Ukrainian literature has come a long way of becoming in order to reach the level that exists on this moment. Ukrainian writers have contributed throughout time since the 18th century in the works of Prokopovich and Hrushevsky and ending with modern works authors such as Shklyar and Andrukhovych. Literature has developed and enriched over the years. And it must be said that modern Ukrainian writers are very different from the authors who laid the foundation for Ukrainian literature. But one thing remained unchanged - the love of the native language.

19th century literature

In this century, Ukrainian literature acquired figures who glorified the country throughout the world with their works. With their works, Ukrainian writers of the 19th century showed the beauty of the language. It is this era that is considered the beginning of the formation of national thinking. The famous "Kobzar" became an open statement that the people are striving for independence. Ukrainian writers and poets of that time made a huge contribution both to the development of the language itself and dramaturgy. There are many different genres and trends in literature. These were novels, and stories, and short stories, and feuilletons. Most writers and poets have taken the direction of political activity. Most schoolchildren study authors in the school curriculum, reading works and trying to understand main idea each work. Analyzing each work separately, they take out the information that the author wanted to convey to them.

Taras Shevchenko

He is rightfully considered the founder of national literature and a symbol of the country's patriotic forces. Years of life - 1814-1861. The main work is considered to be "Kobzar", which glorified both the author and the people all over the world. Shevchenko wrote his works in Ukrainian, although there are several poems in Russian. The best creative years in Shevchenko's life were the 40s, when, in addition to Kobzar, the following works were published:

• "Gaidamaki".
• "Hire".
• "Khustochka".
• "Caucasus".
• "Poplars".
• "Katerina" and many others.

Shevchenko's works were criticized, but the Ukrainians liked the works and won their hearts forever. While in Russia he was received rather coldly, when he returned to his homeland, he always met with a warm welcome. Shevchenko later became a member of the Cyril and Methodius Society, to which other great Ukrainian writers belonged. It was the members of this society who were arrested for their political views and exiled.

The life of the poet was full of events, both joyful and mournful. But all his life he did not stop creating. Even when he did military service as a recruit, he continued to work, and his work was imbued with love for the motherland.

Ivan Franko

Ivan Yakovlevich Franko is another bright representative of the literary activity of that time. Years of life - 1856-1916. Writer, poet, scientist, he almost got Nobel Prize but an early death prevented him from doing so. The extraordinary personality of the writer causes a lot different statements, since it was he who was the founder of the Ukrainian radical party. Like many well-known Ukrainian writers, in his works he revealed various problems that worried him at that time. So, in his works "Gritseva school science" and "Pencil" he shows the problems of school education.

It is worth noting that Franko was a member of the Russophile society, which existed at that time in Transcarpathia. During his membership, he wrote his works " folk song"and" Petri and Dovbuschuk. Frank's famous work is also his Ukrainian translation of Faust. For his activities in society, Ivan was arrested for nine months, which he spent in prison.

After his release from prison, the writer temporarily dropped out of the literary society, so he was ignored. But this did not break the poet. During the time that Franco spent in prison, and later, when he was released, he wrote many works that reveal human shortcomings and, conversely, show the breadth of the human soul. His work "Zakhar Berkut" received an award at the national competition.

Grigory Kvitka-Osnovyanenko

The years of the writer's life - 1778-1843. The main stage of his work falls precisely on the 19th century, it was during this period that he created most of his masterpieces. Being a very sickly boy, and blind until the age of six, creative way Gregory started only in student years. He studied in Kharkov and it was there that he began to write and send his works to a magazine for publication. He wrote poetry and short stories. This was the beginning of his work. The real works that deserved attention were the stories written in the 30s in Ukrainian:

• "Marusya".
• "Konotop witch".
• "Soldier portrait".
• "Heart Oksana" and others.

