Varai neērta rakstnieka piemiņa un (literārais) mantojums. Ēvalda Vilka piemērs (1976–1978)
Memorial Discourse and (Literary) Legacy of an Uncomfortable Writer for the Occupation Regime. The case of Ēvalds Vilks (1976–1978)

Summary/Abstract: Latvian prose writer Ēvalds Vilks (1923–1976) was a member of the Communist Party since 1949 and an injured veteran of WWII, highly respected by writers of his generation and senior and junior colleagues. In his literary works and journalism, he addressed manifestations of the regime that did not match his ideals and system of values. He received official awards and was appreciated by the authorities, though the loss of communist ideals and the limitations of publishing negatively influenced his creativity and personality. Analysing memorial publications, memoirs, and archival documents, the article deals with the first phase of the writer’s memorial discourse, namely, the activities undertaken by the institutions and journalism dedicated to Vilks after his death, from 1976 to 1978: obituaries, dedications, and memories of his contemporaries. The article reveals the rules and principles for publishing the literary heritage and amendments to texts under the influence of censorship. Publications show both similarities and significant differences in the assessment of the writer’s personality and literary work. Vilks’ contemporaries highlight qualities related to the perpetuation of the commemorations of Soviet heroes, such as ‘honesty’ and ‘veracity’, placing him in a superior position, compared with other writers. It is essential that these qualities, in the context of the period of Stagnation, are consistent with his colleagues’ testimonies, memoirs, and archival documents, thus creating a simplified but unbiased Vilks’ memorial discourse. For understanding the writer’s personality, censored publications, as well as commemorative events planned by the official institutions and the publishing house, are significant.

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