LIT ENG RU

Writings and editions

The body of fictional work by Kristijonas Donelaitis is extant in manuscripts and transcripts and consists of fables, the poem The Seasons, its early fragments and short poems in German. Any discussion of Donelaitis' oeuvre traditionally begins with his six fables: "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast" ("Lapės ir gandro česnis"; 75 lines), "The Dog at the Fair" ("Rudikis jomarkininks"; 49 lines), "The Clever Dog" "Šuo didgalvis"; 32 lines), "Fable of the Dung Beetle" ("Pasaka apie šudvabalį"; 54 lines), "The Wolf-Judge" ("Vilks provininks"; 39 lines) and "The Braggart Oak" ("Aužuols gyrpelnys"; 49 lines). It is a common consensus that Donelaitis started writing the fables about 1750. Extant are some early fragments of The Seasons – "Pričkus' Tale about a Lithuanian Wedding" ("Pričkaus pasaka apie lietuvišką svodbą"; 222 lines) and "The Continuation" (Fortsetzung; 29 lines), which later were included into the text of the poem. The Seasons was written about 1765–1775. It consists of four parts: "Spring Joys" ("Pavasario linksmybės"; 660 lines), "Summer Toil" ("Vasaros darbai"; 714 lines), "Autumn Boons" ("Rudenio gėrybės"; 912 lines) and "Winter Cares" ("Žiemos rūpesčiai"; 682 lines). There also remain three poems in German: "You Shadows of Quick Time", "The God of Darkness" and "Let My Life Be Innocent" ("Ihr Schatten schneller Zeit", "Der Gott der Finsterniß" (1774) and "Unschuld sey mein ganzes Leben" (1774)). Apart from Donelaitis' fictional literature and poetry, there remain his other writings: A Pamphlet on the Usefulness of Separation (Brošiūra apie separacijos naudą; 1769), translated from German; two letters: one in Lithuanian, the other in German (1777); handwritten autobiographical Notes in German (Amtsbericht, 1773–1779); documents regarding the land separation lawsuit in German (12 texts; 1775–1778); notes in parish christening registers inscribed in German (1773–1774); seven miscellaneous texts (concerning church, land and construction matters). There is also indication that Donelaitis wrote psalms or translated them into Lithuanian.

After the poet's death, his widow handed over his surviving manuscripts to Johann Gottfried Jordan (1753–1822), pastor of the nearby Valtarkiemis (Walterkehmen) parish. Johann Friedrich Hohlfeldt (1763–1829), pastor of Gerviškėnai (Gerwischken), subsequently made copies of these texts. Later, part of the manuscripts in Jordan’s keeping ("Spring Joys", "Summer Toils", "The Continuation" and two letters) came into the hands of Martin Ludwig Rhesa, Königsberg University professor, while other part was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. Rhesa was the first to publish Donelaitis’ writings (based on the manuscripts in Jordan’s possession and the transcripts made by Holfeldt). Later Rhesa gave the manuscripts that had come into his keeping to the Prussian Privy State Archives. Upon the death of Hohlfeldt, his transcripts fell into possession of his relatives, then were auctioned and bought by a Tilsit resident , Regina Stellbogen-Westphal; later they came to be in the archive of the "Prussia" Society, situated on the premises of the Königsberg Royal Provincial Archive. Before World War II, the extant Donelaitis' autographs were held in the Manuscript Department of the Königsberg State Archive, while Holfeldt's transcripts were in the Manuscript Department of the Königsberg University Library. In 1945, in the course of the expedition mounted by the Academy of Sciences of the Lithuanian SSR, Donelaitis' autographs were discovered in the Lochstedt castle near Königsberg and given over to the Central Library of the Academy of Sciences of the LSSR, and later, to the Institute of Lithuanian Language and Literature. All extant Donelaitis' manuscripts are now kept in the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore.

The ruins of the Lochstedt castle in the aftermath of a battle. – 1945. – Photograph, original.
It was in this castle that Povilas Pakarklis, during an archaeographic expedition organized by the Academy of Sciences of LSSR, found a manuscript of "The Seasons", several manuscripts of Professor Ludwig Rhesa and numerous old publications in Lithuanian.
WLLAS RS, F129-520, lap.1, 5.