Like other Ukrainian writers, Gregory also wrote in Russian, which is confirmed by the novel "Pan Kholyavsky". The author's works are distinguished by a beautiful literary style, simple expressions that are easily perceived by the reader. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko showed excellent knowledge of all aspects of the life of both a peasant and a nobleman, which can be observed in his novels. According to the story of Gregory, the play “Trouble in a County Town” was released, which was the predecessor of the famous “Inspector General”.

20th century literature

The Ukrainians distinguished themselves with their works due to the fact that many of them devoted their works to the Second World War. Ukrainian literature experienced a difficult period of development at that time. Partially banned, then studied at will, it has undergone many corrections and changes. But all this time, Ukrainian writers did not stop creating. Their works continued to appear and delight not only the Ukrainian reader, but also other connoisseurs of literary masterpieces.

Pavel Zagrebelny

Pavel Arkhipovich Zagrebelny is a writer of that time who made a huge contribution to literature. Years of his life - 1924-2009. Pavel's childhood passed in a village in the Poltava region. Then he studied at the artillery school and went to the front. After the war, he entered the university in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, and only there he began his career, publishing the collection "Kakhov's Stories" in the Rodina magazine. Among the works of the author there are such famous ones as:

• "Steppe flowers".
• "Europe, 45".
• Southern Comfort.
• "Wonder".
• "I am Bogdan."
• "Pervomost" and many others.

Anna Yablonskaya

Anna Grigoryevna Yablonskaya is another literary figure that I want to talk about. The years of the life of the writer - 1981-2011. Since childhood, the girl was fond of literature and dramaturgy. Firstly, her father was a journalist, wrote feuilletons, and it was largely because of him that she developed a passion for literature. Secondly, since school, Anna began to write poems and read them with pleasure from the stage. Over time, her works began to be published in Odessa magazines. In the same school years Yablonskaya performed at the theater of Natalia Knyazeva in Odessa, who subsequently staged a play based on Yablonskaya's novel The Door. One of the most famous works of the author, which Ukrainian writers talk about, was the play "Video Camera". In her works, Anna skillfully showed the pros and cons of society, combining different facets of family life, love and sex. At the same time, there was no hint of vulgarity, and not a single work shocked the viewer.

Anna died very early as a result of a terrorist attack at Domodedovo Airport. She did not manage to do much, but what she managed to do left an indelible mark on the literature of that time.

Alexander Kopylenko

Alexander Ivanovich Kopylenko was born in the Kharkov region. Born 08/01/1900, died 12/1/1958. I have always striven for knowledge and learning. Before the revolution, he studied at the seminary, then traveled a lot, which gave him a lot of experience and impressions for further literary activity. Was in Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia. During the war of 1941-1945. He worked on the radio, where he conducted programs for partisan detachments. After that he became the editor of the Vsesvit magazine and worked closely with many directors, screenwriters and writers. His poems first saw the light in 1922. But most of all he wrote prose:

• Kara Krucha.
• "Rampant hop".
• people".
• "Solid Material" etc.

He also has children's works, such as:

• "Very well".
• "tenth graders".
• "In the woods".

In his works, the writer wrote about many problems of that time, revealed various human weaknesses, covered historical events and battles of the times civil war. Kopylenko's works have been translated into many foreign languages peace.

Modern Ukrainian writers

Modern Ukrainian literature does not lag behind in terms of prominent people. Nowadays, there are many authors whose works are worthy of being studied in schools and translated into different languages ​​of the world. We present you a list of far from all modern authors, but only the most popular ones. Their popularity was taken in accordance with the rating. To compile the rating, Ukrainians were interviewed, who were asked several questions about contemporary authors and their works. Here is the list:

1. L. Kostenko.
2. V. Shklyar.
3. M. Matios.
4. O. Zabuzhko.
5. I. Karpa.
6. L. Luzina.
7. L. Deresh.
8. M. and S. Dyachenko.

