Tomas Venclova

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Tomas Venclova
Tomas Venclova, Warsaw, 20 March 2007
Born	(1937-09-11) September 11, 1937 Klaipėda, Lithuania
Occupation	Poet, prose writer, essayist
Nationality	Lithuanian
Citizenship	Lithuanian, Soviet, American

Tomas Venclova (born September 11, 1937, Klaipėda) is a Lithuanian poet, prose writer, scholar and translator of literature. He is one of the five founding members of Lithuanian Helsinki group. In 1977, following his dissident activities, he was forced to emigrate and was deprived of his Soviet citizenship. Since 1980 he has taught Russian and Polish literature at Yale University. Considered one of the major figures of world literature, he has received many awards, including the Prize of Two Nations (received jointly with Czesław Miłosz) and The Person of Tolerance of the Year Award from the Sugihara Foundation,^[1] among other honors.

Life

Tomas Venclova was born in Klaipeda, Lithuania in 1937. He is the son of poet and Soviet politician Antanas Venclova. He was educated at Vilnius University. Venclova is one of the five founding members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group, and took part in the Lithuanian and Russian dissident movements.^[2] He became friends with the great Silver Age Russian Poets Anna Akhmatova and Boris Pasternak, as well as Natalya Gorbanevskaya and Joseph Brodsky. In Vilnius he translated Baudelaire, T. S. Eliot, W. H. Auden, Robert Frost, Osip Mandelstam, Anna Akhmatova, Boris Pasternak and many others into Lithuanian. In Lithuania he was forbidden to publish his own work, except in samizdat, although one volume was allowed to appear in 1972, entitled A Sign of Speech. In 1977, following his dissident activities, he was forced to emigrate.^[3] He was invited by Czeslaw Milosz to teach at the University of California at Berkeley.^[4] He did not return to Lithuania until its independence in 1991.^[5] Since 1980 he has taught Russian and Polish literature at Yale University. Considered one of the major figures of world literature, he has been called a "Lithuanian Odysseus," by German poet Thomas Kling.^[6] He has published over twenty books including volumes of poetry, literary criticism, political commentary, literary biography, translation and books on Vilnius.

His work has been translated into many languages including by Czeslaw Milosz into Polish, and by Joseph Brodsky into Russian. He is active in the contemporary cultural life of Lithuania, and is one of its most well-respected figures.^[7]

Selected Honors and Awards

2013 Honorary Citizen of Vilnius, Lithuania
2012 Lithuanian Cultural Prize
2012 Lithuanian Diplomacy Star from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for contributions to Lithuanian Human Rights)
2012 Person of Tolerance of the Year Award, Sugihara-Diplomats for Life Foundation
2011 Qinhai International Poetry Prize (China)
2008 Baltic Star (Russia)
2007 Member, Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (Umiejętności)
2005 Jotvingiai Prize (Lithuania)
2005 New Culture of New Europe Prize
2002 Prize of Two Nations (received jointly with Czesław Miłosz)
2001 Borderland Award (Poland)
2000 Lithuanian National Prize
1990 Vilenica International literary Prize (Slovenia)

Selected Bibliography

Books written in Lithuanian

Visi eilėraščiai: 1956-2010. Collected Poems. Vilnius: Lietuvių literatūros ir tautosakos institutas, 2010. 404 pp.
Vilnius: asmeninė istorija. Vilnius: R. Paknio leidykla, 2011. 200 p.
Kitaip: poezijos vertimų rinktinė. Vilnius: Lietuvos rašytojų sąjungos leidykla, 2006. 432 p.
Vilniaus vardai. Vilnius: R. Paknio leidykla, 2006. 333 p.
Sankirta: Eilėraščiai. Vilnius: Lietuvos rašytojų sąjungos leidykla, 2005. 80 p.
Ligi Lietuvos 10 000 kilometrų. Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 2003. 236 p.
Vilnius: Vadovas po miestą. Vilnius: R. Paknio leidykla, 2001. 216 p.
Manau, kad… Pokalbiai su Tomu Venclova. Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 2000. 320 p.
Rinktinė. Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 1999. 216 p.
Reginys iš alėjos: eilėraščiai. Vilnius: Baltos lankos, 1998. 64 p.
Pašnekesys žiemą: eilėraščiai ir vertimai. Vilnius: Vaga, 1991. 376 p.
Vilties formos: eseistika ir publicistika. Vilnius: Lietuvos rašytojų sąjungos leidykla, 1991. 544 p.
Tankėjanti šviesa: eilėraščiai. Chicago: Algimanto Mackaus knygų leidimo fondas, AM&M Publications, 1990. 72 p.
Tekstai apie tekstus. Chicago: Algimanto Mackaus knygų leidimo fondas, 1985. 240 p.
Lietuva pasaulyje: publicistika. Chicago: Akademinės skautijos leidykla, 1981. 292 p.
98 eilėraščiai. Chicago: Algimanto Mackaus knygų leidimo fondas, 1977. 142 p.
Kalbos ženklas: eilėraščiai. Vilnius: Vaga, 1972. 64 p.
Golemas, arba dirbtinis žmogus: pokalbiai apie kibernetiką. Vilnius, 1965. 272 p.
Raketos, planetos ir mes. Vilnius: Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1962. 168 p.