	Povilas Pakarklis (*1902–†1955), jurist, ethnologist and historian who discovered Donelaitis' manuscripts in the Lochstedt castle WLLAS
Pakarklis, Povilas. Kaip atrasta Donelaičio „Metų“ rankraštis : [How the Manuscript of "The Seasons" by Donelaitis was found]. – 1947. – 1 lap. – Autogr., in Lithuanian, 11 leaves. This is a sheaf of memoirs by Povilas Pakarklis (1902–1955), prominent Lithuanian jurist, historian and ethnologist, wherein he discloses the history of discovering "The Seasons". Towards the end of World War II, scientists and cultural workers still in the country attempted to collect and to save from destruction documents of scientific and cultural significance. P. Pakarklis was one of those who took upon themselves to search for and to salvage artifacts of Old Lithuanian literature and manuscripts in Eastern Prussia and the Klaipėda Region. He relentlessly seeked to obtain from the authorities permission to go to the former East Prussia. P. Pakarklis, and on his suggestion, J. Kruopas, linguist from Vilnius University, in September 1945 were both included into an archaeographic expedition by the Academy of Sciences of LSSR that was being sent to Kaliningrad with a view to survey the university, archives, libraries and other cultural and scientific institutions. At the Lochstedt castle situated 345 km from Kaliningrad the search group found "The Seasons" in manuscript, several manuscripts of Professor Ludwig Rhesa and numerous old publications in Lithuanian. The majority of Lituanistic materials found in and salvaged from the former East Prussia is kept in the Wroblewski Library of the Academy of Sciences in Vilnius. The manuscript of "The Seasons" was handed over to the then Institute of Lithuanian Language and Literature, and at present it is held in the manuscript collection of the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore. WLLAS RS, F129-522

Kristijonas Donelaitis embarked on his creative path by writing fables. Six of them survive today. The features (plots, characters, unfolding of narrative etc.) common to the four of them – "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast", "The Clever Dog", "The Wolf-Judge", "The Braggart Oak" – have similarities with Aesopian and modern-times fables. Two fables – "The Dog at the Fair" and "Fable of the Dung Beetle" – are held to be original as they do not display such similarities. In his fables, Donelaitis created his own characters and adapted narrative situations to fit the environment known to his readers. The fables also have features of an epic: slow pacing, sequential and detailed narration, unhurried dialogues and long speeches. These are original pieces, marked by its own distinctive style, versification (hexameter) and arrangement of the material.

The poem The Seasons is the most important work by Donelaitis and also the principal, so far unsurpassed masterpiece of Lithuanian literature, notable for its originality and the author's masterful command of language and material. The poem has features of both didactic and heroic epic and is composed in metrotonic hexameter, well-suited for the Lithuanian language (the synthesis of metric and tonic hexameter is Donelaitis' discovery). The "vernacular" Lithuanian of the poem is characterized by rhetoricism, dynamic vocabulary, and balance of the epical and the lyrical. Donelaitis masterfully and very realistically presents the everyday life of serfs in Lithuania Minor: their work, environment, holidays, customs, religiousness etc.

The target audience of the poem consisted of Donelaitis' peasant parishioners, who should not have had any trouble understanding the poem, given its topic, style and language, and of his closest friends, who were also cognisant of this reality.

The poem is based on the Christian ethics and conception of the world, it affirms the eternal cycle of the peasants' everyday life, preordained by God and existing in harmony with the similarly eternal cycle of the seasons. Descriptions of nature make a considerable part of the poem, since nature is part of the world created by God. Through images of nature, the author shows the mightiness and wisdom of God, and the variety of the created world. The characters themselves, peasants inhabiting nature, are also part of God's creation. Donelaitis conveys the sameness of peasants' everyday life, where nothing new ever occurs. He only shows that which happens perpetually, which is usual, which is important for everyone. In this way the poem encompasses the entirety of the world created by God, wherein everything transpires in accordance with the creator's will and plan.