Lina Kostenko

It ranks first in the ranking of modern Ukrainian writers. She was born on March 19, 1930 in a family of teachers. Soon she herself went to study at the Pedagogical Institute, and then at the Moscow Literary Institute. Her first poems, written in the 50s, immediately attracted the attention of readers, and the book Travels of the Heart put the poetess on a par with outstanding literary figures. Among the works of the author such works as:

• "Over the banks of the eternal river."
• "Marusya Churai".
• "Uniqueness".
• "Garden of non-melting sculptures".

All works by Lina Kostenko are distinguished by their individual literary style and special rhyme. The reader immediately fell in love with her work and is looking forward to new works.

Vasily Shklyar

While still a student, Vasily created the first work - "Snow". Living at that time in Armenia, he wrote about the culture of this people, about their way of life and customs. In addition to the fact that Shklyar created himself, like many Ukrainian writers, he translated a lot of works from the Armenian language, which earned him special respect. Readers are well aware of his works "Elemental", "Key". His works have also been translated into different languages ​​of the world, and book lovers from different countries enjoy reading his prose.

Maria Matios

Maria published her first poems when she was fifteen years old. Later, Matios tried her hand at prose and wrote the short story “Yuryana and Dovgopol”. The writer is loved for her works rich in meaning. Among her books of poetry:

• "Women's Fence in the Garden of Impatience".
• "From grass and leaves."
• "Garden of impatience".

Maria Matios created and whole line prose works:

• "Life is short"
• "Nation"
• "Sweet Darusya"
• "Diary of the executed and many others".

Thanks to Maria, the world got acquainted with another talented Ukrainian poetess and writer, whose books are read with great pleasure abroad.

Children's Ukrainian writers

Separately, it is worth talking about those writers and poets who create works for children. It is their books that children read with such pleasure in libraries. It is thanks to their works that the guys from the very early age have the opportunity to hear beautiful Ukrainian speech. Rhymes and stories for toddlers and older children are what authors such as:

• A. I. Avramenko.
• I. F. Budz.
• M. N. Voronoi.
• N. A. Guzeeva.
• I. V. Zhilenko.
• I. A. Ischuk.
• I. S. Kostyria.
• V. A. Levin.
• T. V. Martynova.
• P. Punch.
• M. Podgoryanka.
• A. F. Turchinskaya and many others.

Ukrainian writers, the list of which is presented here, are familiar not only to our children. Ukrainian literature as a whole is very multifaceted and vibrant. Its leaders are known not only in the country itself, but also far beyond its borders. The works and quotes of Ukrainian writers are published in many editions of the world. Their works are translated into dozens of languages, which means that the reader needs them and is always waiting for more and more new works.

Because of the annexation of Crimea and the war in the East of the country, the world has finally learned that Ukraine is not part of Russia. However, the identification of our country only with the war (or borscht or beautiful girls) cannot be called positive. Ukraine has rich culture and talented writers recognized abroad.

He talks about Ukrainian writers whose books are translated and published abroad.

Vasily Shklyar

The name of Vasily Shklyar is well known in Ukraine and abroad, and his works become bestsellers. He is well versed in Ukrainian history, and the heroes of his novels are often rebels who are fighting for the independence of Ukraine.

In 2013 London-based publishing house Aventura E books, which had not published Slavic literature before, published an English translation of Vasyl Shklyar's popular novel The Black Raven. The Ukrainian bestseller tells about the struggle of Ukrainian rebels against the Soviet authorities in Kholodny Yar in the 1920s.

The same writer's novel was translated into Slovak and Portuguese, and it was published in Portuguese in Brazil. And the no less famous novel "The Key" is also read by Shklyar's fans in Swedish and Armenian.

Maria Matios

The works of Maria Matios have repeatedly become the "Book of the Year of the Air Force" and brought the writers other awards. The author of many novels and poetry collections is one of the best-selling writers in Ukraine.

Her works are widely represented in the world. For example, the popular novel "Licorice Darusya" about the fate of people disfigured by the occupation of Western Ukraine Soviet troops, published in 7 languages. It is read in Polish, Russian, Croatian, German, Lithuanian, French and Italian. And soon the release in English and Serbian is expected.

