April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature. Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare passed away on April 23, 1616. Since 1996, the day has been celebrated as World Book and Copyright Day.
The collected plays by the Great Bard were published shortly after his death. Ben Jonson wrote in his introductory poem that Shakespeare “was not of an age, but for all time.” The same can be said of Cervantes and deservedly so, although he achieved fame not long before he died.
The greatness of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes lies in the fact that they had the ability to transcend the boundaries of time and overcome barriers between everyday life and the realm of fantasy. They are widely regarded as the fathers of modern literature. Although it is known for certain that the English playwright and the Spanish author never met in person, their creations have much in common. For instance, both of them shared a belief that a work of literature does not have to be simply comic or tragic, political or historical: if properly conceived, it can be many things at the same time.
World Book and Copyright Day was instituted at the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris in 1995 to pay tribute to books and encourage everyone, particularly young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and show respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress of humanity.
The UNESCO Prize for Children’s and Young People’s Literature in the Service of Tolerance was established at the same Conference.
In the early 19th century the English poet George Gordon Byron defined books as “not only a means of sharing knowledge, but also the most reliable means of storing it”.
Reading gives people access to knowledge, spiritual and moral values, and shapes their understanding of creative achievements. As a source of information and a basis for learning and creativity, books enable cultures to tell about themselves. They provide a unique window into traditions and customs of different nations.
Every person’s first reading experience starts with tales. Turkmen folk tales are a fount of wisdom of many generations that mirrors the national mentality.
The first recorded Turkmen folklore included 13 folk stories. A collected book of fifty Turkmen folk tales was published in 1940.
The most popular fairy tale, Akpamyk, reflects Turkmen folklore and myths. The eponymous heroine brings her brothers killed by divs (large hairy creatures in fairy tales that live in caves) back to life with camel’s milk. …Back in the past, Turkmens called the Milky Way as “white camel’s milk”.
World Book Day is now observed by millions of people in hundreds of organizations and associations in over 100 countries. During the pandemic, books allow readers to travel around the globe without leaving their homes.
Roman TEPLYAKOV
