Antanas Vaičiulaitis. Archyvai

LTLeidinyje pirmą kartą pristatomas rašytojo, vertėjo, literatūros kritiko A. Vaičiulaičio (1906-1992) rinkinys, esantis Maironio lietuvių literatūros muziejuje Kaune. Naudojant gausia faktologine medžiaga, atskleidžiama iškilios asmenybės gyvenimo ir kūrybos raida. Publikuojamos fotonuotraukos, dokumentai, ištraukos iš laiškų, dienoraščių, atsiminimų, užrašų knygelių suteikia galimybę iš arčiau pažvelgti ir į rašytoją, ir į jo aplinką bei sutiktus žmones. A. Vaičiulaičio kūrybą vertina pirmosios Nepriklausomos Lietuvos, išeivių bei Lietuvos literatūros kritikai (cituojami straipsniai, spausdinti "Židinyje", "Ateityje", "Dienovidyje", "Naujojoje romuvoje", "Aiduose", "Drauge" ir kitur). Leidinys iliustruotas A. Vaičiulaičio piešiniais bei jam priklausiusių daiktų nuotraukomis. Ši knyga turėtų būti įdomi ir naudinga studijuojantiesiems literatūrą, lituanistams, taip pat kultūra besidomiintiems žmonėms. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Antanas Vaičiulaitis; Biografija; Dokumentai; Laiškai; Atsiminimai; Antanas Vaičiulaitis; Biography; Documents; Letters; Memoirs.

ENAntanas Vaičiulaitis (1906-1992) was one of the foremost 20th century Lithuanian writers. A literary critic, translator and editor, he flourished during the period of Lithuanian independence (1918-1940). A. Vaičiulaitis was born on June 23, 1906 in the farm town of Didieji Šelviai, near the city of Vilkaviškis. He studied Lithuanian and French literature from 1927-1933 at the Lithuanian university in Kaunas. In 1936-1937, he continued post-graduate studies in French literature both at the University of Grenoble and at the Sorbonne. In 1945-1946, he studied English and American literature at Fordham University in New York. From 1938-1940, he worked at the Lithuanian news agency ELTA. At the same time, he lectured on modern lithuanian literature at Vytautas Magnus University. D uring his years in America, he also taught at Marianapolis College in Thompson, Connecticut and at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. From 1951-1976, he worked for the Lithuanian section of "Voice of America", (USIA). In Lithuania, he was known and respected as an editor associated with several important journals. From 1929-1932, he edited "Ateitis", contributed to "Dienovidis", "Židinys", the almanac Granitas and "Naujoji Romuva". He continued the same work in America, where he edited the student journal "Studentų žodis", the newspaper Amerika and the journal Vytis. But his most significant work was with Aidai, the cultural, art and literary journal that he edited from 1950-1964. He also wrote for the journal Books Abroad and for various encyclopedias, contributing articles about Lithuanian literature. A. Vaičiulaitis was no ordinary emigrant. In 1940, the Lithuanian Foreign Relations Minister J. Urbšys appointed him to the Lithuanian diplomatic service, and he was assigned to the Holy See.That same year, after the Soviet Union occupation of Lithuania he received an offer of employment from the Rev. J. Navickas to teach at Marianapolis College in Connecticut, and he immigrated to freedom in the United States. A. Vaičiulaitis began his creative life during his secondary school years. His poetry was first published in the journal "Krivulė". Later, his stories appeared in various publications in Lithuania and America. His first book, published in Kaunas in 1932, was a collection of children’s stories entitled "Vakaras sargo namely". In 1936, another book of stories, "Mūsų mažoji sesuo", was published. In 1933, his short stories appeared in Vidudienis kaimo smuklėje. His only novel, "Valentina", was published in 1936, with a second edition published in Chicago in 1951. In Kaunas in 1939, he published a collection of short stories entitled "Pelkių takas" and in America, "Kur bakūžė samanota", in 1947. Also in America his book of short stories, "Pasakojimai", appeared in 1955. This was followed by the collection of fairy tales "Auksinė kurpelėm" 1957; in 1966, a book of legends, "Gluosnių daina", and "Vidurnaktis prie Šeimenos" in 1986. He also published two books of travel writings: "Nuo Sirakūzų ligi šiaurės elnio", in Kaunas in 1937, and Italijos vaizdai, in Germany, 1949. A collection of his poems was published in 1980, Ir atlėkė volungė. In 1989, a collection of his writings entitled "Tavo veido šviesa" was published in Lithuania. He received numerous awards and prizes for his creative work both in Lithuania and in the USA. In Lithuania, he was known for his literary criticism and his reviews, much written under the pen name of Aug. Raginis. In 1992, a large collection of his literary critiques appeared, entitled "Knygos ir žmonės". A. Vaičiulaitis was fluent in many languages, including French.He was renowned as a translator. From his high school years, he admired and translated the work of О. V. Milosz. Translations published include Poemos, 1931; the dramatic narrative Miguel Manara, 1937 (second edition in 1977), and a collection of poetry Septynios vienatvės, 1979. In the United States, A. Vaičiulaitis married Joana Abramikaitė whom he had known in Lithuania. They raised three daughters - Danutė, Joana and Aldona, and lived to welcome seven grandchildren. He visited Lithuania in 1979,1986 and 1988. At his parents’ grave in 1979, he expressed a desire to be buried near them in the cemetery in Vilkaviškis. A. Vaičiulaitis died on July 22, 1992. In fulfillment of his wishes, in 1999 his wife brought A. Vaičiulaitis’s remains home to Lithuania, for eternal rest next to his parents. J. Vaičiulaitienė dedicated her life to memorializing her husband’s creative work, and fostering his cultural legacy. A valuable literary and cultural collection including documents, photographs, manuscripts, letters and a memorial library was donated to the Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature in Kaunas (founded in 1936 and the only literary museum in Lithuania). Here, the author’s archival collection is preserved and analyzed. Material related to his life and work is collected, research is fostered, and projects including exhibits, lectures and publications are developed. O n June 23, 2006, the 100th anniversary of A. Vaičiulaitis’s birth will be commemorated in Lithuania. O n this occasion, the archival monograph "Antanas Vaičiulaitis. Archyvai" will be published. In this publication, the distinguished author’s journey in life and literature is explored through the archival collections, including manuscripts, books, documents, letters, photographs and memoirs. The publication is illustrated by drawings of A. Vaičiulaitis. [From the publication]