Сталін у беларускай савецкай літаратуры
Stalin in the Soviet Belarusian literature

Summary/Abstract: The study traces the development of the 1930s–1950s fabrication of Stalin as ‘a best friend of Belarusian people’ and literary icon. The Belarusian Soviet writers constantly praised Stalin, describing as ‘Great’, ‘Beloved’, ‘Bold’, ‘Wise’, ‘Inspirer’, and ‘Genius’. They portrayed him as a caring yet strong father figure, with the Soviet Belarusian populace as his ‘children’. The article shows that Stalin’s role as putative ‘all-powerful all-knowing leader’ was partly the product of a cult of personality, and partly its driving force. New interpretations of a wide range of Stalin-inspired writing in various genres, including poetic letters of ‘the Belarusian people’ to Stalin, are given in the article. Some of these writings became part of the official canon, and some of them were instantly forgotten. Author’s attention to the personality cult literary dissenters is particularly valuable.

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