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Censored Poems
Romania’s comic genius Marin Sorescu was so popular during the worst of the Ceausescu years that his readings had to be held in football stadiums, and his books sold hundreds of thousands of copies. While his witty, ironic parables were not directly critical of the régime, Romanians used to a culture of double-speak could read other meanings in his playful mockery of the human condition. All this time, however, he was also writing the ‘secret poems’ he did not dare publish then because – as Dan Zamfirescu commented – ‘the gesture would have been the equivalent of suicide’. Censored Poems is a selection from two books published in Bucharest after 1989, including borderline poems censored by the authorities as well as the riskier secret poems censored by the author.
"1002396654"
Censored Poems
Romania’s comic genius Marin Sorescu was so popular during the worst of the Ceausescu years that his readings had to be held in football stadiums, and his books sold hundreds of thousands of copies. While his witty, ironic parables were not directly critical of the régime, Romanians used to a culture of double-speak could read other meanings in his playful mockery of the human condition. All this time, however, he was also writing the ‘secret poems’ he did not dare publish then because – as Dan Zamfirescu commented – ‘the gesture would have been the equivalent of suicide’. Censored Poems is a selection from two books published in Bucharest after 1989, including borderline poems censored by the authorities as well as the riskier secret poems censored by the author.
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Censored Poems

Censored Poems

Overview

Romania’s comic genius Marin Sorescu was so popular during the worst of the Ceausescu years that his readings had to be held in football stadiums, and his books sold hundreds of thousands of copies. While his witty, ironic parables were not directly critical of the régime, Romanians used to a culture of double-speak could read other meanings in his playful mockery of the human condition. All this time, however, he was also writing the ‘secret poems’ he did not dare publish then because – as Dan Zamfirescu commented – ‘the gesture would have been the equivalent of suicide’. Censored Poems is a selection from two books published in Bucharest after 1989, including borderline poems censored by the authorities as well as the riskier secret poems censored by the author.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781852241957
Publisher: Bloodaxe Books
Publication date: 07/26/2001
Pages: 128
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Marin Sorescu (1936-96) was a cheerfully melancholic comic genius, and one of the most original voices in Romanian literature. His mischievous poetry and satirical plays earned him great popularity during the Communist era. While his witty, ironic parables were not directly critical of the regime, Romanians used to a culture of double-speak could read other meanings in his playful mockery of the human condition. But later - like a hapless character from one of his absurdist dramas - the peasant-born people's poet was made Minister of Culture, in Ion Iliescu's post-Ceaucescu government.
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Related Subjects

Poetry
European Poetry
Eastern European Poetry
Poetry
European Poetry
Eastern European Poetry

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