Grigorijus KanoviÄius
Grigori Kanowitsch (Russian Григорий Канович; lithuanian Grigorijus Kanovičius ), actually Jakov Semenovitsch ( born June 18, 1929 in Jonava ) is a Lithuanian writer, dramatist, translator, screenwriter and film director. He writes in Russian and Lithuanian, in his Russian prose works he mainly describes the life of Lithuanian Jews.
Life
Grigorijus Kanovičius was born as Yakov Semenovich in the Lithuanian city of Jonava near Kaunas, according to another source in Kaunas itself, the son of a religious Jewish tailor. In 1941 he emigrated to the east and lived and learned in Kazakhstan and the Urals. In 1945 he came back to Lithuania and lived in Vilnius. In 1948 he debuted as a poet. In 1953, he earned a degree in Russian language and literature at the University of Vilnius. He worked at the Institute of Lietuvos mokslų akademija and Lietuvos kino studija.
Kanovičius was a member of Sąjūdis Council and managed from 1988 to 1993, the Jewish communities of Lithuania. In 1993 he emigrated to Israel. From 1995 to 1999 he was an Israeli correspondent for " Novoje ruskoje slovo ", the biggest Russian newspaper in the United States.
Works (selection)
In German translation have been published:
- Candles in the wind. Novel. Translated from the Russian by Waltraud Ahrndt. Aufbau-Verlag, Berlin 1984
- Tears and prayers of the simple. Historical novel. Translated from the Russian by Waltraud Ahrndt. Folk and World, Berlin 1985
- A kid for two pence. Novel. Translated from the Russian by Waltraud Ahrndt. Aufbau-Verlag, Berlin 1993. ISBN 3-351-02203-4
Awards
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, 3rd class, 1995