Alhierd Baharevich

Alhierd Bacharevič ( be, Альгерд Бахарэвіч, Alhierd Bacharevič in Belarusian Łacinka; born 31 January 1975 in Minsk) is a Belarusian writer and translator (his actual first name is Aljeh (Алег) ).
In 1997 he graduated from the Philological Faculty of the Belarusian Pedagogical University in Minsk. Afterward, Bacharevič worked as a teacher of Belarusian and then as a journalist. His first texts were published in 1993. In the 1990s, he was one of the founders of the Belarusian literary and artistic avantgarde group Bum-Bam-Lit. In 1998, this group published the now cult anthology of their poetry, namely, ''Tazik biełaruski'' ('The Belarusian Basin'). At that time Bacharevič married Ksienija Brečka (Ксенія Брэчка). They have one daughter, Uljana (Ульяна). Between 2007 and 2013, Bacharevič lived in Hamburg, Germany. In 2013, he returned to Minsk and married the Belarusian translator and poet, Julia Cimafiejeva (Юля Цімафеева Yulya Tsimafeyeva). They lived in the Belarusian capital and cooperated in the field of Belarusian literature and culture, until the Belarusian White Revolution of Dignity in 2020–2021. Subsequently, in order to avoid arbitrary imprisonment and torture, the couple of authors chose emigration and left for Austria.

Writing career

Alhierd Bacharevič is the leading Belarusian-language author of novels, including the novels ''Magpie on the Gallows'' (Сарока на шыбеніцы, 2009), and ''Šabany: The Story of One Disappearance'' (Шабаны. Гісторыя аднаго зьнікненьня, 2012), ''Alindarka’s Children'' (Дзеці Аліндаркі, 2014), or ''White Fly, Murderer of Men'' (Белая муха, забойца мужчын, 2015). The publishing house Lohvinaŭ published an over 900-page novel in six parts ''Dogs of Europe'' (Сабакі Эўропы, 2017), which is deemed to be the writer's opus magnum. The novel received in Belarus the Book of the Year award and was noted in Belarus with the independent Reader's Prize and the second Jerzy Gedroyc Prize. In 2019, the Moscow publishing house Vremia published the Russian translation of this novel (Собаки Европы).

The works by Alhierd Bacharevič were translated into English, French, German, Czech, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian. In 2008, a collection by Alhierd Bacharevič's selected stories was translated into Polish "Talent do jąkania się". In 2010, in Leipzig, the novel ''Magpie on the Gallows'' was published in German in the translation by Thomas Weiler. In 2015, the story of Bakharevich ''The Talent of Stuttering'' was included in the anthology of the best European short prose "Best European Fiction". In 2017, the Small Medical Encyclopedia by Bacharevič was published in Polish in the Lublin Warsztaty Kultury publishing house (translated by Mira Luksha). In 2018, the novel ''Children of Alindarki'' was published by the publishing house "Le ver a soie" in the French translation of Alena Lapatnoiva.

Alhierd Bacharevič translated the fairy tale ''The Cold Heart'' by Wilhelm Hauff, which was published at the end of 2009 under one cover with an independent work entitled ''The Translator's Afterword''. Translated from the German language, individual works of the brothers Grimm, Franz Kafka, G. G. Evers, poems by Hans Enzensberger and other modern German poets and the novel by the modern German writer Kathrin Schmidt ''You will not die''. He took part in the Berlin Literary Colloquium, the Theater Festival in Lublin (Poland), the Literary Festivals Vilenica (Slovenia), the Lesefest Osteuropa (Leipzig, Germany), The Month of Author Reading in Brno, international literary festivals in Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania, Czech Republic and others. He has performed at international book fairs in Frankfurt, Leipzig, Warsaw, Lviv, Minsk. In 2014, he represented Belarus at the International European Writers Conference in Berlin.

