The meeting with U.Radzevičiūta and T.Vaiseta took place in the famous “Maison de la Poesie” hall in Paris. How 15min said David Meulemans, the publisher of T. Vaiseta’s book in France, it is “a very Parisian place”: “Located in the old theater, it has long been a meeting place for famous writers and poets, and you’d be surprised if Jean-Paul Sartre didn’t appear during the meeting.”
As Virginija Vitkienė, commissioner of the Lithuanian cultural season in France, said, coordinating a meeting with Lithuanian writers in this particular hall lasted about two years.
The fact that Lithuanian literature is visible in France during the season of Lithuanian culture can be noticed even when walking around the bookstores of the French capital. The windows show books by Lithuanian authors, which stand out next to writers such as Franz Kafka, Sally Rooney’s new book or the latest novel by Goncourt prize winner Kamelis Daoud. In preparation for the Lithuanian cultural season, more than 20 translations of Lithuanian writers into French were published.
T. Vaiseta will hold five meetings
D. Meulemans admitted that after the pandemic, the habits of readers have changed somewhat – it is increasingly difficult to lure them to meetings with writers: “During those two years, people seem to have gotten used to going to meetings with writers. During the pandemic, book sales have increased dramatically, which is good, but we also have this effect. But we’re finding that readers are slowly coming back.”
However, the meeting with Lithuanian writers still interested the readers, there were also well-known French journalists in the hall. Both T.Vaiseta and U.Radzevičiūta were given 1 hour each, during which excerpts from their books were read and their work was presented. By the way, this was the first of five planned meetings in France for T. Vaiseta – after Paris, he will travel to other cities, meet with readers, students, and present both his book and historical works.
The translation of T. Vaiseta’s book “Ch.” into French is called “Supplice” (translated by Agathe SVKazakevičius), the publisher admitted that choosing the right title was a difficult task, as the meaning of the Lithuanian “Ch.” would be difficult for French readers to understand.
He called to support Ukraine
At the beginning of the meeting, T. Vaiseta urged all those present to support Ukraine. “Ukraine is going through a critical moment. I came from a country that is 800 kilometers from Kyiv, you are further away, but there is a struggle for civilization, please don’t forget that,” T. Vaiseta said.
By the way, he returned to the war in Ukraine later, when the host of the event asked about the significance of cat symbolism in his work.
The writer offered to point out that from the images of the war in Ukraine, we often see Ukrainian soldiers taking care of cats, but you will not see this from the Russian side.
“Cats are a sign of civilization. Those who care about civilization care about cats. Those who are barbarians do not care about cats, said T. Vaiseta, who also spoke about another meaning. “At the same time, cats help us appreciate loss and mourning.”
Audrius Ožalo/ 15min photo/Tomas Vaiseta
The culture of violence
In introducing his book, he told the backstory, what prompted him to write this book, a story widely reported in the media, where two criminals raped and killed a girl. “I wanted to raise the question of what we as a society didn’t do, what we could have done,” the writer said. This difficult topic also dictated the very style of the story: “It’s best to describe pain in long, sticky sentences, because the pain is unbearable.”
By the way, the writer joked that, although his publisher asked him not to say it, the scene in Paris where the works were presented, for him, reflected the world of his book as well as the character of the work, the stagehand Charlie: “Like Charlie, I don’t know if I’m talking from the stage into darkness and emptiness.”
T. Vaiseta also spoke about the prevailing culture of violence in society, for example, the fact that people commit suicide on social networks during live broadcasts: “And it’s not like we’re somehow protesting about it.”
Violence has become such a part of everyday life that we cannot live without.
“Violence has become such a part of everyday life that we cannot live without. Violence has become our need,” T. Vaiseta said.
All-consuming anxiety
T. Vaiseta also spoke about another topic of this book – the times when false prophets seem to become the new rulers of the world. “They give the most dangerous thing, love that deceives,” he said.
“One day we may wake up in a world where there will be neither love nor hope, but pure anxiety,” the writer said.
