We're going on the March! Cheers!

Severin Kvyatkoŭski's "Frashki" are literary moments from an era when Belarusian society was changing, stretching its shoulders, and seeking freedom. Instead of somber novels, they offer ironic, sharp, and often touching sketches that reflect our reality: protests, pain, hope, humanity. The book "We Are Going to the March!" collects frashki inspired by the real stories of people who dared to leave their homes – to meet themselves, each other, and Belarus.

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The word "frashka" in its modern sense is a contemporary of independent Belarus. In 1991, Siarhei Dubavets founded the intellectual publication "Nasha Niva" (1991–2000), which connected with the eponymous newspaper of the early 20th century through the idea of Belarusian identity.
In his editorial work, Siarhei Dubavets, among other things, proposed using the word "frashka" to refer to a short literary form ranging from a sketch to a mini-story. Whether cheerful or sad, but always ironic.
"Frashka" from the 16th century had a similar meaning – only in poetic form and with a leaning towards non-obligatory: something akin to trifles, playfulness, antics.
Through the chosen, seemingly exceptionally light, format of frashki, Severin Kvyatkoŭski reveals the features of an era of formation of a new Belarusian society, where old, Soviet-style archaism clashes with people of new thinking – with new Belarusians who want more air, more space, and more Belarusian identity for themselves.

Severin Kvyatkoŭski (born March 30, 1973, Minsk)

He invented the term "media writer" for himself: every literary genre the author uses is directly or indirectly related to the media.
Severin Kvyatkoŭski is the author of the books "Frashki da Plyashki" (Frashki to the Bottle), short prose (2007), "Padarunak dlya Adeli" (A Gift for Adela), novellas (2012), "Yak Stats Belarusam" (How to Become a Belarusian), a documentary project (2014), and "Kalaradskaya Pushcha" (Colorado Forest), a satirical serial novel (2019).
The title story of the new frashki, "We Are Going to the March!", is woven from the true stories of real people, united by a physical and figurative movement against the current of indifference, ignorance, and sometimes open hostility.

Seemingly solitary people with their ideals finally meet together in one endless March of joy and freedom!