Zabaikalie Golden Autumn

Seminar of young writers and poets from Siberia and the Far East was held in Chita in 1965. More then 80 manuscripts were discussed and read there. Since 1965 annually literary festivals "The Golden Autumn" has been established in Chita. It was a wise book holiday. Representatives of writers' organizations came to Chita from the Far East, Sakha − Yakutiya Republic, The Buryat Republic, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, from many all - Union Republics and other places of the former the USSR. They read their novels, poems in a great number of parts of the Chita Region and met for discussions with workers, soldiers, students, schoolchildren, collective farmers and so on. In Pushkin Library great splendid literary − musical evenings were organized for its readers and citizens of Chita. M.Vishnyakov, G.Graubm, B. Lavrenaites, Makarov, G. Kobyakov, N. Kuzakov, Y. Kurst, 0. Dimov, B. Balyabin and a lot of other writers and poets told people about their books, recited poems, read passages from different literary works. The atmosphere of festival "Golden Autumn" has been winderful, merry with songs and dancings. Children and their parents were attrected to great "Books' Market", held in Lenin Square. During those markets readers bought books by the prominent Zabaikalie writers, got their autograh signatures, and enjoyed meetings with their beloved authors. Fine September weather, music, selling of books inspired the people with holiday spirit, made them be proud of native Zabaikalie, bought bright, exciting books, communicated with the famous people of the Chita Region

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions.

1. When was the first seminar of young authors held?

1. in Chita

1. in Sretensk in 1980

2. in Moscow in 1965

2. What is the Zabaikalye '•Golden Autumn"?

1. a holiday of books

1. music festival

2. military parade

3. Who came to that holiday?

1. writers from abroad

1. writers of the Chita organization

2. from many harts of Russia and republics of the USSR

4. Who took part in the holiday?

the Chita region writers and poets

foreign authors

Russian and foreign authors

5. Why did a lot of people and children visit that holiday?

1. bought books of famous writers

1. played sports games

2. attended concerts

6. Why was the holiday exciting and interesting?

1. met with well-known authors

1. discussed problems with politicians

2. met with beloved sportsmen

2. Follow up Discuss in your group:

• the beginning of literary activity in Zabaikalie

• contribution to the development of literature in Zabaikalie, made by the Decembrists

• the first literary organization, the professional writers' organizations

• the famous writers and poets of Zabaikalie

• the well-known writers of Russia, who were in Zabaikalie

13