Kristina Sabaliauskaitė

Kristina Sabaliauskaitė

Dr. Kristina Sabaliauskaitė is an art historian and one of the most prominent contemporary Lithuanian writers. Born in Vilnius, she is based in London since 2002. She worked as a foreign correspondent and columnist for Lithuania's biggest daily newspaper.

Career

In 2008 she debuted with a historical novel Silva Rerum (published by "Baltos lankos") about the life of a noble family in 1659-1667, the period after The Deluge. It became a bestseller of multiple editions and was pronounced "a literary event" in Lithuania, critically acclaimed and recognised by historians of culture, praised for the captivating storytelling and great attention to historical detail.

In 2008 it was shortlisted by the Institute of Lithuanian Literature among the twelve most creative books.

In 2008 received the Jurga Ivanauskaitė literary award.

In 2009 Silva Rerum became Book of the Year in Lithuania.

In 2010 it was officially listed among the 10 most memorable Lithuanian books of the past decade.

In 2011 Silva Rerum II, the sequel about the Great Plague of 1707-1710 and the Great Northern War was published by "Baltos lankos" and became a #1 bestseller nationally with many editions.

In 2011 Silva Rerum II also became Book of the Year in Lithuania.

In 2011 Sabaliauskaitė received the "Saint Christopher" award from Vilnius' municipality for the reflections of Vilnius in literature.

In 2011 Vilnius Tourism Information Centre has introduced a literary guided tour of Vilnius Old Town following the places described in Sabaliauskaitė`s Silva Rerum.

In 2012 "Baltos lankos" published a selection of short stories "Danielius Dalba & kitos istorijos" ("Daniel Crowbar & Other Stories") which became a number one bestseller.

In 2014 Latvian translation by Dace Meiere of "Silva rerum" and "Silva rerum II" (published in Latvia by Zvaigzne ABC) were elected among 100 of Latvians' Most Favourite Books of All Times.

In 2014 "Baltos lankos" published "Silva rerum III" - the third part of the novel, a number one bestseller, set in mid-18th century and exploring the origins of the legend of the Righteous Proselyte of Vilna, Abraham ben Abraham.

In 2015 "Silva Rerum III" and the trilogy has been awarded Liudas Dovydėnas Literary Prize.

In 2015 "Silva Rerum" (2008) has been published in Poland and received rave reviews, with critics calling it "a true literary sensation from Lithuania" (Mariusz Cieślik, Wprost), "a truly monumental text, a literature of the highest standard, an universal novel about humanity" (Tomasz Orwid, Dobre Książki).

In 2015 Kristina Sabaliauskaitė has been named Woman of the Year 2015 in Lithuania.

References

• "Kristina Sabaliauskaite". Retrieved 20 February 2012.