Description

“Birds Without Nests. Memoirs” is a poignant autobiographical record of the life of Larysa Hienijuš — one of the most important figures of the Belarusian independence movement of the 20th century. A poet, a prisoner of Soviet camps, a woman of iron will and boundless love for her Homeland.

These memoirs are not only a personal story of survival but also a testament to an entire generation of repressed Belarusians. Hienijuš describes her childhood, national activities, dramatic arrest, brutal years in the GULAG, and life after returning from exile — a life under constant surveillance, yet still with dignity. It is a book that captivates with its style, depth of emotion, and authenticity. Today — thanks to the new edition — we have a chance to listen again to the voice that endured despite attempts to destroy it.

For readers interested in the history of Belarus, the fates of women in totalitarian systems, and prison literature.

“More than forty years have passed since her soul departed into Belarusian eternity, but even now it happens — in the evening or morning, on the ‘swing’ between wakefulness and sleep — that a soothing and joyful thought suddenly comes: soon I will go to ‘Grandmother.’ That is what we called her in letters and telephone conversations — with love, but also with caution, mindful of the ‘comrade majors,’ our curators appointed by the authorities. We often called her Grandmother during purely friendly conversations that could be overheard by strangers. I think, however, that the KGB officers knew very well: ‘Grandmother’ was Larysa Hienijuš” (Uł. Arłoŭ).