Gabriela Adamesteanu
Encyclopedia
Gabriela Adameșteanu is a Romania
n novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and translator. The author of the celebrated novels The Equal Way of Every Day (1975
) and Wasted Morning (1983
), she is also known as an activist in support of civil society
and member of the Group for Social Dialogue (GDS), as well as editor of Revista 22.
as the daughter of Mircea Adameșteanu, a high school history professor, and Elena, a home economics
teacher who lost her position when her subject matter was removed from the curriculum by Communist authorities
and she had to work in a kindergarten
. A brother of Mircea Adameșteanu's became a political prisoner
of the Communist regime; another, the renowned archaeologist
Dinu Adameşteanu, had taken refuge in Italy
.
Gabriela Adameșteanu lived much of her youth in Piteşti
. In 1960-1965, she attended the University of Bucharest
's Faculty of Literature, graduating with a thesis on Marcel Proust
, and made her debut with a short prose piece in 1971. Adameşteanu was employed by the Editura Politică department that was to become, in 1966, the Editura Științifică și Enciclopedică publishing house, and began contributing to major literary magazine
s (Viaţa Românească
and România Literară
). After 1983, she worked as an editor for Cartea Românească, were she made efforts to preserve literary standards in front of a new wave of censorship
under the Nicolae Ceauşescu
regime.
She married Gheorghe-Mihai Ionescu and gave birth to a son, Mircea Vlad Ionescu, in 1968.
Drumul egal al fiecărei zile (The Equal Way of Every Day), a story alluding to intellectual
survival in a provincial environment during the aggressive Stalinist
1950s, won her critical acclaim and the Romanian Academy
prize. In 1979, she published a series of short stories under the title Dăruiește-ți o zi de vacanță ("Offer Yourself a Day Off"), which expanded on the themes of The Equal Way. During the same year, in August, she traveled to the People's Republic of Poland
, where she witnessed the mood encouraged by the visit of Pope
John Paul II
(according to her recollections, it was "a magic sentiment of human dignity").
With Dimineață pierdută (Wasted Morning), a complex novel centered on an apparently banal conversation between two women, discreetly but fastidiously reconstructing the tragic end of the interwar
generation, Adameșteanu was awarded the Writers' Union prize and was confirmed as one of the most important Romanian authors of the 1980s. Wasted Morning was set to stage by Cătălina Buzoianu in 1987, becoming the center of interest at a time when the Ceaușescu regime had entered its more repressive phase.
In 1989, a short while before the Romanian Revolution
, she and other writers sent a letter of protest to the Communist leadership over the worsening conditions of life; she resigned from her position at Cartea Românească. In 1990, she joined GDS, and became editor of its magazine, 22, the following year.
Her other literary works include Vară-primăvară (a collection of short stories published in 1989), Obsesia politicii (interviews with post-1989 political figures, 1995), Cele două Românii (essays, 2000), and the 2003 novel Întâlnirea. She has translated into Romanian
Guy de Maupassant
's Pierre et Jean
and Hector Bianciotti
's Sans la miséricorde du Christ.
and, alternatively, as "hyperrealist
", is noted for its portrayals of humanity decaying under the leveling pressure of mundane reality. In this respect, critics have rated her literature among the major accomplishments of her generation (alongside the similarly themed novels and short stories of Norman Manea
, Bedros Horasangian, Alexandru Papilian, and Mircea Nedelciu
).
Her powerful depictions of values becoming debased (under the pressure of totalitarianism
) relies on the use of competing narratives and voices
(aspects of which include those of young civil servants who find themselves overwhelmed by mediocrity, daughters pressured by social priorities into not mourning their parents, and unhappily married women). Adameşteanu's accuracy in expressing various patterns of speech and behavior has itself drawn acclaim.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and translator. The author of the celebrated novels The Equal Way of Every Day (1975
1975 in literature
The year 1975 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* August 12 — with the 20-year time limit stipulated by Thomas Mann at his death having expired, sealed packets containing 32 of the author's notebooks were opened in Zurich, Switzerland.* Writing under the...
) and Wasted Morning (1983
1983 in literature
The year 1983 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Ironweed by William Kennedy is published.*Salvage for the Saint by Peter Bloxsom and John Kruse is published. This is the final book in a series of novels, novellas and short stories featuring the Leslie Charteris...
), she is also known as an activist in support of civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
and member of the Group for Social Dialogue (GDS), as well as editor of Revista 22.
