The book exhibition “The diamonds of Belarusian literature” timed to the 135th anniversary of Janka Kupala and Jakub Kolas runs in the circular corridor on the third floor, from 25 May to 30 December.
The classics of Belarusian literature, folk poets Janka Kupala and Jakub Kolas are pride of the nation. The names of Kupala and Kolas are always close in our view. They are truly the beginning of all the beginnings in modern Belarusian culture, literature and art. Their work in the field of fiction, literary language and national culture has international significance. Their writing entered the golden fund of Belarusian literature and are known today far beyond our country. As true prophet singers, the spiritual leaders of the national liberation movement, thanks to their talent, were able to speak the world about Belarus, each in his own way and voice.
The exhibition presents nearly 400 documents. The exposition consists of two parts dedicated to to Janka Kupala and Jakub Kolas and includes the authors’ lifetime editions and books published in the last decade, translations of the classics of Belarusian literature into other languages, and publications about the writes’ life and work.
The first publications of J. Kupala are on display: the collections Žalejka (1908), Husliar (1910), Šliacham zyccia (1913), Spadčyna (1922), and also his famous drama Paǔlinka published in 1913 in St.-Petersburg. The first publications of J. Kolas are presented as well: Druhoje čytanne dlia dziaciej belarusaǔ (Petersburg, 1909), Pesni-žalby (Vilna, 1910), the short story collection Prapaǔ čalavek (Petersburg, 1913), the complete version of the poem Symon-muzyka (Minsk, 1925).
The modern editions are represented by the first personal encyclopedia – the Dictionary of the Language of Janka Kupala in 8 volumes, as well as the 900-page book of Jakub Kolas’ poem Novaja ziamlia in three languages (Belarusian, Russian and Polish), and the Explanatory Dictionary of Original Vocabulary in the Works of Jakub Kolas, in which on the basis of Kolas’ context the meaning of the original words used by the writer in artistic and journalistic works, diaries and letters is explained.
Also the exhibition presents materials of conferences, collections of articles by reputable literary critics, publications on the history of Belarusian literature and numerous documents introducing the reader to the vital and creative way of the writers.
The writing of Janka Kupala and Jakub Kolas are translated into many languages. The exhibition features the publications in English, Bulgarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Moldavian, German, Polish, Russian, Rumanian, Tajik, Turkmen, Ukrainian, French and Estonian languages.
The National Archive of Belarus has prepared a number of interesting documents for the exhibition: manuscripts with the writers’ autographs, their personal files, award certificates etc.
Our nation keeps in the heart the memory of the famous sons of Belarus. Their names are immortalized in the names of streets and squares, institutions of culture, education and science, and their words will sound for many centuries.
Contact: (+375 17) 293 29 80.
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