Chita Literature

First documental records about life in Zabaikalye appeared in the record-books of scientists, travellers, diplomats and researchers at the end of the XVII-th century. Manuscripts "About Siberia", "About Ermak's Travellings"? "About Yarka Khabarov" produced sincere, interesting and logically connected events of the far-east and Siberia peoples life in the second half of the XVII-th century. The book "Zhitie" by Awakum Petrov is considered to be the beginning of Zabaikalye literature. That theme was brightly and vividly developed by the Decemberists in the poems of A.I. Odoevsky, V.K. Kyukhelbeker, V.F. Raevsky and in the memories of S.G. Volkonsky, N.B. Basargin, I.I. Gorbachevsky and wives: M.N. Volkonskaya and P.E. Annenkova. Great contribution to the development of Zabaikalye literature was made by many Russian writers such as F. V. Gladkov, Novikov-Priboi and others who lived in excile in the town of Nerchinsk. They described the beauty of Zabaikalye nature, its people with a strong sense of freedom and great love. The town of Nerchinsk was the center of cultural and literary life in Zabaikalye. F.V Gladkov was born here, the famous Russian writer. It's known that

A. A. Fadecv, the author of «Молодая гвардия», began his literary career in our region, where his well-known novel "Razlom" was written. In 1921 the first literary organization was established in Zabaikalye, the leaders of which were A.S. Novikov-Priboi, S.T. Skitalets and some others. Chita professional writers' organization was formed in 1949. The established Conference was conducted by A.A. Tvardovsky, Respond Secretary was

B. Kostykovsky. Many novels and collections of poems of "Dauria" by K. Sedikh, «The Grey Youth » by A. Murashko, poems by 0. Chekrizov, fables by Timofeev, works by H. Yashchenko, "The Blue Argun" by V Balyabin triumphed throughout the country. Ev. Kurennoy, G. Graubin, V. Vishnyakov, E. Stefanovich and many others created really gifted, poetic in language and pictorial descriptions of our native place and people with their great sense of love to their beautiful and wild motherland. Many of their works are translated into some languages, some of them are staged at our Drama Theatre, some of them screened and well-known all over Russia.

Exercises

1. Read and translate the words and phrases:

to make a great contribution, to excile, to be considered, to be established, to triumph, gifted and pictorial description, to be staged, a manuscript, a sense of freedom, to screen, to be brightly and vividly developed.

2. Paraphrase the following sentences using the words and phrases from the text.

1. Issak Levitan showed the lyrical beauty of Russian nature in his paintings.

1. Our scientists greatly developed the space technology and made the first spaceship, flying on the orbit.

2. The young singers of "Factory Of Stars" traveled successfully with their concerts across Russia.

3. Russian classical Ballet Theatre was organized in St. Petersburg

4. Many prominent people leave their records and papers for the future generations.

5. A. Pushkin wrote a lot of lyrical poems, but it’s known that he was a patriot of his country and had political views close to the "Decembrists".

6. "Swan Lake" is supposed to be one of the best-loved ballets over the world. It was performed at first in 1877 and it was not a success.

h) Scotland is full of beautiful meadows and hills, mountains and lakes, valleys, rivers and falls.

3. Use the information from the text to answer the following questions:

1. When did the first records about life in Zabaikalye appear? Who left them''

1. What is the book "Zhitiye" by Awakum Petrov considered to be?

2. Who developed that theme brightly and vividly?

3. What great Russian writer begin his literary career in Zabaikalye?

4. When was the first literary organization established? Who was the leaders of it?

5. Who stayed at creation of Chita professional writers organizations? Do you know any poems written by A. Tvardovsky?

g) What famous Zabaikalye writers have you learned from the text?

h) What did they describe in their works?

i) What books by our authors have you read? What impression did they make on you? With what writer or poet would you like to meet at your out-of-class activity?

4. Say true, false or don't know after reading the text:

1. The first documental records about Zabaikalye appeared in Peter Beketov's manuscripts.

1. The book "Zhitiye" is considered to be the beginning of Zabaikalye theme in the Russian literature.

2. The Decembrists made a great contribution to the development of literature about life in Zabaikalye.

3. A.A. Fadeev was born in Zabaikalye.

4. The first literary organization was established in the town of Sretinsk in 1921.

5. A. Pushkin's friends were in excile in the Chita Region.

6. The Established Conference was conducted by A.A. Tvardovskiy, the great Russian poet.

h) Vitaliy Solomm played the main role in the film "Dauria" shot on the

novel by K. Sedikh.

i) The novel "Bootless Team" was written by the well-known

Zabaikalie writer Yashchenko.

j) Georgy Graubin published many collections of poems, for children

which were success.

k) Our writers and poets created really gifted, poetic in language and pictorial descriptions of our native place and people with their great to the wild nature of Zabaikalie.

1) The town of Nerchmsk was the center of cultural and literary life in Zabaikalie.