Books written in Russian

Собеседники на пиру. Литературные эссе. Москва, НЛО, 2012, 624с.
Статьи о Бродском. Москва: Baltrus, Новое издательство, 2005. 176 с.
Собеседники на пиру. Статьи о русской литературе. Vilnius: Baltos lankos,1997,256c.
Неустойчивое равновесие: восемь русских поэтических текстов. New Haven: YCIAS, 1986.

Books written in English

Magnetic North: Conversations with Tomas Venclova (forthcoming, 2014).
Aleksander Wat: Life and Art of an Iconoclast. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1996. 370 p.

Books in English translation

Vilnius. A Personal History. The Sheep Meadow Press, 2009, 276 p
The Junction: Selected Poems. Edited by Ellen Hinsey. Bloodaxe Books, 2008.
Vilnius. Vilnius. R. Paknio leidykla, 2001. 216 p.
Forms of Hope: Essays. The Sheep Meadow Press, 1999 [paperback 2003], 286 p.
Winter Dialogue. Northwestern University Press, 1997 [paperback 1999], 148 p.

Books in German translation

Gespräch im Winter: Gedichte. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2007. 132 p.
Vilnius. Eine Stadt in Europa. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2006. 242 p.
Vilnius: Stadtfuehrer. Vilnius: R. Paknio leidykla, 2002. 216 p.
Guenter Grass, Czesław Miłosz, Wisława Szymborska, Tomas Venclova. Die Zukunft der Erinnerung. Goettingen: Steidl, 2001. 96 p.
Vor der Tuer das Ende der Welt: Gedichte. Hamburg: Rospo Verlag, 2000. 102 p.

Books in Russian translation

Вильнюс: город в Европе. Пер. с лит. Марии Чепайтите. СПб. Изд-во Ивана Лимбаха, 2012. 264 с.
Негатив белизны. Стихи разных лет/ На русском языке с параллельным литовским текстом. М.: Новое издательство, 2008. 176 c.
Гранёный воздух. Стихотворения. Москва: ОГИ, Дом Юргиса Балтрушайтиса, 2002. 88 c.
Свобода и правда. Москва: Издательская группа «Прогресс», 1999. 216 с.

Books in Swedish translation

Former av hopp: Essaer 1976-2001. Kristianstad: Ariel/Ellerstroms, 2001.160 p.
Samtal vintertid: Dikter 1956-2000. Satarod/Malmo: Ariel, 2000. 166 p.

Books in Polish translation

Czesław Miłosz, Tomas Venclova, Powroty do Litwy. Returns to Lithuania. Warszawa: Zeszyty Literackie, 2011, 272 p.
Z dzienników podróży. Warszawa: Zeszyty Literackie, 2010, 304 p.
Opisać Wilno. Warszawa: Fundacja Zeszytów Literackich, 2006.
Niezniszczalny rytm — eseje o literaturze. Pogranicze, 2002, 336 p.
Wilno: Przewodnik. Vilnius: R. Paknio leidykla, 2001. 216 p.
Rozmowa w zimie. Warszawa: Zeszyty Literackie, 2001. 152 p.
Eseje. Publicystyka. Pogranicze, 2001.
Aleksander Wat. Obrazoburca. Przeł. J. Goślicki. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1997.
Rozmowa w zimie. Paris-Kraków: Zeszyty Literackie-Oficyna Literacka, 1991 . 80 p.
Sześć wierszy. Lublin: Wydawnictwo FIS, 1991. 20 p.
Siedem wierszy. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo S, 1986. 16 p. [An underground edition].
Czesław Miłosz, Tomas Venclova, Dialog o Wilnie. Warszawa: Niezależna Oficyna Wydawnicza, 1981. 39 p. [An underground edition].

