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Marcelijus Martinaitis

Marcelijus Martinaitis

May 27, 2011, 1:55 p.m.

Marcelijus Martinaitis (was born on the 1st of April in 1936, in Paserbentis village, Raseiniai district) - Lithuanian poet, literary critic, essayist and translator.

In Kaunas, he completed an apprenticeship in engineering. He graduated from the University of Vilnius with a degree in Lithuanian language and literature (1964). He worked in different newspapers and magazines. Since 1980 Marcelijus Martinaitis has been lecturing folklore at the University of Vilnius, and some courses in Lithuanian literature. In 1980 he became a docent at the University of Vilnius.

He headed “Sajudis”, in 1989 was elected as a deputy of USSR, headed the Committee of national prizes for literature and art. He is a chairman at the Council of Lithuanian National Radio and Television.

He debuted in press in 1955. His first book of poems was «Balandžio sniegas» («April Snow", 1962). Marcelijus Martinaitis has published a great number of essays on various themes, published over ten books of poetry, also plays for the puppet theater and several collections of essays. "The Ballads of Kukutis” are particularly known. They were performed by the popular actor and singer Vytautas Kyarnagisom and translated into other languages.

For the book «Debesų laiptais» («On the stairs of clouds") he received the award of Young Communist League of Lithuania (1967). He is the winner of the National Prize for literature and art.

His poetry and some articles were translated into German, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovenian, Croatian, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Georgian, Armenian, Belarusian and other languages.