Still, despite such complex, sombre themes, he said the book was a lot of fun to write: “I feel like I can never have the pleasure of writing again.”
He is also considering publishing another book
U.Radzevičiūtė’s name has been mentioned often in the literary community in France recently – her book “The Library of Beauty and Evil” (in French “La bibliotèque du beau et du mal”, translated by Margarita Barakauskaité-Le Borgne, published by Viviane Hamy publishing house) was included in the prestigious Shortlisted for the French Médicis Prize.
By the way, the writer herself has already said that her translation into French receives extremely good reviews – comparing the translations of her books, she said that “no one has reacted to my books as much as the French have”. The publisher herself 15min said that while being shortlisted for the prestigious award did not affect sales, it did gain the book considerable media attention. During the meeting, she had another book by U. Radzevičiūtė – “Fishes and Dragons” tucked under her arm. She said that she is currently considering the possibility of publishing a translation of this book as well.
Audrius Ožalo/15min photo/Undinė Radzevičiūtė
He talked about autobiography
During the meeting, U.Radzevičiūtė touched upon the topic of autobiography in her work. “A person cannot write a book that is not himself,” said the writer, adding that the works created by many contemporary creators are autobiographical.
Speaking about autobiography in this particular novel, The Library of Beauty and Evil, she said that part of her ancestry was German, and when writing, the focus is on the brain itself: “In a sense, the brain owns me, not me, it makes me to be interested in something – for some reason’.
“If I lived in Berlin during the Weimar Republic, I would like to be a man and I would like to be an heir. I think such a choice is obvious”, said U. Radzevičiūtė.
„Black’as without good characters”
“This black’as without good characters, the writer said about this book. – I wanted the book to be noir’inio an example of beauty”.
She said she was writing about a period that came after those earlier established Catholic traditions, when it was believed that beauty came from God and evil from dark forces.
“It was an era when Nietzsche had already announced that God is dead and anything is possible. Beauty no longer depends on God. Beauty can be ugly, evolving, petrified, dangerous,” said U. Radzevičiūtė.
Like building a church
She talked about the principles of her creative writing – the fact that she does not like descriptions very much, and she looks at writing a book like the construction of a church, where there should be no unnecessary details.
U. Radzevičiūtė said that recently, when creating books, she spends more time thinking about them than writing. “Every person who wants to be a writer has to create his own method,” said the author. She said it took her five books to develop her own method.
The journalist’s 15-minute trip to Paris was paid for by the Lithuanian Institute of Culture. This does not affect the content of the text.
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What were the key societal shifts that occurred in Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall, and how did they impact individual identities within a reunified nation?
Er the fall of the Berlin Wall, reflecting on the shifts in society and the complexities of identity during that time. U. Radzevičiūtė emphasized the importance of embracing the duality of human nature in her narrative, expressing that often, individuals cannot be cleanly categorized as purely good or evil.
The conversations during the meetings highlighted not only the challenges faced by contemporary writers and the shifting literary landscape post-pandemic but also the intricate interplay of personal history, societal issues, and the broader context in which both authors create their works. The discussions around themes of violence, love, loss, and identity indicate a profound engagement with the human experience, resonating deeply with the audience present.
Through his poignant references to the war in Ukraine and cat symbolism, T. Vaiseta painted a picture of civilization through compassionate gestures, contrasting it against the backdrop of violence and barbarism. Meanwhile, U. Radzevičiūtė’s exploration of autobiographical themes and the evolving identity of individuals in turbulent times served as a reminder of the historical and personal narratives that shape our understanding of beauty and evil.
Both writers, despite the somber themes in their books, conveyed a sense of hope and resilience, encouraging readers to delve into their work and reflect on the complexities of humanity.
As the literary engagement in France continues to grow, with the successful translation of Lithuanian authors’ works and the increasing interest in their themes, audiences are becoming more attuned to these deeper, often uncomfortable discussions surrounding violence, identity, and the intricacies of human experience.
