Writing in a Cold Climate
Belarusian Literature from the 1970s to the Present Day

Arnold McMillin

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Publications of the Modern Humanities Research Association 18

Maney Publishing for the Modern Humanities Research Association

1 October 2009  •  1150pp

ISBN: 978-1-906540-68-5 (hardback)  •  RRP £75, $150

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Belarusian literature, which survives and, indeed, flourishes in the face of unfavourable domestic political conditions, deserves to be far better known in the West. It continues to flourish as an important aspect of national consciousness in a semi-denationalized state, and at its best can compare with the literature of its Slav neighbours including Russia.

The present monograph, the first of its kind, attempts to describe and assess the work of nearly two hundred writers and literary groups, ranging over poetry, prose and drama. The coverage includes provincial as well as metropolitan literature and groupings, and pays particular attention to seven outstanding authors of the period, to historical writing which is particularly important in a country where history has been suppressed and denied, and to the youngest generation of talented poets and prose writers born in the early 1980s at the very end of the Soviet Union’s existence.

The book is extensively illustrated with examples of poetry in Belarusian with English translation, and of prose and drama translated into English. There is a comprehensive Bibliography of some seventeen hundred primary and secondary sources, and an extensive Index of Names to aid access to individual writers covered.

Reviews:

  • ‘The ambitious breadth and scope of this work make it a monumental achievement.’ — Stephen M. Woodburn, Canadian Slavonic Papers LII, 2010, 492-94
  • ‘Reading Arnold McMillin’s Writing in a Cold Climate is a privilege, an enhancement of knowledge, and simply a treat for any student of literature. Indeed, this tome is a magnum opus, written by a distinguished educator and scholar of Belarusian and Russian linguistic cultures. The quality of the research is superb, and places this volume at the pinnacle of the existing literature.’ — Zina Gimpelevich, Modern Language Review 106, 2011, 304-06 (full text online)
  • ‘A remarkably thorough examination of recent Belarusian letters ... McMillin’s analytical anthology is a virtual Who’s Who of contemporary Belarusian literature.’ — Joseph P. Mozur, Slavic Review 70, 2011, 449-50
  • ‘The scholarly world of Slavonic Studies must be grateful to Professor McMillin for his long devotion to the literature and culture of Belarus, but so too must the wider world of general literary studies. Thanks to him we have the opportunity to know so much about a literature that turns out not to be so 'small' after all.’ — James Dingley, Slavonica 17, 2011, 66-67

Bibliography entry:

McMillin, Arnold, Writing in a Cold Climate: Belarusian Literature from the 1970s to the Present Day, Publications of the Modern Humanities Research Association, 18 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2009)

First footnote reference: 35 Arnold McMillin, Writing in a Cold Climate: Belarusian Literature from the 1970s to the Present Day, Publications of the Modern Humanities Research Association, 18 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2009), p. 21.

Subsequent footnote reference: 37 McMillin, p. 47.

(To see how these citations were worked out, follow this link.)

Bibliography entry:

McMillin, Arnold. 2009. Writing in a Cold Climate: Belarusian Literature from the 1970s to the Present Day, Publications of the Modern Humanities Research Association, 18 (Cambridge: MHRA)

Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (McMillin 2009: 21).

Example footnote reference: 35 McMillin 2009: 21.

(To see how these citations were worked out, follow this link.)

This title was first published by Maney Publishing for the Modern Humanities Research Association but rights to it are now held by Modern Humanities Research Association.

This title is now out of print.

Permanent link to this title:

www.mhra.org.uk/publications/Writing-in-Cold-Climate
www.mhra.org.uk/publications/pmhra-18