Jonas Janušauskas. Igarka's Diary: 1948 05 22 – 1951 06 30

Description

The author of the diary, Jonas Janušauskas (1914–1996), the son of a wealthy farmer from Šimkaičiai parish (now Jurbarkas district), was exiled with ten other relatives to Igarka, a city in the Arctic north of Russia. Only after being put on a train at Varlaukis railway station did he begin writing his diary.

This is a detailed chronicle of the daily life of a large Lithuanian family during the first, most difficult years of exile in Igarka, an authentic testimony of the days spent in exile. By meticulously recording the events of the day, working hours, product prices, and time spent in queues, the author reveals new, unknown details of exile, which also paints a true picture of the poor and monotonous daily life of the exiles.

Even when capturing a very sad reality, the author does not overly dramatize it. The restrained text is only occasionally interspersed with longer reflections about the injustice experienced, the indifference of officials to the living conditions of the exiles, especially children, and the homeland they were forced to leave behind.

Readers will also be attracted by the authentic language of the diary, vivid, often ironic comparisons, and sarcastic observations.