FREE! Ukrainian Literature
Nothing beats a Black Friday deal that is free.
If you want to know a culture, one thing that is essential is to be familiar with its culture to include art, music, and literature. Russia has managed to launch Ukraine onto the world stage with its attempt to subjugate this free and proud nation. Many people throughout the world now have an interest in Ukraine. This short piece will focus on Ukrainian literature (LINKS TO FREE UKRAINIAN LITERATURE ARE PROVIDED BELOW). Most of the world knows Russian literature because that country has promoted its “alleged” greatness for centuries. Ukrainian writers that “Mother Russia” approved up soon lost their nationhood to become miraculously “Russian” writers. All other Ukrainian literary greats were cast by the wayside, buried or in some cases executed or sent to the gulag.
Russia has always suppressed other cultures works under the auspices of its empire. Since Ukraine is the origin of all “Rus” this was taken a bit further. The Russian Empire has successfully raised its own culture above that of Ukraine’s and buried anything of value. Now, as the war rages, they are stealing entire collections from museums in occupied territories. This empire of Russia knows how to destroy and bury as well as that if done successfully, no one can surpass them within their empire.
Ukraine has been fighting for its freedom for centuries and in the process, most of its great writers have been ignored outside the country. Russia unknowingly unleashed a force in Ukraine when it invaded on February 24, 2022. By committing this act, Russia has done more for Ukraine than Ukraine might ever have done for itself. This phoenix, this power will rise from East\Central Europe and shine a new light on the world. With that, a rich literary treasure will be unleashed on the world along with other aspects of history, art, religion, and culture. But this is not an essay on all that.
This is to let you, the reading public know that YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT! Thanks to the University of Toronto, there are multiple literary works available for free in their Electronic Library of Ukrainian Literature. That’s right, available in PDF and easily downloaded to your phone, tablet or computer. One writer, Ivan Franko has his own page here.
My only recommendation is that you read Ivan Franko’s Zakhar Berkut first as it will give you insight to the Ukrainian spirit. I prefer the 1944 translation by Theodosia Boresky because there is a “Brief History of Ukraine” written by the translator in 1944 which is hauntingly relevant today.
Love, peace, Slava Ukraina, Merry Christmas and may you continue to pursue knowledge until your dying breath.
