Fiaduta Named Five Belarusian Books That Belarusians and Foreigners Must Read
Among them are works by Bykaŭ and Karatkievič. What else?
Aliaksandr Fiaduta. Screenshot: YouTube channel "Peretrem s Khalezinym"
Literary critic and political strategist Aliaksandr Fiaduta, in an interview with Mikalai Khalezin, named Belarusian books that Belarusians must read to understand who they are.
The first book is "Ears of Rye Under Your Sickle" by Uładzimir Karatkievič.
"This is not Karatkievič's best work, but it is the most important book for Belarusians, written in the 20th century. Because it is a book about how one becomes Belarusian," Fiaduta explains.
The second book is "People in the Marsh" by Ivan Mielež.
"It tells about the tragedy of collectivization. About how, coming from nowhere, a Bolshevik suddenly begins to command the masters of their own land. This is a text of terrible power."
The third work is "In the Fog" by Vasil Bykaŭ. "One of the most powerful things, perhaps, in all of Belarusian literature," comments the literary critic.
The fourth book is "Two Souls" by Maksim Harecki. And the fifth is "Secondhand Time" by Svetlana Alexievich.
Fiaduta also compiled a top five list of Belarusian books for foreigners that explain the essence of Belarusians.
These are "People in the Marsh" by Ivan Mielež, "Alien Homeland" by Viačaslaŭ Adamčyk, "Vershalin Paradise" by Aliaksei Karpiuk, "In the Fog" by Vasil Bykaŭ, and "The Boat of Despair" by Uładzimir Karatkievič.
"Belarusians should do everything possible to have these books translated into other languages," says Fiaduta.