In 2012, after the members' angry reaction to the publication of Alhierd Bacharevič's essay ''The Dark Past of Kayan Lupaki'' on Janka Kupała in 2011, he left the Union of Belarusian Writers. He had been a member of this Union since 2006. Bacharevič is a member of the Belarusian PEN Club.

In 2015, a performance was staged on the Small Stage of the Yanka Kupala State Theater based on the novel ''Šabany'' by Alhierd Bacharevič.

In mid-2020 Bacharevič resigned from continuing work on his new fantasy-cum-political fiction novel ''Сьвятая Кацярына'' Śviataja Kaciaryna aint Catherine(after having completed over 400 pages), because unexpectedly the socio-political reality of the Belarusian pro-democracy Peaceful Revolution accelerated beyond the book's original plot. The novel coalesced around the arrival of a female etxraterrestrial on Earth and the revolution that she triggered. However, in the author's words, 'Mrs Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja fell from the sky to Minsk, so the manuscript was set aside,' because meanwhile, according to Bacharevič, a peaceful revolution commenced in Belarus. The novelist proposes that despite violent repressions this revolution still continues, directed against the 'regime of the fascist type.'

Following the Belarus's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, on 2 March 2022, Bacharevič's open letter to the Ukrainians was published, in which he stated: 'I am prepared to take upon myself the shame and disgrace of Belarus for what is happening – in exactly the same way as German writers in the emigration did in the times of the Second World War'.

Due to his principled stance, the Belarusian regime's propagandists began to attack and denigrate Bacharevič in the pro-regime Belarusian press. On 17 May 2022, his novel ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europewas banned in Belarus by placing it on the 'list of extremist material.' In mid-June 2022, the Belarusian Ministry of Education ordered the country's school libraries to be cleansed of the books by over 30 proscribed 'extremist' writers, including. In late July 2022, the authorities decided that the confiscated copies of Bacharevič's 'extremist' novel ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europewould be destroyed by ploughing them by a tractor into a field.

