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The story of Ilona Skujaitė's latest book "Unlove" will be reborn in Birštonas, where the footsteps of the Jagiellonians once echoed.
We invite you to a theatrical book presentation at the Birštonas Kurhaus.
The novel "Unlove" is a story about the dark side of the crown, toxic relationships, and a woman's blue, tormented heart, repeatedly drowned in the mud of life, but who has not lost her royal glow and love for her neighbor.
The daughter of King Sigismund the Old (1467-1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Bona Sforza (1494-1557), Anna went down in history as the only woman elected king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. May 1, 2026, marked the 450th anniversary of her coronation and marriage to Stephen Báthory. However, she had to pay dearly for the crown not only with her wealth, but also with her heart – Anna cried so much during the coronation that she stained her white wedding dress.
Ilona Skujaitė, a Lithuanian historian, journalist and author of the historical novel “The Bride of War” about the Lithuanian and Polish princess, Queen of Sweden, and Duchess of Finland Catherine of Poland (1526-1583), also extensively researched the personality of her sister Anna Jagiellon (1523-1596) and the events that shaped her life, and described them in her latest book “Unlove”. This historical novel combines a modern narrative with original letters from Anna Jagiellon, which testify to the events of the 16th century, allowing us to hear the authentic voice of the queen.
On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the coronation of Anna Jogailaitė, high fashion designer Diana Paukštytė has created a modern version of Queen Anna's wedding dress. During the event, it will be demonstrated by actress, Golden Stage Cross laureate Emilja Latėnaitė, who creates the character of Anna Jogailaitė. So we invite you to an exclusive book presentation, where you will see a unique spectacle - a synthesis of high fashion, theater and literature.
According to historical sources, as many as 6 Jagiellonians visited Birštonas, including Anna and Catherine's parents, Sigismund the Old (1467-1548), Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, and Bona Sforza. According to Prof. Dr. Raimonda Ragauskienė, "It is likely that Queen Bona Sforza (1494-1557) visited Birštonas. Stories about the ruler of Birštonas have survived from the 19th century, and the Birštonas hillfort was called not only Vytautas, but also Bona in those times. It has now been established that such stories spread in those areas that were ruled by Queen Bona, or where she visited (hunted)." Anna and Catherine's brother, the last Jogaila, Renaissance prince Sigismund Augustus (1520-1572), visited Birštonas at least three times, while his grandfather Casimir Jogaila (1427-1492), Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, visited Birštonas as many as 17 times.
The rulers stopped in Birštonas not only to manage state affairs, but also to hunt in the Žvėrinčius forest. The hunting was grandiose and impressive, and ladies would gather to watch it. It is likely that the sisters Ona and Kotryna Jogailaitė could also have visited Birštonas.
