Das Jahr in vier Gesängen, ein ländliches Epos aus dem Litthauischen des Christian Donaleitis (The poem "The Seasons")

The 3,517-line poem ‘The Seasons’, written between 1765 and 1775, is the great work by Kristijonas Donelaitis (Christian Donalitius, 1714–1780), a classic of Lithuanian literature, founder of Lithuanian belles-lettres, and the country’s most prominent 18th-century literary figure. The renowned publisher of Lithuanian folk songs Ludwig Rhesa (1776–1840) came into possession of the manuscript around 1800. He edited and abridged Donelaitis’ work, and published it in 1818 under the title ‘The Seasons’, with his own German translation of it. ‘The Seasons’ by Donelaitis was a new phenomenon in European literature in many respects. The poem perfectly reflects the life of peasants in 18th-century Lithuania Minor and their daily concerns. In his foreword to the poem, Rhesa put it on a par with the best works by European writers, and praised the poem’s originality, artistry and folk character. ‘The Seasons’ was translated into many European languages. The Ellex Valiunas collection has 11 editions.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album ARS LIBRI (2022). Compiler Algimantas Muzikevičius, text authors Algimantas Muzikevičius, Rolandas Gustaitis

The 3,517-line poem ‘The Seasons’, written between 1765 and 1775, is the great work by Kristijonas Donelaitis (Christian Donalitius, 1714–1780), a classic of Lithuanian literature, founder of Lithuanian belles-lettres, and the country’s most prominent 18th-century literary figure. The renowned publisher of Lithuanian folk songs Ludwig Rhesa (1776–1840) came into possession of the manuscript around 1800. He edited and abridged Donelaitis’ work, and published it in 1818 under the title ‘The Seasons’, with his own German translation of it. ‘The Seasons’ by Donelaitis was a new phenomenon in European literature in many respects. The poem perfectly reflects the life of peasants in 18th-century Lithuania Minor and their daily concerns. In his foreword to the poem, Rhesa put it on a par with the best works by European writers, and praised the poem’s originality, artistry and folk character. ‘The Seasons’ was translated into many European languages. The Ellex Valiunas collection has 11 editions.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album ARS LIBRI (2022). Compiler Algimantas Muzikevičius, text authors Algimantas Muzikevičius, Rolandas Gustaitis