Introduction

Literature can serve as a window into the culture, values, and social climate of a particular time and place. Like fossils, literary works can reveal a picture of life before they appeared, and later on, the outcome of their existence (Chaudhuri 2021; Deckard 2021). In this themed issue titled "Literature of the Era in One Face," we set out to explore how iconic writers and literary figures have encapsulated and represented the spirit of their respective eras.The eight articles selected for publication delve into aesthetics, philosophy, gender roles, national identity, and other themes through the lens of seminal authors (Zavyalova and Stakhevych 2022; Doszhan 2023). While diverse in their focus, together these pieces illuminate how literature is embedded within and reflective of historical and cultural contexts (König 2023). The authors featured range from nineteenth-century realists to avant-garde poets to contemporary writers. The works spotlighted reflect not only the cultures in which they were spawned but also those they also helped mold.A duo of pieces provides compelling cross-cultural comparisons of celebrated Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev—one analyzing his parallel motifs with Homer and the other studying interpretations of Abai's works across languages. Abai's "educational and spiritual heritage still finds and inspires descendants in a wide range of fields of humanitarian studies, from philosophy, religion and history of literature to philology, psychology and pedagogy" (Yeszhanova and Esim 2024). "Similar Motifs in the Works of Abai and Homer" conducts a comparative analysis focused on the parallel motifs found between Abai's poems and the ancient Greek epics of Homer. It sheds new light on Abai's foundational influence on Kazakh literary tradition. "Problems of Reception, Understanding, and Interpretation of Abai's Works" analyzes factors impacting the interpretation of Abai's philosophical texts across languages and cultures, from issues of translation accuracy to evolving reader receptions. These articles underscore Abai's artistic innovations that have inspired Kazakh culture while resonating beyond national boundaries.The articles "Feminist Critical Approaches to the Eighteenth-Century English Novel" and "The Image of the 'Average Human' in Modern Literature (on the Example of A. Ganieva's Work)" both use feminist literary critiques to examine evolving gender dynamics, influences, and representations. The first piece conducts a feminist analysis of pioneering eighteenth-century English women novelists who shaped the genre through their increasing prominence. The second one explores changing value systems and gender relations represented in modern Russian literature, focusing specifically on female author Ganieva's depiction of the "average human." Together these works showcase impactful female voices in literature across cultures and eras.Two more articles use an ecological lens to study artistic responses to technological disasters in Ukrainian and Japanese literary traditions, revealing cross-cultural symbols. It is "critical that values and beliefs are respected and leveraged to maximize disaster response effectiveness" (Rahmani et al. 2022). "Representation of the Atomic Tragedy as a Unique Historical and Cultural Experience in Ukrainian and Japanese Literature of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries" is a revealing cross-cultural study of Ukrainian and Japanese literary responses to atomic tragedies rooted in both nations' histories. It conducts a comparative study of how Ukrainian and Japanese authors have processed these environmental calamities through mystical representations and nostalgic motifs focusing on mystical and symbolic representations. "Ecological and Aesthetic Potential of Works about Chornobyl: Technogenic Disaster as a Literary Problem" focuses specifically on Ukrainian poetry reacting to the Chornobyl disaster, analyzing postapocalyptic images and anti-Soviet discourse. These articles speak to how global communities artistically memorialize technological crises across borders.Complex dynamics around conferring literary prestige, from the politicized Nobel Prize selection process to the enduring academic influence of Kazakh critic Rymgali Nurgali, are examined in regard to influential literary figures. The article "The Nobel Prize in Literature: An Analysis of Success Stories and Development of Possible Recommendations" provides an incisive study of recent Nobel laureates, assessing factors like national identity, language, geopolitics. It offers constructive recommendations for the prize's selection criteria. "Scientific Works of Academician Rymgali Nurgali" surveys the diverse scholarly contributions of the acclaimed Kazakh literary critic, underscoring his enduring importance for contemporary researchers. These pieces demonstrate the complex dynamics of literary esteem, whether conferred through international awards or earned through prolific academics.It is our hope that this themed issue will provide insightful and thought-provoking perspectives into how iconic authors have given voice and form to the values, challenges, and essence of their eras. We are delighted to present this collection centered around the theme of "Literature of the Era in One Face" and the writers who came to embody their times. We hope you will find these explorations as illuminating as we have.