Not a single piece of fictional literature by Donelaitis had been published during his lifetime; only several his translations into Lithuanian, such as A Pamphlet on the Usefulness of Separation (Brošiūra apie separacijos naudą; 1769) and, supposedly, one or two decrees. There is no evidence that he would personally have attempted to publish any of his works. Fragments from The Seasons were first published by Christian Gottlieb Mielcke (1732–1807) in his grammar book The Beginnings of the Lithuanian Language (Anfangs-Gruende einer Littauischen Sprach-Lehre, 1800), while the poem in its entirety first came out in 1818 under the title The Year in Four Cantos (Das Jahr in vier Gesängen). This was accomplished by the efforts of the Königsberg University professor Martin Ludwig Rhesa (1776–1840). It was Rhesa who eventually gave to the Lithuanian original of the poem the title of The Seasons. His edition had numerous editor's cuts and corrections – the poem was shortened by 468 lines. Rhesa also was the first to translate the poem into German. The fables were first published by the very same Rhesa in 1824 in the book Aesop or Tales (Aisopas arba Pasakos); they were later republished in many publications and editions of Donelaitis' writings. In the middle of the 19th century, Donelaitis' writings drew attention of German scientists. August Schleicher (1821–1868), Jena University professor, in 1865 published a linguistic publication, Christian Donaleitis' Lithuanian Poetry (Christian Donaleitis Litauische Dichtungen), mostly intended for studies in comparative linguistics. It includes all known fictional works by Donelaitis in Lithuanian and is the first complete edition of his oeuvre. This edition was criticised by Königsberg University professor Georg Heinrich Ferdinand Nesselmann (1811–1881). Seeking to preserve the authenticity of the autographs, he himself prepared for publication and published Donelaitis' texts under the title Christian Donalitius' Lithuanian Poetry (Christian Donalitius Littauische Dichtungen, 1869). He also made a second translation of The Seasons into German. The first Lithuanian edition of The Seasons was published in the USA in 1897 – Writings by Kristijonas Donelaitis (Kristijono Donelaiczio rasztai), prepared for publication by Father Aleksandras Burba (1854–1898) and Antanas Milukas (1871–1943). Donelaitis' poem and his other writings were subsequently published in 1914, 1918, 1921, 1927, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012; a photographed edition of all known Donelaitis' manuscripts came out in 1955. Of these publications, several deserve a special notice. A representational edition of The Seasons, prepared by literary scientist Juozas Ambrazevičius (1903–1974), was published in 1940. The preparation of the text was based on Donelaitis' autographs, transcripts and Nesselmann's edition; the resulting redaction was adapted for a broader audience and for school use. This edition of The Seasons is also remarkable as the first one to have illustrations, which were made by Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907–1997). The edition was reprinted in 1941, 1948 and 1983. The Writings published in 1977 are thought of as the most complete and the most meticulously prepared edition of Donelaitis' work. Meanwhile, the 1994's edition was intended for a wider public. Vytautas Vitkauskas, its editor, seeked to present Donelaitis' text in a more authentic form and to preserve original dialect forms; this redaction was republished in 2000, 2002, 2010, and 2011.

Varnas, Erikas. K. Donelaitis und seine dichterischen Gestalten : [K. Donelaitis with the Characters of his Poem "The Seasons"]. In: Lietuvos aidas, 2006, nr. 247 (spalio 28), p. 1.
A reproduction of a postcard by Erikas Varnas (*1924–†1991) published in Berlin circa 1956.
WLLAS

	The cover of the archival file (from the Prussian State Archives in Königsberg) containing bound manuscripts of Kristijonas Donelaitis (Msc. A 120a-f. fol.) ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259
	The title page of the archival file containing manuscripts of Kristijonas Donelaitis ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 1
	The title page of "Spring Joys" ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 3
	The first page of "Spring Joys" ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 5
	The title page of "Summer Toil". ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 27
	The first page of "Summer Toil". ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 29
	An early fragment of "The Seasons", "Fortsetzung" ("The Continuation"), whose five lines were later used in "Autumn Boons" (a part of "The Seasons") . ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 47
	A letter in Lithuanian written by Kristijonas Donelaitis to Johann Gottfried Jordan, pastor of the Valtarkiemis parish and dated June 10, 1777. ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 49 The first page of a letter in German written by Kristijonas Donelaitis to Johann Gottfried Jordan, pastor of the Valtarkiemis parish and dated August 16, 1777. ILLF RS, f. 1, file 5259, leaf 51

