I remember that at school, teachers at literature lessons were forced to read the works of Belarusian writers. Not everyone obeyed the school curriculum and read the given material, missing out on so many useful and new things for themselves. Probably the reason was age, or maybe other interests prevailed.

Time has passed, but the works of the classics of literature have not disappeared anywhere. We offer to remember and read the best Belarusian books and real classics. If you are looking for modern ones, then they are in another material on the site.

Yakub Kolas "New Earth"

Date of writing: 1911 - 1923

Yakub Kolas began writing the book in 1911, while in prison for three years for participating in the revolutionary movement of 1905-1906.

Poem "new earth“, written by the national poet Yakub Kolas, is the first major Belarusian epic work. This book should be in the library of everyone who considers himself a Belarusian. This is the first national poem, which is rightly called an encyclopedia of the life of the Belarusian peasantry, a classic work of our literature, and simply beautiful poetry. The author himself considered "New Earth" the main poem in the entire history of his work.

Many critics consider "Symon Muzyka" to be a continuation of the book.

Vladimir Korotkevich "Kalasi fell with your stern"

Date of writing: 1965

One of the most significant and telling novels of Belarusian literature. The work, written in two parts, is dedicated to the events on the eve of the uprising of 1863-1864 in Belarus. The first book tells about the origin of discontent, which resulted in a river of anger and struggle for the independence of Belarus. Reading the novel, you are completely immersed in the events of that time and you see the boy Oles Zagorsky and his friends in front of you. The main revolutionary Kastus Kalinovsky is also mentioned on the pages of the novel. The book tells how the worldview of Belarusians has changed and with what sacrifices they built the future for the country.

The film studio "Belarusfilm" planned to film book by Vladimir Korotkevich, approved the script, but abandoned the idea at the last moment. The reason for the cancellation of filming was voiced by a poor-quality script.

Vasily Bykov "Alpine ballad"

Date of writing: 1963

No wonder the "Alpine Ballad" occupies a central place on the bookshelf for many. The name of Vasily Bykov is known all over the world.

In his book, Vasily Bykov tells about the fate of two prisoners of war who managed to escape from the Austrian camp. The whole truth about the war, which the Belarusian author told in his books, not only amazed, it burned. His profound works about people faced with the horrors of war are unparalleled in Russian literature.

Based on the story "Alpine Ballad", a film of the same name was made. The book was filmed in 1965 by the director of the film studio "Belarusfilm" Boris Stepanov.

Ivan Melezh "People on Baloca"

Date of writing: 1961

Novel "People on the Baloca” Ivan Melez is one of the pinnacles of Belarusian literature, an example of post-war works. In many ways, the lyrical novel tells about the inhabitants of the remote village of Kuren, which is cut off from the outside world by impenetrable Polesye swamps. Ivan Melezh showed the life of the Belarusian population with almost ethnographic accuracy using the example of the daily life of the inhabitants of the village. The novel shows national traditions, legends, games with songs, Christmas divination of the Poleshuks. The author, using the example of the main characters of the book, described the fate and drama of the life of the Belarusian people.

“People on Balots” is one of the few Belarusian works that appeared on television screens as a serial film.

Janka Mavr "Paleskiya rabinzona"

Date of writing: 1932

Belarusian Jules Verne - Yanka Mavra, who primarily wrote for young readers, can be considered the founder of the adventure genre in Belarusian literature.

The work, which today is called a bestseller, is one of the most beloved books among many generations of schoolchildren - "Paleskiya rabinzony". Janka Mavr showed that not only foreign countries can be interesting for travel, but in native places there are many fascinating and unusual things. The author writes so convincingly about travels and adventures that the reader has no room for doubt: Yanka Mavr was there and saw everything with his own eyes.

The adventures of Polissya Robinsons in 1934 were shown on the big screen by the Belgoskino film studio. In 2014, "Belarusfilm" based on the story released the film "Wonder Island, or Polissya Robinsons".

Yanka Kupala "Scattered Nest"

Date of writing: 1913

Work "Scattered Nestwas written as a play in five acts. The drama of the Zyablikov family, whose fate is revealed by Yanka Kupala in her book, was the drama of the Belarusian people. Events unfold during the revolution of 1905.

The play is based on facts from the life of a family from which Prince Radziwill took away land and a house. Understanding the family tragedy as a national tragedy, Yanka Kupala showed in the work the difficult path of the Belarusian peasantry in search of the lost homeland, land and freedom.

Today the play "The Scattered Nest" is played in Minsk theaters.

Kondrat Krapiva - "Who laughs last"

Date of writing: 1913

Folk humour, self-irony and sarcasm give a national character to Belarusian literature. Among the authors of this genre it is worth remembering Kondrata Nettlewhose works are still read with pleasure. In the center of the plot is the image of the pseudo-scientist Gorlokhvatsky and his accomplices.

Nettle reveals in his work not only specific political problems, but also universal ones, such as sycophancy, bribery, and betrayal. The author wrote about all this.

In the piggy bank films of the film studio "Belarusfilm" increased in 1954. A screen adaptation of Kondrat Krapiva's play "Who Laughs Last" was released.

Zmitrok Byadulya - Yazep Krushinsky

Date of writing: 1929 - 1932

A novel written in two parts about the life of Belarusian residents during collectivization. The protagonist of the book is the prosperous farmer Yazep Krushinsky, behind whose actions Byadulya hides the essence of the class struggle and the desire to show how the worst enemy can be hidden behind external integrity.

Critics interpret the novel "Yazep Krushinsky" as one of the most important works in the writer's work.

Jan Borshevsky. Shlyakhtich Zavalnya

Date of writing: 1844 - 1846

This book can certainly be called an encyclopedia of the life of the Belarusian people, their folklore and traditions. In a simple and sometimes witty way, the author tells about the culture of Belarusians, their desire for a better life and the share of the unfortunate.

The phenomenal fantasy and talent of the author turned into one of the most mysterious and fascinating Belarusian works - "Shlyakhtich Zavalnya, or Belarus in fantastic stories." Belarusian folk tales, legends and traditions were used in the book.

Svetlana Aleksievich "War has no woman's face"

Date of writing: 1985

As for modern books by Belarusian writers, one of the most famous works in the world about a terrible bloody time is “War does not have a woman's face”. The author of the book, Svetlana Aleksievich, won the Nobel Prize in 2015 “For polyphonic creativity – a monument to suffering and courage in our time.”

The book has absorbed the stories recorded from the words of 800 women who went through the war. The work "War does not have a woman's face" has been translated into more than 20 languages.