The path of petty scoundrels

“They gave the New Year's speech to a madwoman. I picked up the glass and couldn't say anything. I wanted to tell about the interconnected Christmas mechanism of Herod's strengthening and the inevitability of a miracle. About the changes that await everyone, and may they all benefit us. But disgust for the sublime had already taken hold of my spirit. There was no truth that would unite us, and if there were, it should not be uttered by my lips and not for these people…”

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Eva Viežnaviec’s first book, “The Path of a Petty Scoundrel,” has unfortunately remained in the literary limbo of the digital age until today: it seems to exist, but is scattered among private collections; it seems bold and resonant, but has been overlooked by reviews; it seems to be one of the most important books about where, for what, and with whom Belarusians are forced to live, but overshadowed by “Where Are You Going, Wolf?”. Meanwhile, Viežnaviec splits our context in two. Into women and men. Into the country she is obsessed with, and the Byelaruss that kills. Into people of ideas and people whose streets we walk and will continue to walk. The author sees herself and all of us in this rift, from which we climb towards the sun. What do you want? Not to be a petty scoundrel! But for now, we are only climbing, confusing tracks, and losing our bearings. In this lies the Path.

” Eva Viežnaviec — one of the most unique prose voices of today’s Belarus. She writes in a feminine way. She writes magically. Her pen speaks for those who cannot or do not want to hold a pen themselves.”