		[Gromata vieno gaspadoriaus būrams apie ganyklų perdalijimo naudą : [Owners letter to peasants about redivision of pastures] / iš vok. k. vertė R. D. [K. Donelaitis]]. – Karaliaučius, [1769?]. – [42] p. : vinj. Only one copy of the book is known to survive. Discovered in 1939, it lacks the beginning and the end. The title for this pamphlet on the usefulness of separation was suggested by Vaclovas Biržiška. Kristijonas Donelaitis is thought to be translator of this booklet, rather than its author. WLLAS

	Martin Ludwig Rhesa (Martynas Liudvikas Rėza, 1776–†1840), Königsberg University professor, the first to have published writings of Donelaitis In: Lietuvių literatūros istorija.* – Vilnius : Valst. polit. ir moksl. lit. l-kla, 1957. – T. 1 : Feodalizmo epocha / redagavo prof. K. Korsakas, LTSR MA akademikas. WLLAS
	Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Das Jahr in vier Gesängen : ein ländliches Epos, aus dem Lit. / Ch. Donelaitis ; In gleichem Versmaass ins Dt. übertragen von D.L.J. Rhesa. – Königsberg : gedruckt in der Koenigl. Hartungschen Hofbuchdrukkerei, 1818. – XXI, 162 p. The first edition of Donelaitis' poem "The Seasons", published in 1818 in Königsberg by the Hartung printing house. The manuscript of the poem was preserved by Johann Gottfried Jordan and copied by Johann Friedrich Holfeldt. Its heavily edited and shortened version was prepared for publication by Ludwig Martin Rhesa (1776–1840), Königsberg University professor, who provided a parallel translation of the text into German and wrote an introduction, in which he gave an overview of Donelaitis' biography and oeuvre. WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Donelaiczio pasakos : [Fables by Donelaitis]. In: Aisopos (Ezopas). Aisópas, arba Pásakos / isz grykonû kalbôs pergulditos per D.L.J. Rhesa su pridējimù kellû naujû pásakû. – Karaláuczuje : iszspaustas ir pardůdamas pas Augustą Artungą, 1824. – P. 53–70. In this collection of Aesopian fables translated from Greek, prepared for publication by Ludwig Martin Rhesa (1776–1840), and published in Königsberg in 1824, for the first time were published Donelaitis' fables: "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast", "The Dog at the Fair", "The Clever Dog", "Fable of the Dung Beetle", "The Wolf-Judge" and "The Braggart Oak". WLLAS

	August Schleicher (1821–†1896), German linguist, researcher and compiler of the writings of Donelaitis In: Drotvinas, Vincentas. Augustas Šleicheris lituanistas.* – Vilnius : Mokslas, 1979. – (Kalba ir žmonės). WLLAS
Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Litauische Dichtungen : erste volständige Ausgabe mit Glossar / Christian Donaleitis ; von Aug. Schleicher. – St. Petersburg : [Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften], 1865. – [2], 336 p. The first scientific edition of Donelaitis' writings in the original language, prepared for publication by a German linguist, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences August Schleicher (1821–1896) and published in 1865 in St. Petersburg by the printing house of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The edition includes the following works by Donelaitis: the poem "The Seasons" in four parts, six fables: "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast", "The Dog at the Fair", "The Clever Dog", "Fable of the Dung Beetle", "The Wolf-Judge" and "The Braggart Oak"; and the rhymed "Pričkus' Tale about a Lithuanian Wedding". WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Littauische Dichtungen / Christian Donalitius ; nach den Königsberger Handschriften mit metrischer Uebersetzung, kritischen Anmerkungen und genauem Glossar / herausgegeben von G.H.F. Nesselmann. – Königsberg : Verlag von Hübner & Matz, 1869. – XVI, [2], 368 p.
The second translation of Donelaitis' writings (the fables, the poem "The Seasons" in four parts, letters) into German by the literary scientist, Königsberg University professor, Georg Heinrich Ferdinand Nesselmann (1811–1881) with his critical commentaries, published in Königsberg in 1869.
WLLAS

