Donald K. Jarvis translated and edited the first half of Labyrinths of Freedom, the Russian-language book by Belarusian author Yurii Ustin on which “Patriot Stranger” is based. In 2020, Jarvis published his translated version of Ustin’s book as George Washington’s Secret Weapon: The Polish Military Genius Tadeusz Kosciuszko. It is available as an Amazon paperback and as a Kindle digital book.
Jarvis had no prior experience in play-writing but was a colleague of Thomas F. Rogers at Brigham Young University and greatly admired his plays. In 2019 Jarvis asked Rogers to write a play based on the incredible life of Tadeusz Kosciuszko as envisioned by Ustin. Rogers agreed, and after writing each act, would send it for comments and suggestions to Jarvis, who contributed what he could. Rogers generously listed him as co-author.
Jarvis is Professor Emeritus of Russian at Brigham Young University, where he chaired one of the largest university Slavic language programs in North America. At BYU he also directed the General Education program, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Foreign Language Residence Program. He is co-author of the first-year Russian language materials entitled Nachalo and other publications dealing with language teaching and university faculty development. Until retiring in 2004, he was active in Slavic professional organizations and consulted for universities, professional organizations, and government agencies.
From 1996 to 1999, Jarvis lived in Moscow and in Yekaterinburg, Russia. From 2005 to 2007 he did humanitarian work in Belarus, where he met Ustin, who later asked Jarvis to translate his historical novel about Kosciuszko.
Jarvis lives in Provo, Utah, U.S.A. and is active in several environmental organizations and in various civic activities, including Rotary International.
West Point Military Academy’s foreign language department invited Jarvis in April of 2004 to give three lectures to its faculty and students and to consult on their Russian language program. It was there that Jarvis first heard of Kosciuszko, saw his monument, and became acquainted with a few of the Academy’s remarkable cadets and teachers. Jarvis noted that some of Kosciuszko’s dedication to America’s best values and to understanding other cultures appears to live on at the West Point fortress that Kosciuszko designed and built.
Play Authorship
More information about “Patriot Stranger” is available on the New Play Exchange
https://newplayexchange.org/plays/267080/patriot-stranger
However, all performance rights licensing is handled through Leicester Bay Theatricals at the Patriot Stranger link just above.