National Library hosts exhibition to honor Mihai Eminescu

The National Library of Moldova inaugurated today an exhibition themed “Eminescean Values”, dedicated to the 160th birth anniversary of the greatest Romanian poet. The exhibition displays hundreds of books by Mihai Eminescu as well as critic essays on the work of the poet, Info-Prim Neo reports. Speaking at the inauguration, the literary critic Dr. Ana Bantos acknowledged the contribution of the Moldovan writers to this exhibition, and especially of Grigore Vieru's. “Eminescu is the first professional Romanian poet ”, affirmed Ana Bantoş. “His journalistic essays had been tabooed for many years here in Moldova, but today the Bessarabians have the opportunity to better understand the poet not only through his work, but also with the help of other literary figures who studied his oeuvre and wrote about Eminescu. Perhaps the best example of Eminescu's literary continuity is Grigore Vieru, whose poetry is written in Eminescean style. And the essays of the poet give us a new insight into Eminescu's work ”, critic said. Pavel Balmus, researcher at the National Philology Institute, surprised the audience by saying Mihai Eminescu was born on 20 December 1849, and not on 15 January 1850, as commonly believed. “We should respect Eminescu's right to be celebrated on December 20, like he did when he was alive”, thinks the researcher. The festivity also featured poetry recitals by students from Chisinau's lyceums. On the display at the exhibition, alongside nearly 300 books by Eminescu, are also volumes by Nichita Stanescu, Tudor Arghezi, Grigore Vieru and other valuable authors.