Juozas Grušas (November 16, 1901, Žadžiūnai-Kalniškiai,

Kovno Governorate Kovno Governorate was an administrative-territorial unit (''guberniya'') of the Russian Empire, with its capital in Kovno (Kaunas). It was formed on 18 December 1842 by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, Nicholas I from the western part of Vilna Govern ...

– May 21, 1986,

Kaunas Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest List of cities in the Baltic states by population, city in the Baltic States and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaun ...

) was a

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

n writer, editor, dramatist and playwright.

Biography

Grušas' first inspirational teacher was the Lithuanian poet Jovaras, who taught him writing and spurred his interest in literature. In 1920 he enrolled at the

Šiauliai Gymnasium Šiauliai ( ; ) is a city in northern Lithuania, the List of cities in Lithuania, country's fourth largest city and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, sixth largest city in the Baltic States, with a population of 112 581 in 202 ...

, graduating in 1924. From 1924 to 1931 he was a student at the University of Lithuania (1930 renamed to ''

Vytautas Magnus University Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) (, VDU) is a public university in Kaunas, Lithuania. The university was founded in 1922 during the interwar period as an alternate national university. Initially it was known as the University of Lithuania, but ...

''), in the Theology-philosophy faculty. In 1928 he was elected as chairman of the student organization Šatrija. After graduating in 1930, he began teaching the Lithuanian language. In 1931, together with

Balys Sruoga Balys Sruoga (2 February 1896 – 16 October 1947) was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist. He contributed to cultural journals from his early youth. His works were published by the liberal wing of the Lithuanian cultura ...

, he co-founded the Lithuanian writers association; from 1937 to 1938 he was chairman of this organization. Grušas served as editor-in-chief of the Christian weekly newspaper ''Mūsų laikraštis'' (''Our Newspaper'') from 1928 to 1938. In 1935 he published a satirical novel, ''Karjeristai'' (''The Careerists''), which has been described as "one of the key works in the history of the Lithuanian novel". He was interested in Lithuanian and Baltic history and several of his drama plays are about historic characters of the past. From 1940 to 1941 he worked in the State publishing house as an editor of fiction. He fell ill in 1941, and lived with his in-laws in

Joniškis Joniškis (; Samogitian language, Samogitian: ''Juonėškis''; ) is a city in northern Lithuania with a population of about 9,900. It is located 39 kilometers north of Šiauliai and 14 kilometers south of the Lithuania–Latvia border. Joniškis i ...

until 1949. In 1948 he was accepted into the

Lithuanian SSR The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lithuanian SSR; ; ), also known as Soviet Lithuania or simply Lithuania, was '' de facto'' one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union between 1940–1941 and 1944–1990. After 1946, its terr ...

writers association. After returning to Kaunas in 1949, he resumed writing, and over time became one of the most productive Lithuanian playwrights. His works have been translated into English,

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

, Latvian, and

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

. Juozas Grušas was buried in

Petrašiūnai Cemetery Petrašiūnai Cemetery () is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science. Location Petrašiūnai Cemetery is located about south-east of the cent ...

. Juozas Grušas Secondary School (in

Šilainiai Šilainiai is a neighborhood in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest List of cities in the Baltic states by population, city in the Baltic States and an importan ...

elderate of

) was named in his honour.

Important works

Books: * ''Ponia Bertulienė'', 1925 * ''Karjeristai'' (novel), 1935 Dramas: * ''Dūmai'' (''Smalkės'', 1956) * ''Herkus Mantas'' (1957) * ''Švitrigaila'' (1975) * ''Unija'' (1977) * ''Gintarinė vila'' (1979) * ''Meilė, džiazas ir velnias'' (1967) * ''Barbora Radvilaitė'' (1972) Most of his plays were produced in the Kaunas State Drama Theatre. Collected works: *''Raštai'', 5 volumes in 1981–1985 *''Mykolas Glinskis'', 1984 *''Gyvų sienojų namai'', 1986

Awards

He received awards for ''Herkus Mantas'' in 1957, and for ''Švitrigaila'', ''Barbora Radvilaitė'' and ''Pijus nebuvo protingas'' in 1976. He was named the Honorary Artist of the Lithuanian SSR in 1976 and the

People's Writer of the Lithuanian SSR The People's Writer of the Lithuanian SSR () was a state award and an honorary title of the Lithuanian SSR to distinguished Lithuanian writers. It was established in 1957 and awarded by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet ...

in 1971. His 1972 play ''Barbora Radvilaitė'' was selected as one of the Lithuanian plays of the century.

References

*"Grušas, Jouzas". Encyclopedia Lituanica II: 395–396. (1970-1978). Ed. Simas Sužiedėlis. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. LCCN 74–114275.

External links

Short biography

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070209124705/http://www.maironiomuziejus.lt/lt/maironiomuziejus/Gruso/ Grušas house in Kaunas 1901 births 1986 deaths People from Šiauliai District Municipality People from Shavelsky Uyezd Lithuanian dramatists and playwrights Lithuanian writers 20th-century dramatists and playwrights Vytautas Magnus University alumni Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Burials at Petrašiūnai Cemetery {{Playwright-stub