Laurynas Ivinskis

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Laurynas Ivinskis (Polish: Wawrzyniec Iwiński; 1810-1881) was a Lithuanian teacher, publisher, translator and lexicographer, originated from Samogitian noble family. He is notable for a series of yearly calendars published between 1847 and 1877, in which he summarized the daily life of Samogitian peasantry, Laurynas Ivinski also published literary works by some of the most renown local authors. Laurynas Ivinskis was the first to publish the most famous Antanas Baranauskas' work Anyksčių Šilelis.

[edit] Biography

Laurynas Ivinskis was born in Bambaliai, August 15, 1810. In 1841 Ivinskis passed teacher's exams, soon afterwards he received and Kaunas city teacher's certificate. He prepared the first Lithuanian calendar back in 1845, however due to lack of funds calendar was printed in Vilnius only a year later. His calendar Metu skajtlus ukiszkas ant metu Wieszpaties circulated until press ban in 1864. The calendars were form of an almanach, informing the readers of incoming fairs and festivities, but also of basic news on medicine, veterinary, agriculture and housekeeping. Since 1852 they also included a literary section. Out of 22 Lithuanian language calendars published between 1847 and 1864, and then again in 1877, three were in Cyrillic alphabet, while the remaining 19 were in Latin alphabet, used by most for the Lithuanian language. As publishing books and newspapers in Lithuanian was baned by the tsarist authorities, Ivinskis' calendars served the role of press for a large number of Lithuanian speakers. During the ban Ivinskis lectured in secret Lithuanian school, established in Lubiai.

Ivinskis settled in Rietavas and lived there between 1874 and 1878. During this period he wrote a book Pasauga, which is considered as one of the first Lithuanian books dedicated to environment protection theme. Apart from publishing his calendars, Ivinskis was also an active translator from German and English. He also started working on a Polish-Lithuanian and Russian-Lithuanian dictionaries, as well as numerous works in Polish language. Ivinskis died on August 29, 1881, and was buried in Kuršėnai.

[edit] External links

(Lithuanian) Biography and works