The Singer of our Homeland

"The Singer of our Homeland" exhibition is on show on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Belarusian writer Vital Volski (1901–1988) in the Belarusian Literature Reading Room (room 205) from September 2 to October 11.

The author of staged fairy tales, the famous comedy "Niescierka", a significant number of local history books and interesting essays, a researcher of Belarusian literature, a translator, a tireless traveller – this is how the readers remember Vital Volski (real surname Volski-Zejdel).

The displayed materials introduce visitors to his life and creative career.

Volski appeared in print with articles on theatre, folklore and language in 1926 for the first time. He studied folk art and ancient handwritten literature of the Belarusian Tatars, kitaby. He has a number of literary criticism works: “Current Issues of Belarusian Soviet Drama”, “Eduard Samujlionak”, “Essays on the History of Belarusian Literature of the Feudalism Era”.

Among the literature presented at the exhibition, there are Volski's brilliant plays, created on the basis of Belarusian folklore: "A Wonderful Pipe", "An Old Man and a Crane" and the most popular "Niescsierka", which brought glory not only to its creator but also to the theatre and its actors. The play was staged in 1941 by Ja. Kolas Belarusian State Drama Theatre and was part of the repertoire for several decades. This piece holds a firm place in the history of Belarusian literature.

Volski enriched Belarusian literature for children and adolescents with natural history essays collections and stories. The author brings to children the living breath of nature, helps their hearts feel "what a wonderful world surrounds us and what a beautiful country we live in." The exhibition displays collections "In the Forests above the Biaroza River", "Month after Month", "Seagulls over Narach", "A Journey across the Land of Belarusians" and others.

The tireless traveller Volski visited the countries of Africa: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Tunisia, and Morocco. After the trips, he issued the essays "African Journey", "El Maghreb", "Under the African Sky".

The visitors are also introduced to Vital Volski's translations. Thanks to him, the satirical Goethe's poem "Reynard the Fox", V. Bredel’s novel "Die Prüfung", M. Kulbak's "Zelmancy" and other works of foreign authors were translated into Belarusian.

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by the library card or by the Social and Cultural Centre ticket.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 16.

Special Collections Service Department.