Ugne Karvelis
Encyclopedia
Ugnė KarvelisUgnė Karvelis (June 13, 1935, Noreikiškės, Lithuania
– March 4, 2002 in Paris
, France
) was a writer, a translator and a member of the UNESCO Executive Board from 1997 to 2002.
In 1940 Karvelis enrolled in Sacre Coeur, a private school in Berlin
. She continued her studies at Kaunas Aušra Gymnasium (1943-1944) and Tübingen
French school (1945-1950). Karvelis studied at the Sorbonne
(1951-1952) and then in the international relations department at Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris from 1952-1956. Karvelis furthered her studies overseas at Columbia University
in New York in the history and economics departments from 1957-1958.
In 1955 Karvelis began working for Express magazine in the international relations department. From 1959 to 1983 she worked as a publisher and editor for Editions Gallimard
, beginning as an International department manageress, and later managing the Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe departments. Thanks to her, many renowned writers such as Julio Cortázar
(with whom she was married), Pablo Neruda
, and Octavio Paz
were published in France. Karvelis also worked as a literary critic publishing in Le Figaro and Le Monde.
In 1988 Karvelis visited Lithuania and in 1991 helped Lithuania to join UNESCO
. In 1993 she became permanent Lithuanian
Ambassador to UNESCO.
In 1991 Karvelis directed two documentary movies about Lithuania.
She translated many Lithuanian authors into French, most notably novels by Saulius Tomas Kondrotas (Gaze of the Viper , Ričardas Gavelis
, Bitė Vilimaitė, and Jurga Ivanauskaitė
. She translated classic poems by Kristijonas Donelaitis
, Maironis
, Balys Sruoga
, Salomėja Nėris
, Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas
, and Jonas Aistis. Additionally she translated poems by modern authors: Marcelijus Martinaitis (Passerelle de nuages ), Eduardas Mieželaitis, Justinas Marcinkevičius
, Sigitas Geda
, Antanas A. Jonynas, Gintaras Patackas, and Almis Grybauskas among others.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
– March 4, 2002 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a writer, a translator and a member of the UNESCO Executive Board from 1997 to 2002.
Biography
Ugnė Karvelis was born in Noreikiškės, Kaunas district on June 13, 1935 to Lithuanian politician Petras Karvelis (1925-1929 Foreign Minister of Lithuania) and Veronika Bakštytė, a cultural activist. Following the 1940 Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the Karvelis family emigrated to Germany in 1944.In 1940 Karvelis enrolled in Sacre Coeur, a private school in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. She continued her studies at Kaunas Aušra Gymnasium (1943-1944) and Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
French school (1945-1950). Karvelis studied at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
(1951-1952) and then in the international relations department at Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris from 1952-1956. Karvelis furthered her studies overseas at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York in the history and economics departments from 1957-1958.
In 1955 Karvelis began working for Express magazine in the international relations department. From 1959 to 1983 she worked as a publisher and editor for Editions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard
Éditions Gallimard is one of the leading French publishers of books. The Guardian has described it as having "the best backlist in the world". In 2003 it and its subsidiaries published 1418 titles....
, beginning as an International department manageress, and later managing the Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe departments. Thanks to her, many renowned writers such as Julio Cortázar
Julio Cortázar
Julio Cortázar, born Jules Florencio Cortázar, was an Argentine writer. Cortázar, known as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, influenced an entire generation of Spanish speaking readers and writers in the Americas and Europe.-Early life:Cortázar's parents, Julio José Cortázar and...
(with whom she was married), Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
, and Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz Lozano was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature.-Early life and writings:...
were published in France. Karvelis also worked as a literary critic publishing in Le Figaro and Le Monde.
In 1988 Karvelis visited Lithuania and in 1991 helped Lithuania to join UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. In 1993 she became permanent Lithuanian
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
Ambassador to UNESCO.
In 1991 Karvelis directed two documentary movies about Lithuania.
She translated many Lithuanian authors into French, most notably novels by Saulius Tomas Kondrotas (Gaze of the Viper , Ričardas Gavelis
Ricardas Gavelis
Ričardas Gavelis was a writer, playwright, and journalist.Gavelis was the author of Vilniaus džiazas, Vilniaus pokeris, and other novels...
, Bitė Vilimaitė, and Jurga Ivanauskaitė
Jurga Ivanauskaite
Jurga Ivanauskaitė was a Lithuanian writer.She was born in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union. Studying at the Vilnius Art Academy, her first book was The Year of the Lilies of the Valley, published in 1985. She subsequently published six novels, a children's book and a book of essays...
. She translated classic poems by Kristijonas Donelaitis
Kristijonas Donelaitis
Kristijonas Donelaitis was a Prussian Lithuanian Lutheran pastor and poet. He lived and worked in Lithuania Minor, a territory in the Kingdom of Prussia, that had a sizable minority of ethnic Lithuanians...
, Maironis
Maironis
Maironis is one of the most famous Lithuanian romantic poets. He was born in Pasandravys, Raseiniai district municipality, Lithuania. Maironis graduated from Kaunas high school and went on to study Literature at Kiev University. However, in 1884, after one year of studies at the university, he...
, Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist.He contributed to cultural journals from his early youth...
, Salomėja Nėris
Salomeja Neris
Salomėja Nėris - Lithuanian poetess.- Biography :Nėris was born in Kiršai, in the current district of Vilkaviškis. She graduated from the University of Lithuania where she studied Lithuanian and German language and literature.After that she was a teacher in Lazdijai, Kaunas, and Panevėžys...
, Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas
Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas
Vincas Mykolaitis known by his pen name Putinas was Lithuanian poet and writer. He was also a priest, but renounced his priesthood in 1935.-Biography:...
, and Jonas Aistis. Additionally she translated poems by modern authors: Marcelijus Martinaitis (Passerelle de nuages ), Eduardas Mieželaitis, Justinas Marcinkevičius
Justinas Marcinkevicius
Justinas Marcinkevičius was a prominent Lithuanian poet and playwright.-Life and career:Marcinkevičius was born in 1930 in Važatkiemis, Prienai district. In 1954 he graduated from Vilnius University History and Philology faculty with a degree in Lithuanian language and Literature. He joined the...
, Sigitas Geda
Sigitas Geda
Sigitas Geda was a poet and translator in Lithuania.- Education and career :He studied history and philology at Vilnius University. In 1966 his collection Pedos came out. He was also a leading figure in the Movement for the Support of Perestroika or Sąjūdis...
, Antanas A. Jonynas, Gintaras Patackas, and Almis Grybauskas among others.
Works of note
- Demain, il ny aura plus de trains, 1991, novel .