The Book: "Remyga"

Overview: "Remyga" is the second novel by Rimantas Kmita, set during the transformative era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The story takes place in the city of Šiauliai as the Soviet system crumbles and Lithuania fights for its independence. The narrative follows Remyga, a veteran of the Soviet-Afghan War, who returns to his hometown and joins the militia (later reorganized as the police force).

Key Highlights:

Urban Mythology: The author masterfully constructs Šiauliai as a space of "lost time," where gritty everyday reality and the rise of the criminal underworld intertwine with elements of magical realism.

Moral Conflict: The story focuses on a man striving to remain decent within a fundamentally flawed and corrupt system. Remyga attempts to balance duty, family life, and his own traumatic past.

Authenticity: Kmita employs period-specific slang and meticulous cultural details, evoking a powerful sense of nostalgia and realism for the transitional "Wild East" era.

Technical Information:

Author: Rimantas Kmita

Publisher: Tyto alba

Publication Year: 2020

Genre: Novel / Contemporary Fiction

Page Count: 416

About the Author: Rimantas Kmita

Rimantas Kmita is one of Lithuania's most popular and influential contemporary writers, as well as a literary critic and a Doctor of Humanities. He is credited with revitalizing Lithuanian literature by integrating authentic spoken dialects and elements of popular culture into high art.

Career and Achievements:

The Breakthrough: He gained widespread acclaim with his debut novel "Pietinia kronikas" (Southside Chronicles, 2016), written in the specific Šiauliai dialect. The book became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring both a theatrical play and a feature film.

Literary Style: Kmita is known for blending academic insight with street culture. His work is characterized by irony, social sensitivity, and an exceptional eye for the details that bring history to life.

Versatility: Beyond novels, he writes poetry, opera librettos, and scripts, and continues to publish scholarly research.

Awards: He has received numerous accolades, including the Jurga Ivanauskaitė Prize and multiple Book of the Year awards in Lithuania.