The family saga "Mayzhe nikoli nevpaki" was published in English in the UK in 2012. And 2 years before that, the English version of the novel was published by another publisher in Australia. The Australian publishing house also published the novels "Moskalitsya" and "Mama Maritsa", as well as the short story "Apocalypse". By the way, this short story has been translated into Hebrew, German, French, Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian.

Roman "Cherevichki" Mother of God"published in Russian and German. And the collection" Nation "can be found in Poland.

Evgenia Kononenko

Writer and translator Evgenia Kononenko simply and realistically writes about what is familiar to everyone. Therefore, her small and large prose captures readers around the world.

Kononenko is the author of poems, short stories and essays, short stories and novels, children's books, literary translations, and the like. Evgenia Kononenko's short prose can be found in English, German, French, Croatian, Finnish, Czech, Russian, Polish, Belarusian and Japanese.

Almost all anthologies of modern Ukrainian literature, translated and published abroad, contain works by Evgenia Kononenko. Some of them even received titles of the same name with the works of the writer included in them.

Andrey Kurkov

It is possible to argue about whether a Russian-speaking person can be a Ukrainian writer indefinitely. A similar discussion begins when the conversation turns to Andrey Kurkov.

He is the author of more than 20 books, including both adult novels and fairy tales for children. All of them are written in Russian, except for one children's "Little Lion and Lvov Mouse". However, Kurkov himself considers himself a Ukrainian writer, which is confirmed by both his political position and his own work.

Andrey Kurkov's books have been translated into 36 languages. Most translations are in German. They were carried out for Austria, Germany, Switzerland. A large number of works translated into French, English and Ukrainian.

In 2011, his novel Picnic on Ice became the first Ukrainian book translated into Thai. In total, this novel has been translated into 32 languages.

And in 2015, his Maidan Diary was published in Japanese. The course of events of the Revolution of Dignity, reflections and emotions of Andrey Kurkov during the socio-political upheavals of the winter of 2013-2014 have also been translated into Estonian, German, French and English.

Oksana Zabuzhko

The popular Ukrainian writer and intellectual is one of those who are associated with the emergence of modern Ukrainian literature in the international arena. The works of Oksana Zabuzhko take their psychology, depth, criticality, and some fiction novels - outrageous.

Oksana Zabuzhko's work is diverse: she is both a connoisseur of Ukrainian history and a master of feminist prose. Not surprisingly, her books are also interesting to foreign readers.

The writer's works have been translated into more than 20 languages. They were published as separate books in Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Iran, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, USA, Hungary, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden. Theater directors Europe and the USA put on performances based on the works of Zabuzhko.

Sergey Zhadan

The author of the popular in Ukraine novels "Voroshilovgrad", "Mesopotamia", "Depeche Mode" and many collections of poetry is no less famous abroad. His work is sincere and truthful, speech is often not devoid of sharp words and irony.

One of the most successful novels Zhadan "Voroshilovgrad" was issued, in addition to Ukraine, in Germany, Russia, Hungary, Poland, France, Belarus, Italy, Latvia and the USA. "Mesopotamia", "Hymn of Democratic Youth", "Percentage of suicides among clowns" and the like were also published in Polish and German.

Read also: Serhiy Zhadan: Many people forget that Donetsk and Luhansk had their own Maidans

In general, Sergei Zhadan's texts have also been translated into English, Swedish, Italian, Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian, Czech, Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russian, Armenian.

Irene Rozdobudko

One of the most popular modern writers, journalist and screenwriter Iren Rozdobudko is the author of almost 30 works of art. She is in the top 10 writers who are most published in Ukraine. Three times won the prestigious literary competition"Coronation of the Word", and her novels are often filmed.

