On Thursday evening, Jurga Žąsinaitė, a doctor of humanities from the Anykščiai region and a researcher of the culture of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and ancient Lithuanian literature, visited the Anykščiai L. and S. Didžiuliai Public Library.
Exactly five years ago, after presenting the collection of short stories „The Shepherd of the Crossing“ at the library, Jurga Žąsinaitė returned to the library with her latest novel „Stronger Than Fate.“ The event was moderated by Jurgita Bražėnaitė-Christiansen, also from Anykstė.
Although the author has already presented the novel in other cities, coming to Anykščiai is especially exciting for her. "Even while writing the book, I always think and worry about what I will tell the people of Anykščiai during its presentation," J. Žąsinaitė said. Sunny skies welcomed her in her hometown and made her happy.
The novel "Stronger than Fate" is a true story based on true facts about the life of Livija Majorescu-Dimšienė, the mistress of one of the most beautiful Ilzenberg manors in Lithuania, the daughter of the famous Romanian intellectual and politician Tito Majorescu. J. Žąsinaitė first heard about the heroine of the future book from Romanian colleagues at a writers' conference in China. Interested in this personality, the author decided to research her life in more detail. When creating the novel, she found useful the letters from Livija received from Romanian colleagues, which helped her to better understand the experiences and personality of the heroine of the book.
The writer admitted that the life story of the landlady is very close to her own. What fascinated her most was Livia's ability to see the light and not lose hope even in the darkest and most difficult moments of life.
„I feel like I’m at a family reunion,“ smiled J. Žąsinaitė and was happy to see familiar faces in the hall. After the event, the author was congratulated and shared insights about the book by the mayor of Anykščiai district municipality Kęstutis Tubis, J. Žąsinaitė’s former teacher Dangira Nefienė, the mother of Jurgita Bražėnaitė-Christiansen, who moderated the event, Romualda Bražėnienė, childhood friends and relatives.