Biography
She was born in Târgu OcnaTârgu Ocna
Târgu Ocna is a town in Bacău County, Romania, situated on the left bank of the Trotuş River, an affluent of the Siret, and on a branch railway which crosses the Ghimeş Pass from Moldavia into Transylvania. Târgu Ocna is built among the Carpathian Mountains on bare hills formed of rock salt...
as the daughter of Mircea Adameșteanu, a high school history professor, and Elena, a home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
teacher who lost her position when her subject matter was removed from the curriculum by Communist authorities
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
and she had to work in a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
. A brother of Mircea Adameșteanu's became a political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
of the Communist regime; another, the renowned archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
Dinu Adameşteanu, had taken refuge in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Gabriela Adameșteanu lived much of her youth in Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
. In 1960-1965, she attended the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
's Faculty of Literature, graduating with a thesis on Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
, and made her debut with a short prose piece in 1971. Adameşteanu was employed by the Editura Politică department that was to become, in 1966, the Editura Științifică și Enciclopedică publishing house, and began contributing to major literary magazine
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
s (Viaţa Românească
Viata Româneasca
Viaţa Românească, originally Viaţa Romînească , is a monthly literary magazine published in Romania...
and România Literară
România Literară
România literară is a cultural and literary magazine from România founded in 1855 by Vasile Alecsandri and published in Iași between January 1, 1855 until December 3, 1855, when it was suppressed. The new series appeared in October 10, 1855 as a continuation of Gazeta literară...
). After 1983, she worked as an editor for Cartea Românească, were she made efforts to preserve literary standards in front of a new wave of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
under the Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
regime.
She married Gheorghe-Mihai Ionescu and gave birth to a son, Mircea Vlad Ionescu, in 1968.
Drumul egal al fiecărei zile (The Equal Way of Every Day), a story alluding to intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
survival in a provincial environment during the aggressive Stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
1950s, won her critical acclaim and the Romanian Academy
Romanian Academy
The Romanian Academy is a cultural forum founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 1866. It covers the scientific, artistic and literary domains. The academy has 181 acting members who are elected for life....
prize. In 1979, she published a series of short stories under the title Dăruiește-ți o zi de vacanță ("Offer Yourself a Day Off"), which expanded on the themes of The Equal Way. During the same year, in August, she traveled to the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
, where she witnessed the mood encouraged by the visit of Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
(according to her recollections, it was "a magic sentiment of human dignity").
With Dimineață pierdută (Wasted Morning), a complex novel centered on an apparently banal conversation between two women, discreetly but fastidiously reconstructing the tragic end of the interwar
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
generation, Adameșteanu was awarded the Writers' Union prize and was confirmed as one of the most important Romanian authors of the 1980s. Wasted Morning was set to stage by Cătălina Buzoianu in 1987, becoming the center of interest at a time when the Ceaușescu regime had entered its more repressive phase.
In 1989, a short while before the Romanian Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, she and other writers sent a letter of protest to the Communist leadership over the worsening conditions of life; she resigned from her position at Cartea Românească. In 1990, she joined GDS, and became editor of its magazine, 22, the following year.
Her other literary works include Vară-primăvară (a collection of short stories published in 1989), Obsesia politicii (interviews with post-1989 political figures, 1995), Cele două Românii (essays, 2000), and the 2003 novel Întâlnirea. She has translated into Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant
Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents....
's Pierre et Jean
Pierre et Jean
Pierre et Jean is a naturalist or psycho-realist work written by Guy de Maupassant in Étretat in his native Normandy between June and September 1887 . This was Maupassant’s shortest novel. It appeared in three instalments in the Nouvelle Revue and then in volume form in 1888, together with the...
and Hector Bianciotti
Hector Bianciotti
Hector Bianciotti is an Argentine-born French author and member of the Académie française.-Biography:Born Héctor Bianciotti in Calchin Oeste in Córdoba Province , Bianciotti's parents were immigrants from Piedmont, who communicated among themselves in the dialect of that region but who forbade...
's Sans la miséricorde du Christ.
Work
Adameșteanu's work, which has been described as realistRealism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
and, alternatively, as "hyperrealist
Hyperreality
Hyperreality is used in semiotics and postmodern philosophy to describe a hypothetical inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from fantasy, especially in technologically advanced postmodern societies...
", is noted for its portrayals of humanity decaying under the leveling pressure of mundane reality. In this respect, critics have rated her literature among the major accomplishments of her generation (alongside the similarly themed novels and short stories of Norman Manea
Norman Manea
Norman Manea is a Jewish Romanian writer and author of short fiction, novels, and essays about the Holocaust, daily life in a communist state, and exile. He is a Francis Flournoy Professor of European Culture and writer in residence at Bard College...
, Bedros Horasangian, Alexandru Papilian, and Mircea Nedelciu
Mircea Nedelciu
Mircea Nedelciu was a Romanian short-story writer, novelist, essayist and literary critic, one of the leading exponents of the Optzecişti generation in Romanian letters...
).
Her powerful depictions of values becoming debased (under the pressure of totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
) relies on the use of competing narratives and voices
Writer's voice
Writer's voice is the literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice was generally considered to be a combination of a writer's use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text . Voice can be thought of in terms...
(aspects of which include those of young civil servants who find themselves overwhelmed by mediocrity, daughters pressured by social priorities into not mourning their parents, and unhappily married women). Adameşteanu's accuracy in expressing various patterns of speech and behavior has itself drawn acclaim.