Novels, volumes of short stories and essays

* 2002 – ''Практычны дапаможнік па руйнаваньні гарадоў. Проза, 1997–2001'' Praktyčny dapamožnik pa rujnavańni haradoŭ. Proza, 1997–2001 Practical Guide to Ruining Cities: Stories, 1997–2001 St Petersburg: Run' and Vilnius: OOO Nevskii prostor.
* 2003 – ''Натуральная афарбоўка. Раман і апавяданні'' Naturalnaja afarboŭka. Raman i apaviadanni atural Dye: A Novel and Stories Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
* 2006 – ''Ніякай літасьці Валянціне Г. Апавяданні'' Nijakaj litaści Valiancinie H. Apaviadanni o Mercy for Valiancina H.: Stories Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
* 2008 – ''Праклятыя госьці сталіцы'' Prakliatyja hości stalicy amned Guests of the Capital Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
* 2008 – ''Talent do jąkania się / Талент заіканьня'' alent for Stuttering(a bilingual collection of short stories in Belarusian and Polish translation). Wrocław: Kolegium Europy Wschodniej im. Jana Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego.
* 2009 – ''Сарока на шыбеніцы'' Saroka na šybienicy agpie on the Gallows Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
** German translation: ''Die Elster auf dem Galgen'' ranslated from the Belarusian by Thomas Weiler(Ser: Neue Prosa Osteuropa-Bibliothek). 2010. Leipzig: Leipziger Literaturverlag.
** Polish translation: ''Sroka na szubienicy'' ranslated from the Belarusian by Igor Maksymiuk and Jan Maksymiuk(Ser: Meridian). 2021. Sejny: Pogranicze, 456pp.
* 2009 – Introduction to and the Belarusian translation from the German of ''Халоднае сэрца: казка'' Chałodnaje serca: kazka as kalte Herz / The Cold Heartby Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: Halijafy.
* 2011 – ''Малая мэдычная энцыкляпэдыя Бахарэвіча'' Malaja medyčnaja encykliapedyja Bachareviča acharevič's Small Medical Encyclopedia Prague: Radyjo Svaboda.
** Polish translation: ''Mały leksykon medyczny według Bacharewicza'' ranslated by Mirosława Łuksza Lublin: Warsztaty Kultury.
* 2012 – ''Шабаны. Гісторыя аднаго зьнікненьня'' Šabany. Historyja adnaho źniknieńnia �abany: The Story of One Disappearance Miensk: Halijafy. (2nd edition in 2015, )
** Theater adaptation: ''Šabany'' (directed by Алена Ганум Aljena Hanum). 2014. Miensk: Janka Kupała National Theatre.
* 2012 – ''Гамбурскі рахунак Бахарэвіча'' Hamburski rachunak Bachareviča acharevič's Hamburg Account Prague: Radyjo Svaboda and Miensk: Lohvinaŭ.
* 2014 – ''Каляндар Бахарэвіча'' Kaliandar Bachareviča acharevič's Calendar Prague: Radyjo Svaboda.
* 2014 – ''Ніякай літасьці Альгерду Б.'' Nijakaj litaści Alhierdu B. o Mercy for Alhierd B. Miensk: Halijafy.
* 2014 – ''Дзеці Аліндаркі'' Dzieci Alindarki lindarka's Children Miensk: Halijafy.
** French translation: ''Les enfants d'Alendrier'' ranslated from the Belarusian by Alena Lapatniova(Ser: 200 000 signes). 2018. Les Essarts-le-Roi: le Ver à soie-Virginie Symaniec éditrice.
** Scots-English translation: ''Alindarka's Children'' elarusian-language sections translated into Scots by Petra Reid; Russian-language sections translated into English by Jim Dingley]. 2020. Edinburgh: Scotland Street Press, 188pp. .
** US edition: ''Alindarka's Children'' elarusian-language sections translated into Scots by Petra Reid; Russian-language sections translated into English by Jim Dingley]. 2020. New York: New Directions.
* 2015 – ''Белая муха, забойца мужчын'' Biełaja mucha, zabojca mužčyn [White Fly, Men Killer]. Miensk: Halijafy.
** Russian translation: ''Белая муха, убийца мужчин'' Belaia mukha, ubiitsa muzhchin ranslated from the Belarusian by Alhierd Bacharevič 2017. Miensk: Halijafy.
* 2016 – ''Бэзавы і чорны. Парыж праз акуляры беларускай літаратуры'' Bezavy i čorny. Paryž praz akuliary biełaruskaj litaratury ilac and Black: Paris Through the Prism of Belarusian Literature Miensk: Zimcier Kołas.
* 2017 – ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europe Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.
** Russian translation: ''Собаки Европы'' Sobaki Evropy ranslated from the Belarusian by Alhierd Bacharevič(Ser: Samoe vremia!). 2019. Moscow: Vremia.
** Theater adaptation (1, in English): Belarus Free Theatre. 2019. ''Dogs of Europe'' (directed by Mikałaj Chaliezin)
** Theater adaptation (2, in Polish): Independent Theater Group Kupalaŭcy. 2022. ''Gęsi – ludzie – łabędzie'' eese – People – Swans(directed by Aliaksandar Harcujeŭ). Lublin: Juliusz Osterwa Theater.
** German translation: ''Die Hunde Europas'' ranslated from the Belarusian by Thomas Weiler 2024 orthcoming Berlin: Verlag Voland & Quist.
* 2018 – ''Мае дзевяностыя'' Maje dzievianostyja y 1990s Miensk: A. M. Januškievič.
** 2nd edition, 2021, Miensk: A. M. Januškievič.
* 2019 – ''Berlin, Paris und das Dorf. Essays'' erlin, Paris and the Village: Essays ranslated from the Belarusian into German by Thomas Weiler and Tina Wünschmann Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA, 96 pp.
* 2020 – ''Апошняя кніга пана А.'' Apošniaja kniha pana A. r. A's Latest Book Prague: Viasna and Miensk: A. M. Januškievič, 500pp. (Vesna Vaško, Praha) and (А. М. Янушкевіч, Мінск)
* 2021 – ''Sie haben schon verloren. Revolution und Revolte in Belarus'' hey Have Already Lost: Revolution and Revolt in Belarus Berlin: edition.fotoTAPETA, 70 pp.
* 2021 – ''Плошча Перамогі'' Płošča Peramohi ictory Square 160 pp (e-book).
* 2021 – ''Тэатр шчаслівых дзяцей'' Teatr ščaślivych dziaciej he Theater of Happy Children 170 pp (e-book). .Альгерд Бахарэвіч: У жніўні каля Стэлы падышла жанчына: «Вы ж напішаце пра нас усіх раман, праўда?» І я паабяцаў, што напішу. 2021. ''Наша Ніва''. 5 Apr.
/ref> (A single paper copy of this novel was published, as a performance act of creative art, for a charity auction. The successful anonymous buyer paid €1,250. All proceeds from the auction were used to support repressed authors and cultural activists in Belarus).
* 2021 – ''Хлопчык і снег'' Chłopčyk i śnieh he Little Boy and Snow(forthcoming). (An autobiography devoted to the author's childhood in the Soviet Union; a prequel to the 2018 volume ''Мае дзевяностыя'' Maje dzievianostyja y 1990s) Miensk: A. M. Januškievič.