	Martynas Jankus (*1858–†1946), publisher and printer WLLAS
Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Pavasario linksmybēs : [Spring Joys] / Kristijonas Donalaitis ; [parengė ir pratarmę parašė M. Jankus]. – Tilźēje : Spauda ir kaszta Martyno Jankaus, 1891. – V, 18 p. : vinj. The text of the first part of "The Seasons", prepared for publication and published as a separate book by Martynas Jankus (1858–1946) in 1891 in Tilsit. WLLAS, MMNLL

	Aleksandras Burba (*1854–†1898), Catholic priest, American Lithuanian publisher In: Aleknavičius, Bernardas. Donelaitis ir mes. – Vilnius : Mintis, 1989. WLLAS
	Antanas Milukas (1871–†1943), Catholic priest, American Lithuanian publisher In: Aleknavičius, Bernardas. Donelaitis ir mes.* – Vilnius : Mintis, 1989. WLLAS
Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Kristijono Donelaiczio Rasztai : [Writings by Kristijonas Donelaitis]. – Shenandoah, Pa. [t. y. Plimutas] : iszleista kasztais kunįgų A. Burbos ir A.M. Miluko, 1897 (Shenandoah, Pa. : spaustuvėje „Garso Amerikos Lietuvių“).– 134, [2] p. : vinj. – offprint from: Garsas Amerikos lietuvių, 1896, nr. 49–52 ; 1897, nr. 1–17. These Writings of Donelaitis came out as a separate book in 1897 in Plymouth, USA with funding by Aleksandras Burba (1854–1898) and Antanas Milukas (1871–1943), having previously been published in the newspaper "Garsas Amerikos lietuvių" ("Voice of American Lithuanians"). Fictional texts are taken from Schleicher's edition (1865) with the omission of the "Fable of the Dung Beetle". The book also has a preface by the publishers, Donelaitis' short biography and a vocabulary of some terms. WLLAS


	Jurgis Šlapelis (1876–†1941), 1905, linguist, compiler and publisher of Donelaitis‘ writings In: Žukas, Vladas. Marijos ir Jurgio Šlapelių lietuvių knygynas Vilniuje*. – Vilnius : Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas, 2000. WLLAS
	Jurgis Šlapelis (1876–†1941) and Marija Piaseckaitė-Šlapelienė (1880–†1977) In: Aleknavičius, Bernardas. Donelaitis ir mes. – Vilnius : Mintis, 1989. WLLAS
Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Kristijono Duonelaičio raštai : [Writings by Kristijonas Duonelaitis] : pagal Rėzos, Šleicherio ir Neselmano / sutaisė J. Šlapelis. – Penktas išleidimas. – Vilnius : M. Piaseckaitės-Šlapelienės knygynas, 1909 (Vilnius : M. Kuktos spaustuvė). – 88 p. : vinj. – Publication date on cover: 1914. The first edition of complete (with no omissions) stress-marked texts by Donelaitis. The first sheet, as noted on the title leaf, was printed in 1909. However, the whole of the book, prepared for publication by Jurgis Šlapelis (1876–1941), was published in 1914 in Vilnius in M. Piaseckaitė-Šlapelienė's bookstore. This publication date is given on the book's cover. WLLAS

