Jaunutis Vienuolis (Joseph Gerbačauskis) parase "Erškėčių vainikas". Viršelis Adalbertas Staneika.
Krakovoje MCMVIII (1908) Gebethnerio & Co Knygynas. Atspausta Jegailos Universiteto spaustiuvje.
"Crown of Thorns" Essays Collection by Jaunutis Vienuolis (Joseph Gerbačauskis) with Great Modernist Cover
and Graphical Vignettes by Artist Adalbertas Staneika. -FIRST EDITION-. -RARITY-.
Publisher Gebethnerio & Co Bookstore, Krakow 1908 and Gebethner & Wolff Bookstore, Warsaw.
Lithuanian language. 112 pages. Vertical format. Size: 142 x 206 mm. Weight 110 gr. Publishing original soft cover.
The book is really old, which printed 109 years ago, but not modern reprint or more late re-edition. Full complete copy.
Very Fine condition, clean copy without any remarks or stamps inside, few small single tears by borders of cover, traces of time (please see images).
"Crown of Thorns" essays collection is considered as one of the most valuable author's writings, significant and valuable book of
Lithuanian modernist literature. Author declared himself as the herald of new ideas, prophet, reformer, and argued that the old concept
of culture is regressive, forms of classicism and lachrymose sentimentalism must be leaved in the past, therefore expressed the need to
spread the new concept that would direct the future Lithuanian literature and art towards the context of early modernism.
"Crown of thorns" the first modernist book of prose written on Lithuanian language, folklore stylization attempt, disrupter of
literary logic with its fragmented composition, which core message - Lithuanian revival ideas of transformation, culture reform
propaganda of modernism and neo-romanticism. Author presented his significant ideas to the readers in the form of improvisational
oratorical speech to the audience. The philosophical concepts, mythological images, emotional poetry, Bible intonations, great enthusiasm
are expressed in author's manifesto speech, full of swaggering inner confidence in his judgment.
Juozapas Gerbačauskis (1876-1944) - Lithuanian writer and literary critic, initiator of modernism in Lithuanian literature.
He was a controversial personality in Lithuanian and Polish cultural life, representative of double national self-identification;
he was close to krajovcai ideology. Herbaciauskas considered culture to be the sole source of national independence and spoke out
in favour of cooperation between historical and purely ethnic Lithuanian in creation of traditionally distinct common culture.
Still, Lithuanian national culture was too young to accept decadentism of the European culture: although ideologists of Lithuanian national
culture were not strictly against Modernism, they spoke in favor of revising it. Even having left Lithuania, the writer was interested in
Lithuanian literature and culture, was faithful to romanticist values till the end by raising the heart above the mind, the creator and
genius above the crowd, and relating the problem of creation and culture to the issues of the nation, morality and religion.