aeneid Inside Out («Энеіды навыварат»)   (1786 -- 1855 (about); Poet & Dramatist; Вікенці Паўлавіч Равінскі)   Kanstantzin Vasilevič Veranitzin, probable author of Taras on Parnassus («Тарас на Парнасе»)   (1834 - 1904; Poet & Teacher; Канстанцін Васілевіч Вераніцын).




Literature Museum of Maksim Bagdanovich [Літаратурны Музэй Максіма Багдановіча]; Вера Мікута, Паліна Качаткова, Тацьцяна Шубіна Мінск, Музей М. Багдановіч выданне, 1996. 80 pages; illustrated. (no ISBN); printed in Bialystok, Poland.

• Guidebook to Literature Museum of Maksim Bagdanovich, and it includes a lot of biographical detail. (Follow link for further information about Bagdanovich and his poetry (in Belarusian and English).

• Reproduction of the cover of this booklet is on the Maksim Bagdanovich Web page (link above).

• Text is in the following languages: Belarusian (Cyrillic, narkomovka), English, German, French, and Polish. The text in Belarusian is in much more detail than that of the other languages.

• The museum is located in the "Trinity Suburb" of old Mensk. ("Suburb" is a misleading literal translation. "Neighorhood" or "district" would be more meaningful translations for American English.)




Literature Museum of Maksim Harecki [Літаратурны Музэй Максіма Гарэцкага (Кароткі Даведнік)]; У. М. Ліўшыц, Орша, выданне, 1997. 70 pages; illustrated. ISBN 985-6120-13-6.

• Guidebook to Literature Museum of Maksim Harecki (in Cyrillic Belarusian), and it includes a lot of biographical detail and black and white photographs (although grainy and of poor reproduction quality). (Follow link for further information about Harecki and his poetry (in Belarusian and English).




Мы -- Беларусы [We are Belarusians]; Мінск, Мастацкая літаратура выданне, 1988. 312 pages; illustrated. Фармат: 60 X 100 1/16; Тыраж: 11,000. (no ISBN)

• Collection of Belarusian poetry celebrating the theme of being Belarusian. Some of these poems have been made into songs (possibly, they may have been song lyrics to begin with; I'll research this).

• Poems from this collection are in the following locations at this Web site:
  • Жураўлі Ляцяць... by Alies' Staver. Also as the song, "The Cranes are Flying to Palesse," sung in Belarusian on an audio CD-ROM (track 2), produced by the group, Caprice, Hrodna State University, Hrodna, Belarus (1997).

  • Зорка Венера by Maksim Bognadovich. Also as the song, "Venus the Star" sung in Belarusian. The poem was originally published with the title "Romance" (1912), before its popularity as a song, approximately in the 1930s.

  • Рэквіем па Кожным Чацвёртым ("Requiem for Every Fourth One") by Anatol Viarcinski, pages 48-51.




Накірункі Свету: Паэта (The Cardinal Points); Шэрман Карлас Рыгоравіч. Перакла на беларускую Р. Барадуліна. Мінск, Беларускі кнігазбор выданне, 2000. 96 pages. Фармат: 70 X 90 1/32. ISBN 985-6317-78-5.

• In Cyrillic Belarusian and three other languages/translators: In English: The Cardinal Points (Vera Rich); In Spanish: Los Puntos Cardinales (the author, Karlos Sherman); In Russian: Стороны света (Перакла на рускую І. Бурсава).

• Possibly available from the following sources: the Manifold Poetry Magazine Web site: http://www.verarich.clara.net/bookshop/bookshop5.htm (Great Britain);   the Belarusian Bookshop (Great Britain);   and Краявід кнігарня (Lithuania).




Наталля Арсеннева: Выбраныя творы, Укладанне і каментар: Лідзіі Савік; Прадмова: Алы Сямёнавай; Рэдактар: Міхась Скобла; МГА «Беларускі кнігазбор», Выдавецтва «Беларускі Дом друку», Мінск, 2002. Фармат 84x108; 562 pp. ISBN: 985-6638-55-0.




Slova Pra Pakhod Igaravii, edited by (with commentary) Chamyaritzki, V. A.; Mensk; Mastatzkaya Litaratura Publishers, 1986; 160 pages with illustrations; no ISBN; Print Run: 17,300.

• Title in English: The Lay of Igor's Campaign; Title in Belarusian: Pesnya ab Pakhodze Igara; there appear to be three translations into Belarusian, made by: Maxim Ril'si, Yanka Kupala, & Rigor Bradulin.
• This classic of old Slavic literature of the 12th century is known to all students of Slavic literature. In addition to the old Slavic version, translations in this book include modern Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian (3 versions of the latter).
• Introduction and Commentary in Belarusian. The commentary includes expalanatory notes about the old slavic vocabulary.




Спадчына: Выбар Паэзіі Янкі Купалы; Янка Купала. Беларускі Інстытут Навукі й Мастацтва (BINIM), New York - München, Выдавецтва Бацькаўшчыны, 1955. 498 pages; illustrated. Title pages in Belarusian (Cyrillic), English, and German. The introduction is in Belarusian (Cyrillic), English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian. (The introduction in Belarusian is the most detailed, by far.)

• Title in English: Heritage: Selected Poems of Janka Kupała. Published by the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences (BINIM).

• For those who read (Cyrillic) Belarusian, a very interesting collection of Janka Kupała's poetry — many of which are not available in collections published in the BSSR or Belarus, due to their Belarusian nationalistic, human rights, etc., themes.