«The Nobility of Pinsk»

Annotation

The first edition of "The Nobility of Pinsk", written in 1866, appeared in the magazine "Volnaia Belarus" (Nos. 30-31) in 1918. The second edition was produced in 1923. The play shows the haughtiness and self-conceit of the minor nobility, who feel largely insulted if called "peasants" though they do not differ from the villagers in their life style and material status. At the same time they strongly fear the authorities and those who have a power over them. The author also ridicules the tsarist court and the pettifoggery and bribe-taking of the bureaucrats who themselves breach the law and pronounce absurd judgements.

The Belarusian State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art holds an examplar of the play printed in Poland: V. Dunin-Martsinkevich. "The Nobility of Pinsk". Comedy in one act. Bialystok, 1958.