Irwin Shaw

The exhibition is devoted to the 100th anniversary from the birth of American writer, novelist, short-story writer and dramatist Irwin Shaw (original name Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff) (1913–1984).

The writer’s novels, which invariably became bestsellers and were repeatedly republished and screened, are part of the gold fund of literature of the 20th century. Irwin Shaw became one of few writers capable to wrap the high literature in a deceptively simple form of entertaining fiction.

Shaw started to write scenarios in 1935 at the age of 21, including radio play scripts, such as “Dick Tracy”. In 1936, the play “Bury the Dead” about a group of soldiers killed in action was first staged. In 1940 he wrote scenarios of some films including the comedy “Quiet City” dedicated to the theme of civil liberties. In 1949, Shaw’s first novel “Young Lions” was published. The book is based on real events the writer went through during the war.

The novel “Rich Man, Poor Man” written in 1970 – a family chronicle of post-war years representing the American national character and human destiny – is considered as the classics of American literature and the best book of Irwin Show.

The anniversary exhibition includes the writer’s works and materials about his life and creative career (around 50 editions). The Collected Works of Irwin Show in eighth volumes and two-volume edition “The Complete Set of Short Stories” (vol. 1: 1940–1950, vol. 2: 1957–1973) are on display. Also there are separate editions of novels “Rich Man, Poor Man”, “Evening in Byzantium”, “Night Work”, “Two Weeks in Another City”, “The Top of the Hill”, “Acceptable Losses”, “Lucy Crown”.

Irwin Show remains in the history of American literature as the author of books marked by true humanism and filled with a sincere pain and alarm for the person. The writer won some prestigious premiums and awards, including two O. Henry Prizes and the award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Contact phone numbers: (+375 17 017) 293 28 86, 293 29 80.