Jan Barszczewski
Native name
Jan Barščeǔski
Born1797
generally stated as Murahi village (now in Rasony district of Vitsebsk region of Belarus), although some historians mention Niaviedra village (now - Pustoshkinsky District of Pskovski Oblast in Russia)
Died12 March 1851
Chudniv, Volhynian Governorate, Russian Empire
LanguageBelarusian and Polish
Notable worksSzlachcic Zawalnia, czyli Białoruś w fantastycznych opowiadaniach [Nobleman Zawalnia, or Belarus in Fantastic Stories] (1846)

Jan Barszczewski (known in Belarus as Jan Barščeǔski; 1797 – 12 March 1851) was a Polish and Belarusian writer, poet, ethnographer and editor. He wrote both in Belarusian and Polish languages.[1][2]

He is considered "one of the founders of modern Belarusian literature".[3]

Early years

Barszczewski was born into the family of a Greek Catholic priest who was a minor nobleman. The place of his birth is usually stated as the village of Murahi (now in Rasony district of Vitsebsk region of Belarus),[4][5][6] however some historians assert that Barszczewski was in fact born in the village of Niaviedra (now - Pustoshkinsky District of Pskovski Oblast in Russia).[7]

He studied at the Polacak Jesuit College, where he became famous as a reader and writer of poetry. The first known poems written in Belarusian were "The Maiden", "Revolt of serfs", "Robberies of peasants" and "Conversation of serfs". He was also engaged in painting (landscapes and caricatures).[7][8]

After graduation, Barszczewski worked locally as a home teacher and governor before moving to St. Petersburg.[8]

Life in St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg he taught Greek and Latin in several government agencies and studied ancient literature. He met A. Mickiewicz and T. Shevchenko, who praised the poetic efforts of the young writer and encouraged him on the path of professional creativity.[8]

He organised a Belarusian literary circle and was the editor of the annual almanac "Niezabudka" ("Forget-me-not").[8]

Later life and memory

In 1847 Barszczewski moved to the town of Chudniv in Ukraine where he continued his literary work. However, he soon contracted tuberculosis and succumbed to the disease on 12 March 1851.[7][8]

He is buried in Chudniv. In 1997 a monument was erected in his native Murahi - a large boulder with the image of the writer and engraved words "My lonely thoughts return to this land."[8]

Main works

  • In 1843 Barszczewski's Belarusian poems "The Maiden", "Vodka" and reworked folk song "Cuckoo" were published for the first time in the magazine "Literary Yearbook".[8]
  • His best-known work is Szlachcic Zawalnia, czyli Białoruś w fantastycznych opowiadaniach [Nobleman Zawalnia, or Belarus in Fantastic Stories] (1846).[9] The story is a "classical collection of gothic and folk horror stories based on eerie tales and legends of northern Belarus" which are told by Zawalnia to his guests or travellers.[10] “I love stories like that. There is a lot of God's truth in this folk fantasy” Zawalnia says. The reader is presented with a colourful gallery of folk figures - simple, sensitive people. Their philosophy of life is simple and clear: "He who works and asks God, he himself lives well, and helps people." But the heroes of their stories are lustful people who sell themselves for wealth to various evil spirits and monsters and lose their human existence. People's morality (understanding of "humanity") condemns them.[11]
  • In 1849 he published the first part of the collection "Prose and Poems", which included ballads, the poem "The Life of an Orphan", the story "The soul is not in his body."[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Ян Барщевский" [Jan Barszczewski]. nlr.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ↑ McMillin, Arnold B. A History of Byelorussian Literature I From its Origins to the Present Day. Wilhelm Schmitz Verlag, Giessen, 1977.p.84
  3. ↑ "Толькі на адзін тыдзень у Мінску адкрылася ўнікальная выстава "Ян Баршчэўскі, які любіў Бога, прыроду і людзей" (+відэа)" [A unique exhibition "Jan Barszczewski, who loved God, nature and people" opened in Minsk for only one week]. Нацыянальная бібліятэка Беларусі / National Library of Belarus (in Belarusian). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Honoring the memory of the Belarusian writer Jan Borschevsky". radzima.ch. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  5. ↑ TOURIST ROUTE BELLA DVINA AND THE BALTIC COUNTRY OF LAKES – KALEIDOSCOPE OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES, p. 9
  6. ↑ "Баршчэўскі Ян. Шляхціц Завальня: KNIHI.BY. Беларускія кнігі" [Jan Barszczewski. Nobleman Zawalnia]. www.knihi.by (in Belarusian). Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Арлоў, Уладзімер (2020). ІМЁНЫ СВАБОДЫ (Бібліятэка Свабоды. ХХІ стагодзьдзе.) [Uładzimir Arłou. The Names of Freedom (The Library of Freedom. ХХІ century.)] (PDF) (in Belarusian) (4-е выд., дап. ed.). Радыё Свабодная Эўропа / Радыё Свабода - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. pp. 48–49.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Баршчэўскі Ян Францавіч" [Jan Barszczewski]. pridvinie.vlib.by (in Belarusian). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Szlachcic Zawalnia. Jan Barszczewski. 1846. St Petersburg: W Drukarni Eduarda Pratza". polona.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Nobleman Zawalnia, or Belarus in Fantastic Stories: Premiere Soon! | Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre". kupalauski.by. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ян Баршчэўскі (? — 1851)" [Jan Barszczewski (? — 1851)]. zviazda.by (in Belarusian). 17 March 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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