The Author’s Book in the Modern Repertoire of Belarusian Publications

Abstract

The modern Belarusian author’s book still rarely attracts researchers’ attention. At the same time, the 21st century, with its attention to the form of any work, brought both “writing artists” and “drawing authors” into literature. The article aims to review author’s books presented in the repertoire of modern Belarusian publishing houses in 2014–2019. The author’s book is usually understood as an edition in which the text and design are created by one person. From the point of view of the interaction of text and illustrations, the article analyzes 20 modern author’s books issued by Belarusian authors: S. Stelmashonk, E. Popova, L. Speranskaya, V. Starikov, S. Volkov, Babushka Ira (Irina Chursina-Bednarska), V. Tkach, K. Pashkevich, A. Balzhak, K. Shtalenkova, G. Labodenko, V. Komarov, K. Mizin, T. Lisitskaya, L. Miklashevich, and others. Author’s books are included in the repertoire of the publishing houses Registr, Medyyal, Kolorgrad, Zvyazda, Entsyklapedyya imya P. Broyki, Zmitser Kolas, and Altiora – Zhivye kraski. Most of the author’s books are addressed to children of preschool and primary school age; Babushka Ira wrote her story “Virtual Brain Eater” for readers of secondary school age; K. Shtalenkova’s fantasy novel The Other Side of the Mirror is for high school students; G. Labodenko and S. Stelmashonok offer their collections to children and adults; V. Komarov, K. Mizin, L. Miklashevich, T. Lisitskaya count on an adult reader. Separately, the author discusses the book of the repressed Belarusian poet Larysa Hienijuš … To Grandchildren. Poems and Letters. Uncensored, which is decorated with illustrations by the author and released 35 years after her death. The book has an original conception, a rich reference apparatus and a highquality printing performance. The author notes that some of the modern Belarusian author’s books represent a creative experiment; however, in most publications, the text dominates the illustration both in terms of space and semantic load. The analysis of the repertoire of publications shows that the most interesting author’s books belong to the pen of those people who have an art education degree (L. Speranskaya, E. Popova, S. Stelmashonok), or are active in the field of culture and art (T. Lisitskaya, G. Labodenko). The material presented in the article suggests that the artistic and graphic genre of the author’s book is actively developing in Belarus today and is waiting for further research by art historians, philologists and publishing specialists.