To the 130th anniversary of Maxim Goretsky…

Published: February 24, 2023

February 18 marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of our famous countryman Maxim Goretsky.

Many facts from the life of M. Goretsky are now known thanks to his autobiographical works, the memoirs of his close relatives. Also, from books and the Internet, we have the opportunity to recall information about an outstanding representative of Belarusian literature. Some materials are stored in the institution «State Archive of Mogilev region».

Maxim Ivanovich, a classic of Belarusian literature, has a special role in the formation of national fiction. Despite his youth (the first novel «In the bathhouse» was written at the age of nineteen), M. Goretsky immediately declared himself a mature master. From the very beginning of his career, he took care of the development of Belarusian literature, expanding its genre and thematic framework. The writer relied on the creative experience of Ya . Kolas and other contemporary authors, but each of his stories, novellas or novels was a phenomenon of Belarusian prose of the early twentieth century, innovative in content and form.

In 1926-1928 Maxim Goretsky worked in Gorky at the Belarusian Agricultural Academy. There is documentary evidence of this fact in the State Archive of the Mogilev region.

The funds contain materials about his teaching and scientific activities as an associate professor of the Department of Belarusian Studies, namely certificates, extracts and a questionnaire written by M.Goretsky himself.

M. Goretsky boldly introduced new artistic forms into the use of national prose. One of the pioneers of military documentaries in Belarusian literature.

Despite his short life, Maxim Goretsky fully revealed his talent in other areas of creative and intellectual activity: in literature and linguistics, journalistic, pedagogical and social activities.