The National Library of Belarus has launched a new virtual resource dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the famous writer, critic and translator Mikhas Zarecki (1901–1937) as part of the project "On the Wave of Time, Throughout the Life".
On November 20, 2021, we commemorated the anniversary of the "Maladnyak" writer, a member of the literary associations Maladnyak and Polymya, whose writings were very popular in the 1920s and 1930s among literary lovers and the general public alike.
Mikhas Zarecki (second from right) with relatives. 1926
From the collections of the Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art
The virtual project provides users with material about the life and work of Mikhas Zarecki, interesting facts about his biography, quotes of the writer and memories of his contemporaries. The section features 14 digitized books by the novelist, published during his lifetime and now held in the collections of the National Library. Among them are the short story collections "Piela Viasna" ("The Spring was Singing") (1925), "Pad soncam" (Under the Sun) (1926), "Na chyguncy" ("On the Railway") (1928), "Rakavyja zharontsy" ("Fatal Millstones") (1930), the story "Goly zvier" ("Naked Biest") (1926), his novels "Sciezhkі Darozhki" ("Little Pathways") (1928) and "Viazmo" (1932), the feature stories "Padarozhza na Novuju Ziamliu" (A Journey to a New Land) (1929) and "Listy ad Znajomaha" (Letters to an Acquaintance) (1931), and other works. Scholars and all those interested in the writer's name will benefit from the full texts of articles by contemporary authors Aliena Bielaja, Ihar Shaladonau, Vasil Dranko-Majsiuk, which have been published upon their consent. We are delighted that more and more researchers are joining the project and we are grateful for the insightful contributions.
To this day, Mikhas Zarecki's work is still unexplored, with many manuscripts, letters and photographs of the writer not having survived. The "Photo Gallery" section presents valuable documents from the collections of our partners. The pictures show Mikhas Zarecki and his relatives, colleagues and friends, and there is even a chance to see the writer relaxing with friends in Gurzuf.
Mikhas Zarecki (first on the left). 1925. The writer's children – Slava and Rada. 1929.
From the collections of the Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art
Artists of Belarusian State Theatre-2 with Belarusian writers. In the second row: Mikhas Zarecki is the ninth from the left. Minsk. 1930s.
From the archive M. Khajnouski.
From the collections of the State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature.
The exhibition displays items connected with the writer: a page about Mikhas Zarecki from the notebook of his "Maladnyak" fellow Adam Babareka, invitations to the parties dedicated to the writers' anniversaries, a typescript of literary critic Ju. Pshyrkau's review of Zarecki's novel "Sciezhkі Darozhkі" (1958), etc. Scholars are given the opportunity to download all the photographs for later use, with reference to the keepers of the documents.
A number of events are currently being held in memory of Mikhas Zarecki: book and virtual exhibitions, literary readings, lectures and educational tours, films based on his works, and books illustrated by contemporary artists.
The film "Niabachany Kraj" ("Invisible Land") based on the story "Oj, liacieli husi..." by M. Zarecki (scriptwriter and director Viktar Asliuk).
Desktop calendar. 2007
From the collections of the National Library of Belarus
Recent initiatives in honour of Mikhas Zarecki have been the establishment by the publishing house "Halijafy" of an annual literary contest named after the writer, the results of which will be summed up in early 2022, and a round table "Sciezhkami..." held at the National Library of Belarus on 18 November 2021. You can find out more about these and other events in the section "Commemorating Mikhas Zarecki".
The virtual project “On the Wave of Time, Throughout the Life” is organized by the National Library of Belarus, the State Museum of the History of the Belarusian Literature, the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art and the “Maladost” journal on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the formation of the literary association “Maladnyak”.
We invite you to take a look at the project and the virtual exhibition dedicated to Mikhas Zarecki (the project is presented in two languages – Belarusian and Russian).
Information and Analytic Activity Department.
