By Mikhail Bushuyev, edited by Galina Toktalieva
The head of Swiss publishing house Unionsverlag, Lucien Leitess, gave an interview to Deutsche Welle about perception of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov in the West.
Aitmatov is a very popular in Europe, especially in German-speaking countries. His story Jamila is one of the most affecting love stories narrated in the XX century. One of the major publishers of his creative work is a Swiss publishing house Unionsverlag.
How many books by Chingiz Aitmatov were published in German? How many are published now?
Lucien Leitess: Books by Chingiz Aitmatov had been published during last ten years – hundreds of thousands of copies. Millions were bought and read by German-speaking readers. It is difficult to overestimate popularity of Aitmatov in the West, especially in Germany. Many books were published there, but even more books were demanded. There was always shortage of books. Half a million of Jamila story’s copies were published in various publishing houses. Some copies were printed in addition. No other writer from the former Soviet Union had so many German-speaking fans as Kyrgyz author Aitmatov.
Chingiz Aitmatov is likely to be the most famous Kyrgyz in the world. Is everything done to preserve Aitmatov’s heritage in Kyrgyzstan?
I know that nothing has been done one year after author’s death. There is no grave stone, the authorities promised to rename the street in honor of Aitmatov but have not done it yet. (more…)