Rating: 5 stars
Headline: Providing a spotlight on Lithuanian writers, this is a book I would love to have displayed on my bookshelf
Review:
As a born and bred British citizen, I simply could not help myself when the opportunity arose for me to review Aldona Grupas’s recent release A History of Lithuanian Writers in the United Kingdom (Hereafter A History of Lithuanian Writers). Before reading her work I did a cautionary bit of research online, discovering that in 2021 there were approximately 153,000 Lithuanians calling the United Kingdom home. For context, this is around the same population size as the Warwickshire town of Stratford-Upon-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare and, coincidentally, close to where I grew up as a child). From that you quickly understand the mindset which birthed this book, a thriving community with something to say and a determination to be recognised for it.
The book details nine Lithuanian writers, past and present, and how their work has contributed towards shaping prose and poetry within their native Eastern European country and in Britain. Each standalone chapter features an extract from each author’s portfolio of work, alongside a biography. The biographies are just as fascinating as the writing, highlighting the social and political factors which influenced their creative approach. At 88 pages it is a short and sweet read, easily digestible in one sitting.
In her introduction Grupas talks about A History of Lithuanian Writers being a passion project. It shows; you can tell a lot of effort, research and careful selection has gone into this title’s production. The quality of the translations alone are worthy of a five-star rating alone. Reading some of the beautiful poetry it is easy to be left in awe and wonder over creatives that are vastly unheard of within British literature.
A History of Lithuanian Writers is a delightful book, merging fact and fiction seamlessly. Grupas and those who have contributed should feel incredibly proud of their hard work and efforts. It samples a diverse range of talent in a way which leaves you begging for more. An important reminder of the importance of reading widely and broadly beyond borders, this is a book I would love to have displayed on my bookshelf. When it comes to understanding the world “Mokėti vieną kalbą neužtenka” (“knowing one language is not enough”).
AEB Reviews
Links:
Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “A History of Lithuanian Writers in the United Kingdom”
Purchase Link: “A History of Lithuanian Writers in the United Kingdom” (Amazon)
Author Website: https://albionartclub.co.uk/
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