Ales Adamovich
Encyclopedia
Ales Adamovich was a Soviet writer
and a critic, Professor and Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus
, Doctor of Philosophy in philology, Doctorate
in 1962 (a degree in Russia corresponding to Habilitation
); the people's deputy (1989-92). He wrote in Russian
and Belarusian
.
He is best known for The Khatyn Story and The Blockade Book; he is highly regarded for his austere yet deeply humane antiwar stance, moral courage and uncompromising honesty.
During the World War II
Ales Adamovich, a teenager, still a school student, was to become a partisan unit member in 1942-1943. That was the time when the Nazis systematically torched hundreds of Belarusian villages and exterminated their inhabitants. It was based on his real-life experiences as a messenger and a guerilla fighter during the war-time, that he later wrote one of his most recognized works, The Khatyn Story, and the screenplay for the film Come and See
.
Starting in 1944, he resumed his education. After the war, he entered the Belarusian State University
where he studied in the philology department and where he completed graduate course; he later studied in Moscow
at the Higher Courses for Screenwriters and in the Moscow State University
. Starting in the 1950s in Minsk, he worked in the field of philology
and literary criticism; later also in cinematography. Was a member of the Union of Soviet Writers since 1957. In 1976 was awarded the Yakub Kolas
Belarus State prize in literature for The Khatyn Story. He lived and worked in Moscow
since 1986.
Ales Adamovich's writings received translation into over 20 languages.
In 1989 Adamovich became one of the first members of the Belarusian PEN center
(Vasil Bykaŭ was founder and president of the Belarusian PEN). In 1994 the Belarusian PEN Center instituted the Ales Adamovich Literary Prize, a literary award to the gifted writers and journalists. The prize is awarded annually on September 3 (Ales Adamovich's birthday) at the award ceremony that is usually part of the annual international conference.
In October 1993, he signed the Letter of Forty-Two
.
In 1997 Ales Adamovich was recognized (posthumously) with the "Honor and Dignity of Talent" award (“За честь и достоинство таланта”). Recipients of this noble award include Dmitry Likhachev
, Victor Astafiev, Chingiz Aitmatov, Vasil Bykaŭ, Fazil Iskander
, Boris Slutsky
, Bulat Okudzhava
.
Critics
Screenplay
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and a critic, Professor and Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is the national academy of Belarus.-History:...
, Doctor of Philosophy in philology, Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1962 (a degree in Russia corresponding to Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
); the people's deputy (1989-92). He wrote in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
.
He is best known for The Khatyn Story and The Blockade Book; he is highly regarded for his austere yet deeply humane antiwar stance, moral courage and uncompromising honesty.
During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Ales Adamovich, a teenager, still a school student, was to become a partisan unit member in 1942-1943. That was the time when the Nazis systematically torched hundreds of Belarusian villages and exterminated their inhabitants. It was based on his real-life experiences as a messenger and a guerilla fighter during the war-time, that he later wrote one of his most recognized works, The Khatyn Story, and the screenplay for the film Come and See
Come and See
Come and See directed by Elem Klimov, is a 1985 Soviet war movie and psychological horror drama about and occurring during the Nazi German occupation of the Byelorussian SSR. Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova star as the protagonists Florya and Glasha. The screenplay is by Ales Adamovich and...
.
Starting in 1944, he resumed his education. After the war, he entered the Belarusian State University
Belarusian State University
Belarusian State University , Minsk, Belarus, was founded on October 30, 1921. The BSU is a higher education establishment in the Republic of Belarus.-History:...
where he studied in the philology department and where he completed graduate course; he later studied in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
at the Higher Courses for Screenwriters and in the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. Starting in the 1950s in Minsk, he worked in the field of philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and literary criticism; later also in cinematography. Was a member of the Union of Soviet Writers since 1957. In 1976 was awarded the Yakub Kolas
Yakub Kolas
Yakub Kolas , real name Kanstantsin Mitskievich was a Belarusian writer, People's Poet of the Byelorussian SSR , and member and vice-president of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences.In his works, Yakub Kolas was known for his sympathy towards the ordinary Belarusian peasantry...
Belarus State prize in literature for The Khatyn Story. He lived and worked in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
since 1986.
Ales Adamovich's writings received translation into over 20 languages.
