NOVEL BY LITHUANIAN OFFICER’S GRANDDAUGHTER ABOUT ONE FAMILY’S DESTINY DURING THE TRAGIC PERIOD FOR LITHUANIA WAS PRESENTED AT THE EMBASSY IN THE U.S.
On 25 May, a presentation of the book “Between Shades of Gray” by Rūta Šepetys and a meeting with the writer took place at the Lithuanian Embassy in the United States. The meeting was also attended by the Lithuanian delegation that was paying a visit to Washington, D.C.: Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas (Parliament) Emanuelis Zingeris, Member of Parliament Mantas Adomėnas and Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas.
Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas took part in the event and thanked R.Šepetys in the name of Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis for her contribution to spreading the message in the world about the tragic page of the history of Lithuania, strengthening the historical memory of the Lithuanian people and promotion of the dialogue between generations.E.Zingeris also emphasized the importance of historical memory.
“Even though we are very late, we still need to perpetuate the memory of tens of millions of victims of communism. It is especially important to acquaint the younger generation with crimes against humanity. Therefore, I wish that the story written by R.Šepetys would be included into school textbooks in the U.S.A. and other countries,” E.Zingeris said.
The debut novel by R.Šepetys that was published in the U.S.A. is about “a teenage Lithuanian girl, who was deported to Siberia along with her family.” R.Šepetys, the author of her first novel, is the granddaughter of a Lithuanian officer, who made it to the refugee camp after the Second World War. His granddaughter was born and grew up in Michigan.
Four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list Top 10, the book is very popular in the U.S.
The first novel by R.Šepetys has received recognition also in other countries. The book has been translated into 25 languages, including Lithuanian.
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