S. Beysembayev Scientific Library of S. Toraighyrov Pavlodar State University held a literary conference devoted to Yuri Bondarev, a front-line writer, founder of the lieutenants' prose genre, publicist, and public figure.

The purpose of the conference was to urge young people to study one of the best works about the Great Patriotic War, formation of the historical memory, and teaching respect for the defenders of the Fatherland.

The event was attended by students of S. Toraighyrov PSU Nazar Ospanov, Alma Sagalbayeva, Rasul Kilash, Rustam Nigmatullin, and Tatyana Doroshenko.

Bondarev is an unsurpassed master of the military heroic style, describing problems of moral choice and patriotism. This writer's works are devoted to the history of the Fatherland in the XX - XXI centuries. Historical authenticity is one of the distinctive features of his works that are especially relevant now, when the modern society has great interest for the events of the Great Patriotic War, patriotic literature, and undeservedly forgotten events in the history of our Fatherland.

The conference program included demonstration of documentary and feature films based on Yuri Bondarev's works. Students performed literary and artistic compositions from Bondarev's books and some popular songs.

Bondarev's talent stems from the mighty root of spiritual culture of the Russian people. Yuri Bondarev belongs to the generation of people whose 'whole lives were pervaded with war'. He was just seventeen when he stepped into the firestorm of ninety forty one. He was an artilleryman. Despite being badly wounded twice, he survived. His works deserved international recognition, they were translated into over 60 languages.

Yelena Likhanova, a member of S. Beysembayev Scientific Library of Pavlodar State University noted that Vasiliy Shukshin once mentioned the main qualities of a true intellectual, 'uneasy conscience, wit, bitter discord with oneself caused by one damned question: What is the truth?'. 'All these characteristics define the personality of Vasiliy Shukshin, but they also perfectly describe Yuri Bondarev,' says Yelena Likhanova.

Associate Professor of the Department of History of Kazakhstan Natalya Moshna shared her impressions. She told about her uncle who fought and died during the Great Patriotic War. Letters from the front line aroused great interest from the participants of the event.