Books in Hungarian Translation

Vilnius egy város Európában / tr. by Tölgyesi Beatrix. Budapest: Európa Könykviadó, 2009. 278 p.
Litvánok és... . Budapest: Európa Könyvkiadó, 2003. 272 p.
Mondjátok meg Fortinbrasnak. Budapest: Európa Könyvkiadó, 1992. 88 p.

Books in Finnish translation

Vilna: Kaupungin tarina. Tampere: Jagellonica-kulttuuriyhdistys ry, 2012, 224 p.

Books in Italian translation

Cinquantuno poesie e una lettera (In forma di parole, 2003, No. 1 Bologna), 272 p.

Books in Chinese translation

Selected Poems. Xining: Qinghai Renmin Press, 2011, 166 p.

Books in Portuguese translation

Literatura lituana (Sinopse). New York: Lithuanian National Foundation, Inc., 1979. 10 p.

Books in Slovenian translation

Čistost soli. Ljubljana: Društvo slovenskih pisateljev, 1991. 96 p.

Books in Albanian translation

Dialog ne dimer: Poezi te zgjedhura. Tirane: Aleph, 2005. 1

References

External links

Web of Stories, Tomas Venclova (video 1:11), part 1 of 88 (Lithuanian with English subtitles)
Review of The Junction
A selection of Venclova's poetry at Poetry Magazine
About Tomas Venclova: Literaturfestival Berlin and DAAD Program
Author's page at Bloodaxe Books: Author Page/Bloodaxe Books: http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/personpage.asp?author=Tomas+Venclova and http://bloodaxeblogs.blogspot.fr/2009/02/tomas-venclova-labours-of-poetry.html
A guide to the Tomas Venclova Papers at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Authority control	WorldCat VIAF: 66504769 LCCN: n82239667 ISNI: 0000 0000 8145 7782 GND: 122777824 SUDOC: 030011051

v t e Lithuanian National Culture and Arts prize winners

1989–1993	J. Juškaitis (1989) A. Martinaitis (1989) Š. Sauka (1989) K. Matuzevičius (1989) H. Šablevičius (1989) Čiurlionis Quartet (1989) J. Tankevičius D. Dikšaitis G. Dačinskas S. Lipčius J. Juzeliūnas (1990) K.N. Kitkauskas (1990) A. Steponavičius (1990) Z. Žemaitytė (1990) R. Požerskis (1990) V. Bložė (1991) J. Kačinskas (1991) G. Karalius (1991) B. Radzevičius (1991) P.R. Vaitekūnas (1991) V. Antanavičius (1992) K. Bradūnas (1992) V. Drėma (1992) P. Geniušas (1992) A. Šliogeris (1992) P. Bingelis (1993) V. Daujotytė (1993) V. Kavolis (1993) V. Kašuba (1993) L. Noreika (1993)

1994–1998	S. Geda (1994) G. Rinkevičius (1994) A. Dovydėnas (1994) R. Midvikis (1994) A. Žebrauskas (1994) R. Krištapavičius (1994) A. Sakalauskas (1994) R. Tuminas (1994) A. Macijauskas (1995) R. Katilius (1995) B. Kutavičius (1995) A. Petrulis (1995) V. Šerys (1995) J. Mekas (1995) A. Rubšys (1995) O. Balakauskas (1996) S. Kuzma (1996) V. Masalskis (1996) V. Prudnikovas (1996) J. Strielkūnas (1996) E. Špokaitė (1996) V. Valius (1996) A. Nyka-Niliūnas (1997) O. Narbutaitė (1997) P. Repšys (1997) J. Erlickas (1997) A. Šenderovas (1997) R. Ibelgauptienė (1997) Z. Ibelgauptas (1997) E. Nekrošius (1997) V. Bartulis (1998) F. Jakubauskas (1998) A. Kunčius (1998) M. Martinaitis (1998) D. Sauka (1998) A. Šaltenienė (1998) A. Bumblauskas (1998) A. Galinis (1998) E. Gudavičius (1998) A. Žostautas (1998)

