Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-24
BY JERRY OLEARY, JR.
star stan Writer

0eSA 0toA WAAtNA
Millions of Soviet citizens
joined this month in celebrating
the 95th birthday Of woman who
is virtually unknown in New York,
where she lives. but is literary
sensation and a best selling novel;
list in the Soviet Union.
The Russians observed the
birthday anniversary of Mrs.
Ethel Lillian Voynich with radio
programs, literary meetings, cable
grams and letters. Yet in Amer
lea. her adopted land, the occasion
went unnoticed except by a small
circle of friends.
1t all stems from a novel she
wrote in 1897 called THE Cad
f1y."
The author was born Ethel Lii
liam Boole in Cork, Ireland, on
May IL, 1864. In time, she mar
ried Wilfred Michael Voynich,
Polish bibliophile, with whom she
lived a happy married life until
his QeaLl IN 1851.
But their life was not without
adventures. The Voynichs had
lived in Russia for two years when
he was imprisoned by the Gar in
1885 for Polish nationalism and
sent to Siberia. She went back to
England and the couple was re-
united in 1890 when Mr.. Voynich
escaped.
Best Seller at Once
He went on to become an expert
on medieval manuscripts but Mrs.
Voynich began work on THE Cad
fly" first published in 1897, which
propelled her at once into the best
seller category. The book electri-
fled the critics in America and
England but made little splash in
Czarist Russia for obvious reasons.
"The Gadfly" is an attack
against tyranny but without
Marxist doctrine. 1t is a gripping
adventure story about young
Englishman named Arthur Burton
who becomes an ardent revolu-
zionist in the Young Italy move
ment of the 18th century against
the Austrian yoke.
Arthur is, unknown to himself,
the illegitimate son of a priest
whom he admires beyond ordi-
nary human relationships. When
he finds out the great lie, he
feigns suicide, spurns his sweet
heart and changes from a deeply
religious student into the bitter
and agnostic "Gadfly."
The book is one of unrelieved
suffering. Arthur is betrayed by
his cause, his church and his
sweetheart, vanishes for years of
tragic wandering, then returns to
lead the revolt as 1.-THE Gadf1y."
He dies in a weller of blood,
spurning the crucifix and unfor-
giving to the end.
The "Gadf1y'S" sting lies chiefly
in his revolutionary pamphlets
and in the barbs he inserts in
friend and foe alike with his sharp
tongue until he is captured by the
Italian police and put to death.
1.-THE Gadf1y" apparently en-
joyed some vogue in Victorian
England and America and then
faded from sight, as did Mrs. Voy-
Mich. But gradually, it became
more and more popular with Rus
sian readers. In the 20 years prior
to the October revolution, it was
published Is times in Russia in
four different translations.
Life of Struggle
Some of THE Gadf1y's" popu-
larity may have been due to its
somber tone. so in keeping with
traditional Russian writing. But
mainly, the Russians say their
young people saw in THE Gadf1y"
an example of life devoted to
struggle. inspiring them to gallant
deeds and faithfulness to ideals.
Mrs. Voynich had long dropped
out of sight but her book con-
tinued to grow in popularity in
Communist Russia over the years.
1t was the favorite book of Mikhail
Kalinin. Maxim Gorky thought
highly Of it. Soon it became the
favorite book of hundreds of
thousands of Soviet youngsters.
Since the overthrow Of the Cars,
"The Gadfy" had appeared in los