Kraszewski Book

LRUN is currently in the process of publishing a Lithuanian translation (from Polish) of the 1847 book by J. I. Kraszewski "Lithuania. Ancient History, Law, Language, Faith, Customs, Songs, Proverbs, Legends". This is the first time that this book is translated into another language. All members of LRUN are welcome to contribute funds for this goal. The details are listed below. This information can also be found in the Lithuanian language on the LRUN website at: https://www.lbks.lt/lt/skelbimai2/109-paremti-krasevski.html.

CALL TO ALL LITHUANIAN NOBILITY TO SUPPORT THE PUBLICATION OF A TRANSLATION OF AN 1847 BOOK BY J. I. KRASZEWSKI

On the 100-th anniversary of Lithuanian Independence in 2018, a historical book "Lithuanian Nobility - Signatories of the Act of February 16-th" was published by the initiative and efforts of the Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility, funded by personal contributions of descendants of Lithuanian nobles.

One of the most important objectives of the LRUN is fostering of historic and cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). Therefore, in the course of its active social and civic activities, the Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility plans to publish by February 16, 2022, a book by a historian, writer, publicist, GDL nobleman (Vanagas/Jastzębiec coat of arms) Joseph Ignatius Kraszewski "Lithuania. Ancient History, Law, Language, Faith, Customs, Songs, Proverbs, Legends" (Litwa. Starożytne dzieje, Ustawy, Język, Wiara, Obyczaje, Peśni, Przyslowia, Podania).

This 400-page two-volume seminal work (Volume I and Volume II) appeared in Warsaw in 1847 - 1850 in the Polish language and has not yet been published in any other world language.

In this appeal, we invite all the Lithuanian noblemen and noble ladies contribute to the goal of making it possible for this over 170 years old valuable work to see the light of the day in our native language, to to become available to the broad audience of readers, to deepen the knowledge of history, culture, customs, and other areas of material and spiritual life of Lithuanian people and Lithuanian state.

Briefly about the book's contents. Volume 1, "History Prior to 13-th Century", tells about the lands owned by Lithuanians and their assets in those lands, the lands where the Lithuanian people and their state formed, the tribes that lived there, the origins and attributes of the Lithuanian language, their law, religion, customs, songs, proverbs, names; the book presents hundreds of those. Volume 2, "History From the Beginning 13-th Century and Until year 1386" chronicles the most important historic events until the beginning of GDL's presence in the Catholic world.

This work was translated into the Lithuanian language by Mr. Lazys Uscila, a member of the Literature Translators' Union of Lithuania. Mr. Uscila has translated from the Polish into the Lithuanian language over 70 historical, fiction and other books; he has also been awarded an honorary badge by the Republic of Poland for his merits in translating Polish literature into Lithuanian.

In 2021, The Senate of the Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility approved the idea of publishing J. I. Kraszewski's book "Lithuania. Ancient History, Law, Language, Faith, Customs, Songs, Proverbs, Legends". Preliminary Book Format: approximately 400-500 pages, size 160 x 240 (70x100 / 16), Paper Maxioffset 100 GSM, hardcover, circulation --- 600 copies. Publisher --- Center for Scientific and Encyclopedia Publishing. Main benefactors --- Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility (LRUN will provide 1,800 euros and LRUN members (5,200 euros). It is planned that these funds will be collected based on the same principle as that used for the book "Lithuanian Nobility - Signatories of the Act of February 16-th". Specifically,

Placing the coats of arms of the families/kins of the supporting LRUN members on the four inside pages of the book's cover (near each coat of arms, the names of up to five members of the family coat of arms can be listed).
Including a total of 52 family coats of arms on the four inside cover pages (13 coats of arms per page).
To register, please contact LRUN Chancellor, Mr. Sigitas Dobilinskas by email or by telephone (+370 612 60111) and provide the name of the family coat of arms and the names of the family members to be mentioned. The arrangement of the coats of arms will be according to the date and time of registration.
Members that offer support for the book will be given, as a gift, one copy of the book. Additionally, the supporting members will be able to acquire this publication at a solemn inauguration ceremony for this book, which will take place in February of 2022 at the Palace of GDL Rulers in Vilnius.
The supporting families' coats of arms will be those illustrated by T. Gailis.
Please transfer your support (100 euros for each coat of arms) to the LRUN bank account: Luminor Bank Lithuania, IBAN: LT374010051004930240, SWIFT: AGBLLT2X, address: Konstitucijos prospektas 21A, Vilnius, LT-08130, Lithuania. In the memo section of your transfer, please indicate the purpose of the transfer: "J. I. Kraszewski book."

Joseph Ignatius Kraszewski (Lithuanian: Juozapas Ignotas Kraševskis; Polish: Józef Ignacy Kraszewski) was one of the most productive European historians, publicists and writers of the 19-th century, who has left around 600 volumes of various creative contributions. He has much interest in Lithuanian history, language, mythology, was collecting songs, legends, proverbs, and published the magazine "Athenaeum." Lithuanian society during national revival was especially influenced by his artistic work, poetry. A compilation of his poetry, titled "Biruta, Keistutis, Ryngala, Nine Familial Kins of Lithuania" was released in Vilnius in 1838. It includes Lithuanian historical works. Later, came out other patriotic poetic works --- "Vitolis' Lament", "Mindaugas" (1842), "Vytautas' Battles" (1844), which were combined into a large compilation "Anafielas". Relying on J. I. Kraszewski's own funds, Mr. A. Vištelis-Višteliauskas, a member of the famous newspaper publisher "Aušra", translated into Lithuanian and published "Vitolis' Lament". Kraszewski's work has made especially prominent the legend about the defenders of the Pilėnai fortress, who burned themselves alive to avoid being taken captive by the German so-called crusaders in the 14-th century. This event is described in one of the author's most prominent works, the book "Lithuania. Ancient History, Law, Language, Faith, Customs, Songs, Proverbs, Legends".