Poetry and short stories

* 2019 Spomenik Običnom Čovjeku Monument to the Common Man(poem translated from the Belarusian into Croatian by Vesna Vaško Cáceres and Siarhiej Šupa]. ''Ajfelov most''. May 5. (NB: The Belarusian-language original Помнік простаму чалавеку Pomnik prostamu čałavieku circulates on the web.)
* 2022 ''Vieršy Вершы '' oems Prague: Vydaviectva Viasna Выдавецтва Вясна., 142pp. NB: Each poem is given in Łacinka and Cyrillic.

Essays

* 2020 Последнее слово детства. Фашизм как воспоминание Poslednee slovo detstva. Fashizm kak vospominanie he Last Glimpse of Childhood: Fascism as Memory pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
** English translation: Fascism as Memory ranslated_from_Russian_by_Jim_Dingley.html" ;"title="Jim_Dingley.html" ;"title="ranslated from Russian by Jim Dingley">ranslated from Russian by Jim Dingley">Jim_Dingley.html" ;"title="ranslated from Russian by Jim Dingley">ranslated from Russian by Jim Dingley 2020. pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
** German translation: Mit der Angst um den Hals [translated from the Russian by Mariya Donska and Gisela Zeindlinger]. 2021. ''Dekoder''. 5 Jan
** Swedish translation: Fascismen vi minns. 2020. pen/opp: Swedish PEN: Freedom of Expression, Literature and Culture. 7 Dec.
** Ukrainian translation: Останнє слово дитинства. Фашизм як спогад Ostannye slovo dytynstva. Fashyzm iak spohad ranslated from the Russian by Ія Ківа Iia Kiva 2020. Український центр Міжнародного ПЕН-клубу/PEN Ukraine. 29 Dec.
* 2021 Worte kommen immer zu spät ords Always Come Too Late 2021. ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung''. 28 May.
* 2022 Fqinjët që nuk kanë qenë kurrë të tillë eighbors, Who never Were 2022. '' Gazeta Express''. 8 Jun Bardhyl_Selimi's_Albanian_translation_of_Tomasz_Kamusella.html" ;"title=":eo:Bardhyl_Adem_Selimi.html" ;"title=":eo:Bardhyl Adem Selimi">Bardhyl Selimi's Albanian translation of Tomasz Kamusella">:eo:Bardhyl_Adem_Selimi.html" ;"title=":eo:Bardhyl Adem Selimi">Bardhyl Selimi's Albanian translation of Tomasz Kamusella's English translation of the Belarusian original: ‘Суседзі, якіх не было Susiedzi, jakich nie było’ (pp. 68–72). In: Альгерд Бахарэвіч Alhierd Bacharevič. 2014. Ніякай літасьці Альгерду Б. Nijakaj litaści Alhierdu B. Мінск Minsk: Галіяфы Halijafy. ]