	Mykolas Biržiška (*1882–†1962), scholar of the oeuvre of Donelaitis WLLAS
Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Duonelaičio raštai : [Writings by Duonelaitis] / mokykloms parinko ir paaiškino M. Biržiška. – Vilnius : Lietuvių mokslo draugijos leidinys, 1918 (Vilnius : Martyno Kuktos spaustuvė). – 88, [1] p. A shortened version of the poem "The Seasons" (about 900 lines cut), and four fables: "The Dog at the Fair", "The Clever Dog", "The Wolf-Judge" and "The Braggart Oak", prepared for publication as a school edition by Mykolas Biržiška (1882–1962). WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Duonelaičio raštai : [Writings by Duonelaitis] / mokykloms parinko ir paaiškino M. Biržiška. – [2-oji laida]. – Kaunas ; Vilnius : "Švyturio" b-vė, 1921. – 2 d. – (Lietuvių mokslo draugijos leidinys). D. 1 : Ištraukos ir priedai. – 88, [1] p. D. 2 : Duonelaičio gyvenimas ir raštai su kalbos paaiškinimais : priedėlis prie Duonelaičio raštų ištraukų mokyklos reikalui. – 117, [1] p. A bound set containing fragments of Donelaitis's writings and an addendum, all prepared for publication by Mykolas Biržiška: I. Life and writings of Duonelaitis: 1. Society of Lithuania Minor in the 18th century; 2. 16th-18th century literature of Prussian Lithuanians; 3. Life of Duonelaitis; 4. Works of Duonelaitis; 5. Reading Duonelaitis' verse; 6. Language of "The Seasons" and its adornments; 7. Nature of "The Seasons"; 8. People in "The Seasons"; 9. Social and literary significance of "The Seasons"; II. Commentaries on Duonelaitis' language. WLLAS

Duonelaičio gyvenimas ir raštai : su kalbos paaiškinimais : [Life and Writings of Duonelaitis: with commentaries on his language] / [M. Biržiška]. – 3-sis leid. – Kaunas : "Vairo" bendrovė, 1927 (Kaunas : A. Bako sp.). – 216 p. The third edition compiled by pulling together Donelaitis' writings and the addendum published in 1921. WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / spaudai paruošė J. Ambrazevičius [Brazaitis] ; iliustravo medžio raižiniais V.K. Jonynas. – Kaunas : Švietimo ministerijos Knygų leidimo komisija, 1940 (Kaunas : Akcinės „Spindulio“ b-vės sp.). – 194 p. : iliustr., faks. – (Švietimo Ministerijos Knygų leidimo komisijos leidinys ; nr. 524). A new edition of "The Seasons" compiled by literature scholar Juozas Brazaitis (1903–1974) is a representational publication illustrated with wooden engravings by Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907–1997) and published in 1940 in Kaunas on the initiative of the Book Publishing Commission at the Ministry for Education. The book was prepared for publication based on the autograph and on Holfeldt's transcript with a view to preserving the authenticity of the text. The publication includes three facsimiles (fragments of Donelaitis' autographs and Holfeldt's fragments), the compiler's article with a discussion of earlier editions of "The Seasons", a vocabulary and the contents of the poem's parts. WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / spaudai paruošė J. Ambrazevičius [Brazaitis]; iliustravo medžio raižiniais V.K. Jonynas. – Kaunas : Valst. l-kla, 1941 (Kaunas : Akcinės „Spindulio“ b-vės sp.). – 203, [3] p. : iliustr., faks. – (Valstybinės leidyklos leidinys ; nr. 25).
Another edition of Brazaitis' redaction, supplemented by his article " The poet of buras culture".
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Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / spaudai paruošė J. Ambrazevičius [Brazaitis] ; iliustravo medžio raižiniais V.K. Jonynas. – [Fotogr. leid.: Kaunas : Švietimo ministerijos Knygų leidimo komisija, 1940]. – Baden-Baden : Franz Burda, 1948. – 194 p. : iliustr., faks. The new photographed edition of the 1940 printing, published in Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1948. WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai ir pasakėčios : [The Seasons and Fables] / [redaktorius Z. Kuzmickis ; atsak. redaktorius V. Drazdauskas ; dailininkas A. Kučas]. – Kaunas: Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1945. – 133, [3] p.
An incomplete collection of Donelaitis' works, published in 1945 in Kaunas on the basis of the 1940's and 1941's editions, with an introductory article by Kostas Korsakas (1909–1986), "Donelaitis and his "The Seasons"".
WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Lakštingala : iš „Pavasario linksmybių“ : [Nightingale: from "Spring Joys"] / [iliustravo D. Tarabildienė]. – [Vilnius] : Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1949. – 15 p. : iliustr. An extract from "Spring Joys", the first part of "The Seasons" – a children's book illustrated by Domicelė Tarabildienė (1912–1985). WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Raštai : [Writings] / [atsakingasis redaktorius A. Žirgulys ; dailininkas P. Rauduvė]. – Vilnius : Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1950. – 160 p. The 1950's edition of Donelaitis' Writings, compiled on the basis of earlier editions containing a preface by Bronius Pranskus, "Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714–1780)"; with an afterword by Marcelinas Ročka ("The versification of Donelaitis"), commentaries and vocabulary. WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Kristijono Donelaičio rankraščiai : [Manuscripts by Kristijonas Donelaitis] / Lietuvos TSR mokslų akademija. Lietuvių kalbos ir literatūros institutas ; [spaudai paruošė L. Gineitis ; vyr. redaktorius K. Korsakas]. – Vilnius : Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1955. – VII, 50 p. : faks. A facsimile edition of Donelaitis' autographs, which was compiled in the Institute of the Lithuanian Language and Literature in 1955 and for the first time contained facsimiles of the manuscripts of "Spring Joys", "Summer Toil", "The Continuation" ("Fortsetzung"), and of two letters. It was prepared for publication, with a preface and textological commentaries, by literature scholar Leonas Gineitis (1920–2004). WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / [redaktorius A. Žirgulys ; iliustravo V. Jurkūnas ; meninis redaktorius E. Jurėnas]. – Vilnius : Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1956. – 157 p. : iliustr. A 1956's edition illustrated by wooden engravings of Vytautas Jurkūnas (1910–1993), containing the entire text of "The Seasons" with fragments of "The Continuation" and a vocabulary of rare words. MMNLL


