Contemporary Kazakh Literature Prose

Kazakhstan has an incredibly rich and deep literary heritage, from folk tales of the steppe to epic poems and from ajtys narrative singing to modernist short stories and novels. But until now, readers in English have been denied the opportunity to access the great trove of Kazakh literature, as it remained largely untranslated. As such, this anthology represents a new epoch, in which a range of Kazakh literary voices from the 20th century can be discovered and appreciated by readers the world over. It is one of the many exciting products of President Nazarbayev's 'Ryhani Jangyry' initiative, an ambitious program to revive, modernize and internationalize the Kazakh cultural sector, while burnishing the best of Kazakh heritage and national identity. These short stories and novellas vividly conjure life in the auyls -- the famous Kazakh steppe villages -- with tales of tribal rifts, hardships and migrations, filial separation and reunion. But they also chart the impact of modernization and geopolitics, with stories of life under Soviet rule, militarization, nuclear contamination, and the draw of late-20th century urbanization. Above all, these are stories of fortitude, wit and ingenuity in the face of adversity, laced with folk wisdom; indeed, the anthology is an indispensable repository of Kazakh aphorisms and there are helpful footnotes providing historical and cultural context. This wonderful anthology brings us closer together, cultivating friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of Kazakhstan and the rest of the world. As such, it is to be hoped that this anthology is not a destination, but a vital first step on a journey for English-speaking readers into Kazakh literature, a tantalizing glimpse of what is to come. -- Foreword / Sir Ciarán Devane.