Bacharevič's Translations

* 2009 – ''Халоднае сэрца: казка'' Chałodnaje serca: kazka as kalte Herz / The Cold Heartby Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: BiełTonMedyja. NB: E-book & audiobook. . Translation of Wilhelm Hauff. ''Das kalte Herz''.
* 2011 – ''Ты не памрэш Ty nie pamreš'' ou Will Not Die Miensk: Makbeł. . Translation of Kathrin Schmidt. ''Du stirbst nicht''. Cologne: Kiepenheuer & Witsch.
* 2013 – ''Казкі братоў Грымаў'' Kazki bratoŭ Hrymaŭ Grimms'_Fairy_Tales_.html" ;"title="Grimms'_Fairy_Tales.html" ;"title="Grimms' Fairy Tales">Grimms' Fairy Tales ">Grimms'_Fairy_Tales.html" ;"title="Grimms' Fairy Tales">Grimms' Fairy Tales Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.
* 2015 – ''Халоднае сэрца: казка'' Chałodnaje serca: kazka as kalte Herz / The Cold Heartby Вільгельм Гаўф Wilhelm Hauff. Miensk: Knihazbor. . Translation of Wilhelm Hauff's ''Das kalte Herz''.
* 2017 – ''Белая муха, убийца мужчин'' Belaia mukha, ubiitsa muzhchin [White Fly, Men Killer]. Miensk: Halijafy. . Translation of Alhierd Bacharevič. ''Белая муха, забойца мужчын'' Biełaja mucha, zabojca mužčyn. Miensk: Halijafy.
* 2018 – ''Што было б'' Što było b as gewesen wäre / What Would Beby Грэгар Зандэр Gregor Sander. Miensk: Lohvinau. . Translation of Georg Sander's ''Was gewesen wäre''.
* 2019 – ''Собаки Европы'' Sobaki Evropy ogs of Europe Moscow: Vremia. . Translation of Alhierd Bacharevič. ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europe Vilnius: Lohvinaŭ.

Awards

* Winner of the 2002 award "Hliniany Viales" (Clay Wreath), for the collection of stories ''Практычны дапаможнік па руйнаваньні гарадоў. Проза, 1997–2001'' Praktyčny dapamožnik pa rujnavańni haradoŭ. Proza, 1997–2001 Practical Guide to Ruining Cities: Stories, 1997–2001* Winner of the "Book of the Year 2012: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the collection of essays ''Малая мэдычная энцыкляпэдыя Бахарэвіча'' Malaja medyčnaja encykliapedyja Bachareviča acharevič's Small Medical Encyclopedia* Winner of the "Book of the Year 2013: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the collections of essays on Belarusian literature and writers ''Гамбурскі рахунак Бахарэвіча'' Hamburski rachunak Bachareviča acharevič's Hamburg Account* Winner of the Belarusian PEN Center's award "Book of the Year 2014", for the novel ''Дзеці Аліндаркі'' Dzieci Alindarki lindarka's Children
* Winner of the "Book of the Year 2015: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Third Place", for the novel ''Дзеці Аліндаркі'' Dzieci Alindarki lindarka's Children
* Winner of the Belarusian PEN Center's award "Book of the Year 2017", for the novel ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europe* Winner of the award "Book of the Year 2018: Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award: Second Place", for the novel ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europe
* Readers' Prize (2018) for the novel ''Сабакі Эўропы'' Sabaki Eŭropy ogs of Europe* Winner of the 34th Erwin-Piscator-Preis (2021) awarded for 'his powerful work as one of the most significant Belarusian writers, exploring the conditions of totalitarian rule in monumental novels and profound essays.'

