Ričardas Gavelis, a prose writer, playwright, and essayist, stands as Lithuanian literature's most incisive critic of totalitarianism, often credited with originating the central metaphor of Vilnius as the 'anus of the universe.' His work delved into the deformations of the Lithuanian psyche and exposed the impact of ideologies on the individual. Gavelis's prose, frequently evoking Kafkaesque realms, pioneered new avenues of social critique through an analytical, phantasmagorical, and metaphorical style. He bravely dismantled national taboos, championed reason and spiritual freedom, and fearlessly depicted intimacy and eroticism, thereby liberating Lithuanian literature from provincialism.
»Vilnius Poker« von Ričardas Gavelis beleuchtet die Auswirkungen der sowjetischen Okkupation auf die Menschen. Die Geschichte folgt Vytautas Vargalys, einem Freiheitskämpfer, der nach seiner Rückkehr von Visionen und Paranoia geplagt wird. Ein Mordfall und ein Prozess werfen Fragen nach Wahrheit und Wahrnehmung auf. Ein bedeutender litauischer Roman des 20. Jahrhunderts.
Set against the backdrop of post-Soviet Lithuania, this novel presents a chilling exploration of corruption and cynicism through the eyes of a character known as the Sun-Tzu of Vilnius. A child prodigy and master manipulator, he retreats to an underground lair to confront the world's evils. The narrative blends profound themes of love and hate, humor and horror, reflecting the complexities of human nature. Gavelis's sharp insights resonate with contemporary political realities, offering a haunting yet darkly comedic commentary on morality.
Mordant satire on life in Lithuania during the corrupt and stultifying Brezhnev years. Gavelis's story of how a good and honest man, not inclined to challenge the regime, could find no place for himself, whilst many who believed in nothing had no problems. A book full of ideas and observations.
A dark, enigmatic, and visceral examination of the psychology of repression, Vilnius Poker dives into the minds of four narrators whose contradictory memories challenge the very idea of truth. In this masterpiece written "for the drawer," Vilnius itself becomes a presence possessing a will, a consciousness and, worse, an intent. First published in 1989 when Lithuania was on the verge of breaking away from the Soviet Union, this book raised a firestorm for its brutality, frank sex, and its destruction of the myths of Lithuanian history.