In 1989 Adamovich became one of the first members of the Belarusian PEN center
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
(Vasil Bykaŭ was founder and president of the Belarusian PEN). In 1994 the Belarusian PEN Center instituted the Ales Adamovich Literary Prize, a literary award to the gifted writers and journalists. The prize is awarded annually on September 3 (Ales Adamovich's birthday) at the award ceremony that is usually part of the annual international conference.
In October 1993, he signed the Letter of Forty-Two
Letter of Forty-Two
The Letter of Forty-Two was an open letter signed by forty-two well-known Russian literati, aimed at Russian society, the president and government, in reaction to the events of September – October 1993...
.
In 1997 Ales Adamovich was recognized (posthumously) with the "Honor and Dignity of Talent" award (“За честь и достоинство таланта”). Recipients of this noble award include Dmitry Likhachev
Dmitry Likhachev
Dmitry Sergeyevich Likhachov was an outstanding Soviet Russian scholar who was considered the world's foremost expert in Old Russian language and literature. He has been revered as "the last of old St Petersburgers", "a guardian of national culture", and "Russia's conscience".-Biography:Likhachov...
, Victor Astafiev, Chingiz Aitmatov, Vasil Bykaŭ, Fazil Iskander
Fazil Iskander
Fazil Abdulovich Iskander is arguably the most famous Abkhaz writer, renowned in the former Soviet Union for his vivid descriptions of Caucasian life, mostly written in Russian...
, Boris Slutsky
Boris Slutsky
Boris Slutsky was a Soviet poet of Russian language.Lived his childhood and youth in Harkov. In the year 1937 entered the law institute of Moscow, and since1939 studied also at the Institute of literature "Maxim Gorky" till 1941....
, Bulat Okudzhava
Bulat Okudzhava
Bulat Shalvovich Okudzhava was a Soviet and Russian poet, writer, musician, novelist, and singer-songwriter. He was one of the founders of the Russian genre called "author song"...
.
Selected works
Novels and stories- The Partisans (in Russian, "Партизаны"), a novel (1960-63) and a film under same name.
- The Khatyn Story, in Russian, "Хатынская повесть", published in 1972, in Belarusian, "Хатынская аповесць", published in 1976.
- Out of the Fire ("Я из огненной деревни"), Adamovich, Ales, and Yanka Bryl and Vladimir Kolesnik, 1977; English translation, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1980.
- Chasteners ("Каратели"), 1980.
- The Blockade Book ("Блокадная книга"), in collaboration with Daniil GraninDaniil GraninDaniil Alexandrovich Granin is an author born in the former Soviet Union. He started writing in the 1930s when he was still an engineering student at the Leningrad Polytechnical Institute...
, 1977-81, written in Russian and later translated into Belarusian; in English translation: Peak Independent Publishers, Moscow, 2003.
Critics
- Problems with the New Way of Thinking, Ales Adamovich' "sometimes controversial writing has been at the cutting edge of new thinking in the Soviet Union."
Screenplay
- Voyna pod kryshami, 1967
- Come and SeeCome and SeeCome and See directed by Elem Klimov, is a 1985 Soviet war movie and psychological horror drama about and occurring during the Nazi German occupation of the Byelorussian SSR. Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova star as the protagonists Florya and Glasha. The screenplay is by Ales Adamovich and...
, in collaboration with Elem KlimovElem KlimovElem Germanovich Klimov was a Soviet Russian film director. He studied at VGIK, and was married to film director Larisa Shepitko. He is best known in the West for his final film, 1985's Come and See , a powerful tale of a teenage boy in German-occupied Byelorussia during the German-Soviet War,...
(Иди и смотри, 1985). - Franz + PolinaFranz + PolinaFranz + Polina is a 2006 Russian film set in 1943 in occupied Byelorussia. It tells the story of Franz, an SS soldier who deserts, and Polina, a Byelorussian woman whose village is massacred.- Plot summary :...
, 2006 - Chitaem 'Blokadnuyu knigu', 2009
External links
- Ales Adamovich biography
- Selected Literatures and Authors Page - Belarusian Literature, page for Ales Adamovich
- The Ales Adamovich Literary Prize, Belarusian PEN-center
- Ales Mikhailovich Adamovich, bio- and bibliography
- The 2004 Lettre Ulysses Award for the Art of Reportage nomination for "The Blockade Book"