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. [Rinktinė] : [Selected Works] : sudaryta pagal Lietuvos TSR Švietimo ministerijos programą / K. Donelaitis ; [dailininkas V. Jurkūnas ; redaktorė J. Arbačiauskaitė]. – Kaunas : Valstybinė pedagoginės literatūros leidykla, 1956 (Kaunas : V. Kapsuko-Mickevičiaus sp.). – 84, [4] p. : iliustr. – (Mokinio biblioteka). Contents: "The Seasons": (abridged); Fables: "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast", "The Dog at the Fair", "The Clever Dog", "The Wolf-Judge", "The Braggart Oak". The first edition in "The Pupil's Library Series" (1956). WLLAS, MMNLL

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Mes vyžoti būrai : [We, serfs with bast-shoes] : [ištraukos iš poemos „Metai“] / [iliustravo D. Tarabildienė]. – Vilnius : Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1957. – 30 p. : iliustr. A children's edition illustrated by D. Tarabildienė – fragments from "The Seasons". WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : (sutrump.) ; Pasakėčios : [The Seasons : (abridged) ; Fables]. – 2-as papild. leid. – Kaunas : Valstybinė pedagoginės literatūros leidykla, 1959. – 109 p. – (Mokinio biblioteka). MMNLL

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. K. Donelaitis : [rinktinė / dailininkas V. Jurkūnas]. – Kaunas : Valstybinė pedagoginės literatūros leidykla, 1960 (Kaunas : V. Kapsuko-Mickevičiaus sp.). – 107, [3] p. – (Mokinio biblioteka). MMNLL

		Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / iliustravo V. Jurkūnas. – Vilnius : Vaga, 1966. – 134 p. MMNLL

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Mes vyžoti būrai : [We, serfs with bast-shoes] / [iliustravo Albina Makūnaitė]. – Vilnius : Vaga, 1975. – 38 p. : iliustr. A children's edition illustrated by Albina Makūnaitė (1926–2001) – fragments from "The Seasons". WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Raštai : [Writings] / Lietuvos TSR mokslų akademija. Lietuvių kalbos ir literatūros institutas ; [redakcinė komisija: Kostas Korsakas (pirm.), Kostas Doveika, Leonas Gineitis, Jonas Kabelka, Kazys Ulvydas] ; dailininkas Vilius Armalas]. – Vilnius: Vaga, 1977 – 600 p., [9] iliustr. lap.
A comprehensive academic edition of Donelaitis' writings, prepared by the scientific staff of the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore and published in 1977. It contains the entirety of Donelaitis' oeuvre: fictional literature, letters, translations, and archival materials. The edition offers both authentic texts and those adapted according to the usage norms of the modern language. It also includes extensive commentaries.
WLLAS

