Scotland Street Press will publish Znak’s Zekameron, written in detention, in English.
The book goes on sale on 1 March. To celebrate the publication of Maxim Znak's short story collection on 1 March 2023, the publisher will be presenting extracts and excerpts from the collection on social media, and the translator will reveal the hidden meanings of certain words and terms.
After translator Jim Dingley received the text of the stories, a huge consideration arose as to whether publication would endanger Znak’s life, or agitate successfully for his release, the publisher writes.
The publisher describes Znak’s writing style in the following way: “Znak is closer to Beckett than to Boccaccio. Banality and brutality vie with the human ability to overcome oppression. Znak's stories in different voices chart 100 days in prison in Belarus today. The tone is laconic, ironic; the humour dry. The stories bear witness to resistance and self-assertion and the genuine warmth and appreciation of fellow prisoners.”
Key themes in this collection of 100 tales include resistance and survival, the importance of routines and prisoner bonding.
The book goes on sale on 1 March. To celebrate the publication of Maxim Znak's short story collection on 1 March 2023, the publisher will be presenting extracts and excerpts from the collection on social media, and the translator will reveal the hidden meanings of certain words and terms.
After translator Jim Dingley received the text of the stories, a huge consideration arose as to whether publication would endanger Znak’s life, or agitate successfully for his release, the publisher writes.
The publisher describes Znak’s writing style in the following way: “Znak is closer to Beckett than to Boccaccio. Banality and brutality vie with the human ability to overcome oppression. Znak's stories in different voices chart 100 days in prison in Belarus today. The tone is laconic, ironic; the humour dry. The stories bear witness to resistance and self-assertion and the genuine warmth and appreciation of fellow prisoners.”
Key themes in this collection of 100 tales include resistance and survival, the importance of routines and prisoner bonding.