It’s not that geographic proximity that attracts me to Panait Istrati, but it’s the proximity in literary terms. Well, that’s to say, being a man of true friendship, Adrian Zogaffi is one of my long-time companions.
I first met Zogaffi in Istrati’s Mediterranean – as far as I’m concerned his most successful novel- and impressed by the overwhelming characters and the genius plot. And then came Unchle Angel, Mes Departs, Kyra Kyralina and many other masterpieces. If most of the authorities do not include his works in their classics list, that’s just because we oversaw him. Unlike what he deserved, few know his name and even fewer know his intelligent work.
Istrati’s life is an interesting story, itself. He was first discovered by the infamous French author Romain Rolland and was constantly encouraged by him. This royal support resulted in his first novel, Kyra Kyralina which Rolland claimed was the greatest novel of the time. But one thing, he was writing in French and this was a distress for Istrati. On many occasions, he stated how difficult it was to write in a language in which he had no proficiency. Before putting together a sentence, he was looking up the dictionary for hours.
Istrati had a deep sympathy for communism throughout the first half of his life. He wrote a number of articles for periodicals in Romania. Later on, in 1927, he was invited to the 10th year anniversary of the October Revolution with the close friend of his, Nikos Kazantzakis. He even applied for soviet citizenship, but his application was gone unanswered. Shortly after that, he traveled to USSR and consequently, he lost all his belief in the ideology.
He drew every little sentence from his own life. His experiences are clearly visible. Towards the end of his life, he wrote “The man who will adhere to nothing” and his was the most remarkable experience of him.
Taking my childhood and early life into account, Adrian Zogaffi was virtually what I had beside me for years even if I did not know him until I was 20. Devoted, sincere and always supportive. Because of the occupation my father has, we were always on the move. Therefore, I failed to make any constant friendship at those fragile times of childhood and that was what I was longing for. I just found out the name of my friend who never left me traveling from city to city. Nostalgia or something, I couldn’t help recalling subtle memories between the lines.
And the end of the story. As his time was fast approaching, he was dying slowly. Dying of tuberculosis outside, and of a desperate love inside. He had no one around him when he bid farewell.
But Zogaffi is accompanying us all along our way and we are never deprived of his true friendship.
I first met Zogaffi in Istrati’s Mediterranean – as far as I’m concerned his most successful novel- and impressed by the overwhelming characters and the genius plot. And then came Unchle Angel, Mes Departs, Kyra Kyralina and many other masterpieces. If most of the authorities do not include his works in their classics list, that’s just because we oversaw him. Unlike what he deserved, few know his name and even fewer know his intelligent work.
Istrati’s life is an interesting story, itself. He was first discovered by the infamous French author Romain Rolland and was constantly encouraged by him. This royal support resulted in his first novel, Kyra Kyralina which Rolland claimed was the greatest novel of the time. But one thing, he was writing in French and this was a distress for Istrati. On many occasions, he stated how difficult it was to write in a language in which he had no proficiency. Before putting together a sentence, he was looking up the dictionary for hours.
Istrati had a deep sympathy for communism throughout the first half of his life. He wrote a number of articles for periodicals in Romania. Later on, in 1927, he was invited to the 10th year anniversary of the October Revolution with the close friend of his, Nikos Kazantzakis. He even applied for soviet citizenship, but his application was gone unanswered. Shortly after that, he traveled to USSR and consequently, he lost all his belief in the ideology.
He drew every little sentence from his own life. His experiences are clearly visible. Towards the end of his life, he wrote “The man who will adhere to nothing” and his was the most remarkable experience of him.
Taking my childhood and early life into account, Adrian Zogaffi was virtually what I had beside me for years even if I did not know him until I was 20. Devoted, sincere and always supportive. Because of the occupation my father has, we were always on the move. Therefore, I failed to make any constant friendship at those fragile times of childhood and that was what I was longing for. I just found out the name of my friend who never left me traveling from city to city. Nostalgia or something, I couldn’t help recalling subtle memories between the lines.
And the end of the story. As his time was fast approaching, he was dying slowly. Dying of tuberculosis outside, and of a desperate love inside. He had no one around him when he bid farewell.
But Zogaffi is accompanying us all along our way and we are never deprived of his true friendship.
2 comments:
The doctor came along and says, 'We can keep him alive. We may get him back out of this.' What for if he has not got a smiling face in his
life full of tenderness.WHY IF YOU HAVE NOT GOT?
Yes he suffered from tuburculosis however ill health did not prevent him from participating in strikes, traveling in the newly formed Soviet Union and Europe and making political statements through his works. I can say he lived for what he believed like you have been doing no matter how hard it is for you.
I've just finished Bruce Benderson's The Romanian, which refers to Kyra Kyralina.
The book sounds fascinating.
http://1stpersona.blogspot.com/2008/01/romanian.html
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