There are many ways of celebrating Father’s Day, but I am always up for those involving some exciting exploration. No opportunity to broaden readers’ horizons should be omitted and time is always right to introduce some foreign literature. Today I will be looking into literary figures popular in their motherlands and somewhat known on an international stage, Fathers of Literature they will be called today. We are curious whether you have heard about any of those authors or perhaps, read their work or if you think you could be doing so soon!
Introducing this author might be a horizon-broadening journey back to the realities of Europe recovering from one World War only to get involved in another. Due to the constant shift of power and realms changing, the political situation was not in favour for many writers across Europe. Especially those who refused to spread invaders’ propaganda or tried to sneak ‘forbidden’ concepts into their literary work. Was it the case for Márai? Well, the author was highly critical of the Nazis and later on he was not even trying to hide his dislike for the Communist regime that seized power after World War II. Therefore, he decided or more likely was forced to leave his motherland and become a writer in exile who struggled for years to get recognition. He settled down in San Diego, U.S in 1948.
He was first person to review Kafka’s literary work. Considered by Hungarian critics to be one of Hungary's most influential representatives of middle class literature between the two world wars and a master of realist style, he was awarded (in memoriam) the Hungarian Kossuth Prize that is presented for personal and group achievements on various scientific and creative fields for outstanding performance. One of Márai’s novels that definitely should not be overlooked is his 1942 book Embers (Hungarian title: A gyertyák csonkig égnek, meaning The Candles Burn Down to the Stump). Embers “depicts the reunion of two men who have not spoken to each other for 40 years in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains. Their reunion initiates a meditation on friendship, betrayal and abandonment as well as the rapidly declining fortunes of the central European states.” The book was translated to English only in 2001 and in 2006 an adaptation of this novel for the stage was written and performed in London.
I might get blamed for lack of objectivity here, but since it is my motherland I decided to let my heart make a pick, and when I think about big names, this one always comes to mind. This Nobel Prize-winning novelist (1905), journalist and philanthropist is best remembered for his historical novels. Sienkiewicz used his growing international fame to put the spotlight on Poland’s situation which at the time was portioned by her neighbours: Austria, Russia and Prussia (later Germany) and administratively off the world’s maps. Born into an impoverished nobility family, he lived his younger years in a Russian-ruled part of Poland and he travelled a lot (to the U.S.) later in his life.
His most notable novels are Quo Vadis, The Teutonic Knights (Krzyżacy) and Trilogy: With Fire and Sword, The Deluge, and Fire in the Steppe. The first one, internationally best known, is set in Nero's Rome and tackles the issue of Christians’ oppression back in the time. Quo Vadis has been filmed several times, most notably the 1951 version. The Teutonic Knights were noted for their negative portrayal of the Teutonic Order which was remarkable as a significant portion of his readership lived under German rule. The plot revolves around the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. And last but not least: The Trilogy, most loved by his fellow-countrymen, is set during the 17th-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It not only gives an insight into the life of Polish aristocracy, but also features some romance. Sienkiewicz was relentless in his attempts to recreate authenticity of historical language used in seventeenth-century and medieval Poland, which he was trying to recreate from archaic expressions.
The real reason why I have him listed here though is that he was an early Polish version of George R.R. Martin back then. How many writers receive angry letters from their readers saying “don’t you dare introduce another unexpected death and kill even one more character that we develop attachments to”?
The list of literary works translated to English is not impressively long; luckily we managed to find not a random one, but one referred to as "the turning point in Lithuanian literature", by Ričardas Gavelis. It earned him a reputation of Lithuania's greatest novelist. His most recognizable novel is Vilnius Poker.
In one of the interviews the author stated: “In the Soviet times I was hardly tolerable… I lived through a period of total neglect of my work. After the appearance of “The Vilnius Poker”, I took a taste of fame. I used to be invited by all TV companies, as many as there existed at that time, and all the newspapers wrote about me. Then I started to refuse giving interviews and shunned all publicity… I have tested everything, and I no longer want any extremes: neither complete peace, nor exaggerated attention.” His legacy, Vilnius Poker, remains one of the most celebrated Lithuanian reads though.
The main character, Vytautas Vargalys, is a survivor of labour camps, both physically and mentally damaged, who is stuck in an absurd job: creating a digital catalogue for a library in Soviet-ruled Vilnius that no one is allowed to access. The man, obsessed with getting answers to what is really going around him, quickly starts to lose his grip on reality. He starts to experience and see a presence of ‘Them’ and “They are determined to steal everyone's soul and turn the world to shit.” The novel introduces a female character suggestively named Lolita. The book presents Vargalys’ and Lolita’s relationship with the surreal horror of life under the Soviet realm in Vilnius in the background.
Vilnius Poker was translated from Lithuanian and released by Rochester: Open Letter in 2009.