This distinction has already been awarded to many personalitiesnote Ronald Reagan et Czeslaw Milosz.
The winner is from the metropolis. Art historian and doctor in artistic research, she is the mother of the series Forest of things (2008, Literackie, not translated in France). It depicts the city, from the 16th to the 18th century, following the life of a noble family. Immediately became a best-sellerit was reissued 13 times and found itself at the top of the list in Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands…
Forest of things is one of the top 100 most popular books of all time Latvia. Later, it was translated into Polish and in 2015 was listed among the 30 most important literary works of Poland.
But this is not the only success of this pen: The Empress of Peter, released in 2019 (translated into French by Marielle Vitureau in 2023, La Table Ronde), tells the story of the Lithuanian wife of Peter the Great. The book won the Estonian Book of the Year award and is among the most widely read in the Netherlands.
TO READ: The Empress of Peter : Through time and history
The greatness of Vilnius lies in its multifaceted beauty. It is the reflection of Europe. It therefore cannot serve a single nation. If you want to understand its evolution, you must know the Polish, Russian and Yiddish languages.
– Kristina Sabaliauskaitė
The local icon attributes his inspiration to this plural spirit, fueled by a rich history and different coexisting legacies.
beating heart of literature
Vilnius is one of the creative cities of literature of theUNESCO, which is why this gesture has an important meaning. During the presentation of the title, Remigijus Šimašius (Mayor of Vilnius) declared that the author succeeded in depicting the historical phases of the territory, as well as its periods of prosperity.
The metropolis has experienced two golden ages during its 700 years of existence: 400 years ago and now. We rediscover it thanks to the novels of Kristina Sabaliauskaitė and to Forest of things. It is an invaluable testimony to past centuries: the city was respectful, lively, open to the world, collaborative. It benefited from the strongest protective alliances like the Union of Lublin at the time, and NATO today. Therefore, to perpetuate this evolution, we must feed on theexperience of our past and present. Kristina is an inspiring example.
– Remigius Šimašius
For this anniversary, the author is also collaborating with a composer of modern music, Gediminas Gelgotas, to create a symphonic piece, The Sarabande of Vilnius. This minimalist piece will be performed later in the year by an orchestra and the choir of the municipality in order to transmit the essence and the spirit of the city.
Crédits photo: Remigijus Šimašius et Kristina Sabaliauskaitė. © Saulius Žura