Soviet literature is multinational. Since ancient time Soviet countries had stories and legends about the nations’ heroes, such as Amirani (Georgian), Rustam (Tajik), David Sasunskom (Armenian), Manas (Kirgiz), Jangar (Kalmak) and Lachplesis (Latvian). The stories presented love and respect to the nation’s country and condemned evil.
Tales promoted kindness, bravery and resource. Soviet countries had its own nation’s tale, such as Russian and Ukrainian tale “Ivanushka”, Byelorussian “Nesterki”, Azerbaijanian and Tajik “Molla Nasredina” and kazakh “Alkdar-Kose”.
The stories and legends became cause for rebirth of writing literature. It is asserted that Armenian and Georgian literature existed since ancient time. In the beginning of 5th century Armenian scientist Mesrop Mashtotts created an Armenian alphabet. At that century Movses Heronats wrote the work “History of Armenia” – which describes an ancient Armenian culture.Georgian literature, also began since 5th century. During the feudalism period Tajik people formed poetical culture. Rudaki, Firdousi,Omar Haiyam, Saady, Hafiz were presenters of Tajik and Persian literature in the Middle Ages. Their works reached world popularity.
In the beginning of 10th century and in the end of 11th century Ferdousi wrote the poem “Shahname”. The poem describes a hero Rustam, people and their feats.
In the 15th century an Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi worked for development of Eastern literature. He wrote poems which describe life in Central Asia.
Ivan Federov was a founder of book-printing in Russia and Ukraine in the 16th century. Since that time the first books had been published.
G. Skovorod was a Ukrainian writer and educator in the 18th century. He was called “a person of encyclopedic culture”. His works were published in the book “Sad Bozhestvennih putei” (“Garden of divine ways”).
Since beginning of 1921 literary magazines appeared. The first literary magazine was “Krasnaya nov’” (“Red virgin soil”).
In 1928 the book “Thihii Don” (“Calm Don”) was published and written by M.A Sholohov. The book describes Cossack life.
During the Soviet time, Lenin and Communist party encouraged literature development. But their ideology was that the books had to support socialist culture. In the middle 30s the term Soviet literature appeared.
Since the Soviet time literature for children was also developing. Mayakovskii, C.I. Chukovskii, S.Y. Marshak, A.L. Bapto and S.V. Mikhailov wrote books for children. The purpose of the literature was to strengthen sense of patriotism and morality.
In 1941-1945 Soviet writers wrote about war, soldiers and their achievements.
Soviet books encouraged Soviet realism such as novel “Kruzhiliha” (1947) by V.F. Panova, “Zhatva” (“Harvest”) (1950) by F.E. Nikolaeva, “Zhurbini” (1952) by V.A. Kachetova, “Burya” (“Strom”) (1945-48) by Latsisa and “Zarya Kolhidi” (1931-1932) by Lordkipanude.
In 1967, 1970 and 1975 in Moscow International exhibition of books was organized. At exhibition (1975) 25,000 books were represented in 88 languages, published by 500 publishing houses.
For many years USSR reached the first place in the world for translated books. In USSR translated books are published nine times more than in Great Britain and four times more than in the US. During the Soviet time 28,000 books were published by foreign authors in 76 languages of USSR population.
Nowadays, books are widely spread in CIS countries. The year 2008 was called the Year of Literature and Reading in CIS. Last year CIS countries organized special events to propagandize books, reading, and development of national literature, spreading the books and translated books.
In Kyrgyzstan 2008 was selected as the Year of Kirghiz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. His works are classical for Russian and Kirghiz literature. Azerbaijan also celebrated The year of Literature and Reading. The country organized the meeting of Azerbaijanian, Ukrainian, Georgian and Moldavian writers.
Books present culture and ideology of its period. Nowadays, CIS is working to develop writing literature.
Sources
http://www.diclib.com/cgi-bin/d1.cgi?l=ru&base=bse&page=showid&id=67579
http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=13718
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