Kazys Ulvydas (*1910–†1996), linguist, compiler of Donelaitis‘ writings
In: Ulvydas, Kazys. Lietuvių kalbos prieveiksmiai. – Vilnius : Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas, 2000.
WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai [The Seasons] : skiriama Kristijono Donelaičio 270-osioms gimimo metinėms / iliustravo medžio raižiniais V.K. Jonynas ; [parengė Kazys Ulvydas ; meninis redaktorius V. Armalas]. – Vilnius : Vaga, 1983. – 188, [3] p. : iliustr.
A republishing of the pre-war representational edition of "The Seasons" illustrated by the emigree artist Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907–1997). Published to mark the 270th anniversary of Donelaitis' birth. Prepared by the linguist Kazys Ulvydas (1910–1996) and contains his article "A few editorial comments".
WLLAS

		Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Pavasario linksmybės : [Spring Joys] : iš "Metų" / skaito Henrikas Kačinskas. In: Skaito Henrikas Kačinskas : [garso įrašas]. – Needham (Mass.) : Vogt Quality Recordings, 1988. MMNLL

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai ir pasakėčios : [The Seasons and Fables]. / [redaktorius Vytautas Vitkauskas]. – Vilnius : Baltos lankos, 1994 (Kaunas : Spindulys). – 190, [1] p. – (Baltų lankų literatūros kolekcija). Fictional works of Donelaitis published in the series of the Baltos Lankos publishing house, "Baltos Lankos' Literature Collection": "The Seasons", fragments of the poem ("Pričkus' Tale about a Lithuanian Wedding" and "The Continuation"), and six fables. The texts are published preserving the author's sintax, vocabulary, morphology and irregulary phonetics and are supplemented by "Comments on the usage of dialect in Donelaitis' texts" by Vytautas Vitkauskas (1935–2012). The edition contains a preface by Saulius Žukas. WLLAS, MMNLL


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai ir pasakėčios : [The Seasons and Fables]. – Vilnius : Baltos lankos [i.e. "Baltų lankų" leidyba], 2000 (Vilnius : Vilspa). – 189, [1] p. ; 19 cm. – (Rinktinė lietuvių poezija). Contains the fables "The Fox's and the Stork's Feast", "The Dog at the Fair", "The Clever Dog", "Fable of the Dung Beetle", "The Wolf-Judge" and "The Braggart Oak". MMNLL

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai : [The Seasons] / [parengė Agnė Iešmantaitė ; dailininkė Deimantė Rybakovienė]. – Vilnius : Žaltvykslė, 2004. – 110, [1] p. – (Mokinio skaitiniai). The text of "The Seasons" prepared by K. Ulvydas and previously published in 1983 is republished in a series of Baltos Lankos Publishing House, "The Pupils's Reader". WLLAS


Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai. Pasakėčios : [The Seasons. Fables] / [redaktorius Vytautas Vitkauskas ; dailininkas Zigmantas Butautis]. – Vilnius : Baltos lankos, 2010. – 151, [1] p. – (Literatūros skaitiniai ; 1). The first book in a series of Baltos Lankos Publishing House, "Literature Reader"; it contains the fictional work of Donelaitis previously published in the series "Baltos Lankos Literature Collection" (1994) and "Selected Lithuanian Poetry" (2002) : "The Seasons", the fragments "Pričkus' Tale about a Lithuanian Wedding" and "The Continuation", and the six fables. Edited by V. Vitkauskas, afterword by Saulius Žukas. WLLAS

Donelaitis, Kristijonas. Metai = Das Jahr : keturiose giesmėse / išvertė Liudvikas Rėza ; parengė Vidmantas Staniulis. – 1818 m. faks. leid. – Kaunas : V. Staniulio knygynas, 2010 (Kaunas : Morkūnas ir Ko). – [13], XXI, 162 p. – Originally published: Königsberg, 1818.
A facsimile edition of the 1818's Königsberg edition of "The Seasons", prepared for publication and published by Vidmantas Staniulis in Kaunas in 2010 with a preface by Antanas Buračas. Published to mark the 230th anniversary of the death of Kristijonas Donelaitis and the 170th anniversary of the death of Ludwig Rhesa.
WLLAS