“Bygone Days” (Abdulla Kadyri)

The novel was translated by an American scholar, Mark Reese, former director of the Center for Regional Studies at the US Naval Academy. He was one of the first Peace Corps volunteers in Uzbekistan and served as a volunteer from 1994 to 1996.

The translation of the novel has taken more than fifteen years. Thanks to the active support of the US Embassy as well as Uzbek experts, the publication of the novel significantly accelerated. The book is on sale and has a “five-star” rating.

The book has more than 400 comments on various terms and phrases used by the author, as well as an overview of the culture, traditions and customs of the Uzbek people.

Opening the presentation, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Javlon Vakhabov said that the country is taking measures to perpetuate the memory of the great ancestors, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Abdulla Kadyri, the founder of the Uzbek romance, the bright representative of the Jadids movement. ’.

Mark Reese shared his fond memories of his years in Uzbekistan, talked about the results of his work and encouraged everyone to “visit Uzbekistan at least once, to see its rich historical heritage, to witness the exceptional architecture and the noble people.

“My time as a teacher at a traditional Uzbek school has been a journey that has enriched my whole life. “It was an honor for me to translate Abdullah Kadiri’s novel The Past Days, which has no analogues in Central Asia and world literature,” said Mark Reese.

According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan, the book has been distributed among US government officials, diplomatic corps, and leading US universities. The novel is also listed at the Library of Congress, the largest library in the United States and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States.

Following the presentation, an agreement was reached with Mark Reese to set up a presentation by Bygone Days in the English language in the spring of 2020, as well as discuss the translation of Abdullah Kadyr’s novel “Scorpio from the Mehrob.”