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Copyright © 1957 Lithuanian Students Association, Inc.   March, 1957  No.2(10)  Managing Editor P. V. Vygantas

CAPSULE REVIEWS:

Raštikis, Stasys; Kovose Del Lietuvos, Kario Atsiminimai (In the Battles for Lithuania, Memoirs of a Soldier) Vol 1. Published by Lithuanian Days, Los Angeles, 1956; 704 p., Price $7.

These memoirs, by the former commander-in-chief of the Lithuanian army, cover the period from the First World War to the first Russian invasion of World War n. Extensive and personal, they depict the political and military life of Lithuania's independence. A second volume is slated to follow.

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Baranauskas, Albinas; Sniego Platumos (The Fields of Snow). Published by Nida Press, London, Copyright 1955, 273 p.

A young Lithuanian author makes his literary debut with this collection of short stories. With a frequent touch of humor, he recreates simple episodes from the town of Virbaliai and the surrounding farms. The stories are mainly impressionistic evocations, loosely connected by the device of a story-teller.

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Pukelevičiūtė, Birute; Aštuoni Lapai (Eight Leaves) published by The Lithuanian Book Club, Chicago 1956.

A notable addition to the substantial body of Lithuanian novels using World War II themes. This autobiographical novel by a young Lithuanian writer was winner of the 1956 "Draugas" prize for literature. It describes the experiences of a ycung woman in Germany, during the final days of the war. The story is told in a series of pictures alternating between her life in Lithuania and in Germany, contrasting the idyll with the nightmare.

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Mazalaitė, Nelė; Pjūties Metas (Harvest Time). Published by the Lithuanian Book Club, Chicago 1956; 387 p. Price $3.75. 

The latest work of a well known Lithuanian woman novelist. It is an atempt at psychological insight and is concerned with human problems rather than events. It takes place in Lithuania, during the last war and is a study of a person from a Catholic and patriotic family, who through misguided ideal sm, begins collaborating with the Communist regime.

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Yla, Stasys; Laisves Problema (The Problem of Freedom). Published by Immaculata Press, Putnam, Conn. 1956; 246 p.

A Lithuanian priest attempts to penetrate into the problem of human freedom. The bulk of the book is taken by critical evaluation of the different opinions on freedom in Western philosophy.

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Gruodis, Eugenijus; Aguonos ir Smėlis (Poppies and Sand, Poems) Published by the Lithuanian Book Club, Chicago, 1956; 70 p., Price $1.

The first published work of the young author is a book of short free verse poems. He alternates between the cosmic and the minute, achieving especially interesting results in his allegoric miniatures.

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Gustaitis, Antanas; Anapus Teisybės (Beyond Truth, Humoristic Verse). Published by Gabija; 144 p., Price $2.20.

A bock of quality satyric verse —a rarely cultivated genre in Lithuanian literature. The author's thrusts are mainly directed at the efforts of the newly arrived immigrants toward bettering their social and financial position.

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Comprehensive study by Dr. M. Gimbutas, entitled Ancient Symbolism In Lithuanian Folk Art will be published by the University of Indiana, home of the world famous Institute of Folklore. The publication will have 102 pages of text and 160 pages of illustrations of Lithuanian folk art as well as prehistorical a-t.

Those interested in obtaining the publication mentioned should address their orders to Dr. M. Gimbutas, 4 Rutledge St., Boston 32, Ma"s. A check or money order of $2.50 should be enc!osed.