Petras Bražėnas was born on January 1, 1941, in Mažeikiai, Molėtai district. From 1960 to 1965, he studied Lithuanian studies at Vilnius University, later teaching in Molėtai. In 1978, he defended his candidate dissertation in philological sciences.
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A significant part of his professional life was spent working in the Lithuanian Writers’ Union. Petras Bražėnas was a member since 1975, served as secretary of the LRS board from 1976 to 1990, and was the first secretary from 1985 to 1990. He was also a member of the editorial board of the weekly “Literature and Art” for many years.
From 1990 to 2013, Petras Bražėnas taught at Vilnius Pedagogical University, later becoming the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences. Since 1992, he headed the Faculty of Lithuanian Studies and was a professor in the Department of Lithuanian Literature. Over more than two decades of pedagogical activity, he trained several generations of Lithuanian language specialists and teachers.
Petras Bražėnas published literary criticism and scholarly articles in the press since 1971. He was considered one of the most authoritative researchers and evaluators of the second half of the 20th century and contemporary Lithuanian prose.
Among his most important works are the books “At the Decade’s Edge: Critical Etudes,” “Man and Word in Prose,” “Everyday and Festive Days of the Novel,” the monograph “The Work of Juozas Aputis,” the study “Artistic Expression of Human Values in 20th Century Lithuanian Prose,” the collection of articles and reviews “Contemporaries and Peers,” and “Autumn Scattered Leaves.” He also compiled the selected works of Juozas Aputis “The Distant Land of Balčia: Novellas and Short Stories.”
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Petras Bražėnas’s role in literary life was no less prominent – he was known as an eloquent and charismatic moderator of literary evenings.
“The halls were full because everyone knew: if the evening was led by Petras Bražėnas, it would not be boring,” recalls the chairwoman of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union. According to her, P. Bražėnas stood out for his ability to deeply understand colleagues’ works, engage book authors in conversation, and his humor and wit made literary evenings special.
For his significant contribution to literary science and culture, Petras Bražėnas was awarded the Medal of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania in 2021.
Information about the farewell to the deceased will be announced by the Lithuanian Writers’ Union soon.
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