Creative writing fellowships

* IHAG (Internationales Haus der AutorInnen, Graz, Austria), 2006
* German PEN Center, Writers in Exile Grant, 2008–2011
* Heinrich Böll Foundation, 2011
* Baltic Writers and Translators Center, Visby
* Institut Français, Center International de Recollets, 2016
* Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, 2018
* "Writer in Exile"-Programm, City of Graz, Internationales Haus der Autorinnen und Autoren Graz, Kulturvermittlung Steiermark. 2020–2021, prolonged until December 2022.

Facts

In the 1990s he was the founder and vocalist of the first Belarusian-language punk band Правакацыя ('Provocation').

In March 2022 Bacharevič publicly expressed his opinion about the Russian invasion in Ukraine and declared that “we have the same enemy: the Belarusians, the Ukrainians, the Lithuanians, and even the Russians. And this enemy is Putin's empire, Putinism, Putin's fascism!”.

References

External links

Побег из Беларуси. 2021. Эхо Кавказа. 20 Oct.

Okrugli stol: Julia Cimafiejeva i Alhierd Bacharevič. 2021. Knjižara Fraktura and Fraktura Najbolja Literatura (Croatia). 8 Sept. (simultaneous translation into Croatian)

МАРИЯ МЕЛЁХИНА. 2021. «Мы уже победили — и за это нас расстреляют». Большое интервью с Бахаревичем — главным «экстремистом» беларуской литературы . ''KYKY''. 27 Apr.
*
A Writer Must Write, Not Fight
' interview, June 2009

Доктар-іншапланетнік Бахарэвіч. 2010. ''Большой''. 12 Oct, interview (in Belarusian)

За што цябе адфрэндзіў Бахарэвіч?. 2016. ''34mag.net''. 20 Apr
interview (in Belarusian)

Short biography (in German)

Short biography (in English)



Author's books available online (in Belarusian)

Author's column (in Belarusian)


Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Belarusian)

Author's website on facebook.com (in Belarusian)

Author's blog (in Belarusian)
(last entry in 2013)


*
* [https://binkl.by/read/people/algerd-baharevich-i-yuliya-tsimafeeva-dlya-tago-kab-byts-mastakom-ty-musish-byts-adzin/ АЛЬГЕРД БАХАРЭВІЧ: "Я ХАЦЕЎ БЫ, КАБ БЕЛАРУСКАЯ ПРАВІНЦЫЯ МЕНШ ЗАЛЕЖЫЛА АД МЕНСКУ". 2017. ''Бинокль''. 11 Apr.]

Марына Міхневіч. 2018. Альгерд Бахарэвіч: «Наша Беларусь яшчэ не прачытаная светам». ''Бобруйский курьер''. 8 Sept.

Bacharevič and Marcinovič in Discussion at Alieksijevič's Club / Бахарэвіч і Марціновіч спрачаюцца ў клюбе Алексіевіч. 2019. Радыё Свабода. 26 Mar (in Belarusian)

MAIDAN – The Role of Writers in Modern Society. 2019. ''MaidanDebate''. 5 May.

Змитер Лукашук. 2020. Бахаревич: Язык и Свобода — в этих двух словах вся наша национальная идея . ''Euroradio.fm''. 19 Mar.
* Bacharevič on the White Revolution of Dignity in Belarus, Power, Evil and Literature
Толькі ў Беларусі быць фашыстам – гэта такая прафэсія / Бахаревич – о примитивном Зле . 2020. Радыё Свабода. 12 Dec (in Belarusian)

Concert of Pravakacyja / Канцэрт гурта "ПРАВАКАЦЫЯ" у клубе "Графіці" 4 лістапада 2016 (in Belarusian)

Alherd Bacharevič /Aльгерд Бахарэвіч reading his story and replying tu questions in Brno Czech Republic (2007) (in Belarusian and Czech)
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baharevich, Alhierd
1975 births
Living people
Writers from Minsk
Belarusian translators
Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University alumni