The
Journal of Byelorussian Studies
Vol. IV, No.
1
TARAS NA PARNASIE
annotated and translated
by Arnold McMillin and Vera Rich
Taras na parnasie is one of the
most important works of
nineteenth century Byelorussian literature, and also one of the most
mysterious.
Neither place nor date of origin are known, and the question of
authorship
is an open now as when it first appeared in print, but despite these
uncertainties
the poem remains fresh and alive, illustrating some of the most
positive
features of Byelorussian cultural development...
...Although
it first appeared in print towards the end
of the 19th century, Taras na
parnasie was undoubtedly written much earlier.
The official policy of russification in all aspects of life, legal,
religious
and linguistic, was at its height precisely at the time the poem is
thought
to have been written, and it could only be printed after the ban on
Byelorussian
printing had been lifted in 1889...
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