Chinghiz Aitmatov
Chinghiz Aitmatov Чыңгыз Төрөкулович Айтматов
Chinghiz Aitmatov was a Kyrgyz author who wrote mainly in Russian. He is one of the best known figures in Kyrgyzstan's literature. Aitmatov lived at a time when Kyrgyzstan was being transformed from one of the most remote lands of the Russian Empire to a republic of the USSR. Aitmatov's work has some elements that are unique specifically to his creative process. His work drew on folklore, not in the ancient sense of it; rather, he tried to recreate and synthesize oral tales in the context of contemporary life. This is prevalent in his work; in nearly every story he refers to a myth, a legend, or a folktale.
Translated Titles by Chinghiz Aitmatov
The Second World War is raging, and Jamilia’s husband is off fighting at the front. Accompanied by Daniyar, a sullen newcomer who was wounded on the battlefield, Jamilia spends her days hauling sacks of grain from the threshing floor to the train station in their village in the Caucasus. Spurning men’s advances and wincing at the dispassionate letters she receives from her husband, Jamilia falls helplessly in love with the mysterious Daniyar in this beautiful tale.
The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years
Set in the vast windswept Central Asian steppes and the infinite reaches of galactic space, this powerful novel offers a vivid view of the culture and values of the Soviet Union's Central Asian peoples.
Learn more about Chinghiz Aitmatov
Gale Literature Resource Center - Chinghiz Aitmatov Overview