Page "Jonas Basanavičius" Paragraph 3

Basanavičius developed appreciation for Lithuanian language, culture, and history from local hill forts and his parents, who provided a loving treasure of local songs, legends, stories.

This appreciation grew and deepened at the gymnasium were Basanavičius got acquainted with classical authors of Lithuanian history ( Maciej Stryjkowski, Alexander Guagnini, Jan Długosz, Marcin Kromer ), studied Lithuanian folk songs, read classical poems The Seasons by Kristijonas Donelaitis, Konrad Wallenrod by Adam Mickiewicz, Margier by Władysław Syrokomla and historical fiction by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski.

He drifted away from religion after reading criticism of Life of Jesus by Ernest Renan.

Upon graduation in 1873, he managed to persuade his parents to allow him to attend Moscow University and not the Sejny Priest Seminary.