Wednesday 11 June 2008

Chinghiz Aitmatov

The great Kyrgyz author Chinghiz Aitmatov passed away yesterday. He wrote in Russian and Kyrgyz language about nomads, cosmonauts and leopards, about the past and the future, about identity and change and love - and "our little brothers", the animals. This literary superstar was chased by fans at the Leipzig book fair as late as last year. Aitmatov turned 80 this year, and Kyrgyzstan dedicated the year 2008 to his honour.

A collection of papers on Aitmatov's literary work (and some translations)
Farewell, Gyulsary! - a short story about an old Kyrgyz herdsman and his horse (1966)
Article in Der Spiegel
Photo source

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