1999–2003	J. Onaitytė (1999) D. Kajokas (1999) K. Pempė (1999) G. Ramunis (1999) A. Savickas (1999) L.L. Katinas (1999) M. Navakas (1999) A. Zalatorius (1999) S. Sondeckis (1999) O. Narbutienė (1999) E. Cukermanas (2000) D. Kasčiūnaitė (2000) R. Granauskas (2000) T. Venclova (2000) N. Miliauskaitė (2000) I. Milkevičiūtė (2000) J. Domarkas (2000) V. Bagdonas (2000) A. Jacovskis (2000) L. Gutauskas (2001) Š. Bartas (2001) J. Marcinkevičius (2001) F. Bajoras (2001) V. Urmanavičiūtė (2001) L.V. Strioga (2001) S. Eidrigevičius (2001) D. Katkus (2001) K. Smoriginas (2001) R. Antinis (2002) P. Vyšniauskas (2002) O. Koršunovas (2002) J. Juozapaitis (2002) A. Každailis (2002) A. Stonys (2002) J. Mikelinskas (2002) K. Platelis (2002) D. Geringas (2002) A.J. Kuras (2003) J. Aleksa (2003) V. Juozapaitis (2003) V. Barkauskas (2003) A.A. Jonynas (2003) P. Dirgėla (2003) B. Vilimaitė (2003) A. Sutkus (2003) J. Vaitkus (2003)

2004–2008	O. Baliukonytė (2004) S. Parulskis (2004) J. Paulėkaitė (2004) P. Mazūras (2004) M. Vilutis (2004) R. Mažulis (2004) S. Stonytė (2004) S. Žvirgždas (2004) Vilnius State Quartet (2004) A. Vainiūnaitė A. Šilalė G. Jakaitis A. Vasiliauskas G. Varnas (2005) L. Oržekauskienė (2005) J. Aputis (2005) J. Ivanauskaitė (2005) K. Jaroševaitė (2005) V. Laurušas (2005) A. Marčėnas (2005) A. Matelis (2005) R. Šervenikas (2005) S. Juškys (2006) K. Navakas (2006) N. Lukšionytė-Tolvaišienė (2006) V. Balčytis (2006) J.V. Bruveris (2006) R. Kepežinskas (2006) M. Rubackytė (2006) R. Sakalauskas (2006) A. Vizgirda (2006) V. Kernagis (2007) A. Andriuškevičius (2007) Š. Nakas (2007) V. Paukštė (2007) N. Urbonienė 2007) G. Urbonas (2007) Z. Nagytė-Katiliškienė (2007) R. Staliliūnaitė-Matulionienė (2008) V. Povilionienė (2008) A. Gailius (2008) R. Šerkšnytė (2008) D. Narkevičius (2008) V. Juknaitė (2008)

2009-2013	A. Grikevičius (2009) J.R. Jurašas (2009) R. Kazlas (2009) M. Matušakaitė (2009) R. Rakauskas (2009) R. Skučaitė (2009) V. Noreika (2010) I. Meras (2010) V. Augustinas (2010) R. Rastauskas (2010) P. Mataitis (2010) D. Mataitienė (2010) J. Gasiūnas (2010) A. Žebriūnas (2011) A. Aleksandravičius (2011) V. Landsbergis (2011) K. Grigaliūnas (2011) H. Čigriejus (2011) A. Krikščiūnaitė (2011) V. Vildžiūnas (2012) K. Nastopka (2012) V. Mazūras (2012) E. Miliūnas (2012) Ž. Kempinas (2012) M. Pitrėnas (2012) D. Banionis (2013) F. Latėnas (2013) G. Kuprevičius (2013) V. Braziūnas (2013) J. Budraitis (2013) J. Gricius (2013)

Persondata
Name	Venclova, Tomas
Alternative names
Short description	Lithuanian writer
Date of birth	September 11, 1937
Place of birth	Klaipėda, Lithuania
Date of death
Place of death

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