Nil Hilevich


Nil Symonavich Hilevich was a Belarusian poet, a professor in the Belarusian State University, the author of more than 80 books of poetry, publications, and translations, and one of the founders of the Francišak Skaryna [Belarusian Language Society].

Biography

Nil Hilevich was born in the village of Slabada, in the Lahoisk District of Minsk Province. He studied in a college in Minsk, preparing to be a teacher. During the last year in college he worked as a teacher in one of the schools in Minsk. He continued his education at the Belarusian State University, and graduated in 1956. During 1960-1986 he was working at the university, and later on became a professor. In 1958 he started to work for the newspaper Zvyazda. In 1978 Hilevich joined the Communist Party. In 1980 he became the executive secretary of the Writer's Union of BSSR, and held that position for 9 years. In 1989 he became a chairperson of the Francišak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society. He also was the chief editor of the Society's bulletin Наша слова. In 1991 Nil Hilevich received a People's Poet of Belarus nomination. He has also received some other awards in literature.

Works

Hilevich was first published in 1946. And only after eleven years he published his verse collection, Песьня ў дарогу. The book was followed by Прадвесьне ідзе па зямлі, Неспакой, Бальшак, Перазовы, А дзе ж тая крынічанька?, Актавы, У добрай згодзе, Повязь. Hilevich has also published a number of humorous and satirical books, such as
  • Званковы валет Да новых венікаў Ці грэх, ці 2 , Як я вучыўся жыць
  • Русалка на Нарачы.
Nil Hilevich translates Bulgarian, Slovenian, Polish, Lutuanian, Ukrainian, and Russian prose and poetry into Belarusian. He also has written poetic verses for children, such as
  • Сіні домік, сіні дом Зялёны востраў
  • Добры чалавек.
In 1981 his chosen works were published in a two part book. Hilevich wrote some plays which were published as a separate book Начлег на бусьлянцы in 1980. His novel Перажыўшы вайну was published in 1988. Nil Hilevich is a productive poet, also known for writing a number of books literary criticism, translations folkloric studies such asНаша родная песня
  • Вусная народная творчасць і сучасная лірычная паэзія ўсходніх і паўднёвых славян.
In 2009 his chosen works were published in a book in Minsk. The book has 600 pages and contains the most important works of Hilevich.