The series and films "Button", "Autumn Flowers", "Mysterious Island" and "The Trap" were filmed according to her scripts. Interestingly, Iren Rozdobudko also had a hand in writing the script for The Guide by Oles Sanin (who fought, albeit to no avail, for the Oscar in 2015).

The Dutch-English publishing house Glagoslav, which translated the book of Maria Matios, at the same time, in 2012, issued English novel Irene Rozdobudko "Button".

Larisa Denisenko

The same Dutch-English publishing house received the rights to Larisa Denisenko's novel Sarabande of Sarah's Gang. The novel is a prime example of popular literature.

An easy and relaxed work tells the story of people who, at a certain stage, are forced to live together. Therefore, in the book - and love, and frank conversations, and everyday situations that can make you look at life differently.

Lyubko Deresh

Ukrainian prodigy in literature Lyubko Deresh made his debut with the novel "Cult" when he was 17 years old. By the way, it was this novel that was published, in addition to Ukraine, in Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Italy and France.

The writer himself defines the novel as fantasy. However, "Cult" is a more gothic goror.

Yuri Andrukhovych

The name of Yuri Andrukhovych is associated with the first facts of interest in modern Ukrainian literature in the West. One of the founders of the poetry group Bu-Ba-Bu Andrukhovych is the author of novels, short stories, poetry collections and essays.

Western critics define Andrukhovych as one of the most prominent representatives postmodernism. His works have been translated into many European languages, in particular, the somewhat crazy novel "Perversion" was published in Germany and Poland.

Andrukhovych's novels, short stories and essays have been translated into Polish, English, German, French, Russian, Hungarian, Finnish, Swedish, Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Serbian and Esperanto. They are sold as separate books in Poland, Germany, Canada, Hungary, Finland and Croatia.

Yuri Vinnichuk

Yuri Vinnichuk is called the father of black humor and a hoaxer because of his inclination to fiction. mysterious stories for their novels. In his prose, the Galician writer usually mixes elements of adventurous, love, historical and modern novels.

His works were published in England, Argentina, Belarus, Canada, Germany, Poland, Serbia, USA, France, Croatia, Czech Republic. In particular, one of the most popular novels was "Tango of Death", published in 2012.

Taras Prokhasko

Taras Prokhasko mainly writes for adults, but his children's book "Who Makes Snow", co-authored with Maryana Prokhasko, interested readers abroad as well. A few years ago it came out in Korean.

"Who Makes Snow" is instructive story about the little ones, friendship and mutual assistance, care and home comfort, as well as about who actually makes the snow.

His works have been translated into Polish, German, English and Russian. One of the most popular is the novel "Uneasy". It reveals another mythology of the Carpathians in the first half of the 20th century. In Prohasko, the Carpathians are not only an authentic territory, but also a zone open to other cultures.

Irena Karpa

Outrageous Irena Karpa is known to the Western world not only for her work. Since October 2015, he has been the First Secretary for Cultural Affairs of the Embassy of Ukraine in France.

Creativity Irena Karpa readers perceive ambiguously. This is evidenced by various ratings and awards: for example, the book "Good and Evil" received both a literary anti-award and a place in the top ten best Ukrainian books of the year.

However, Karpa's works are published abroad. The novels "Freud would cry" and "50 minutes of grass" were translated into Polish, and "Pearl Porn" was published in Czech, Russian and Bulgarian.

Valery Shevchuk

Valery Shevchuk is a living classic of Ukrainian literature. A master of psychological prose, he is a representative of the sixties.

His work includes both historical novels and prose about modern life, as well as literary works. Many of his works have been translated into English. One of the most famous of them is the novel "The Eye of the Abyss". This is a historical and mystical dystopia, the events of which unfold in the 16th century. But in the totalitarian regime that the author describes, it is easy to recognize the USSR.

Andrey Lyubka

Lyubka is one of the most successful Ukrainian novelists and poets. The 29-year-old Latvian native writes poetry, essays, short stories and novels in Ukrainian.

Some of his poems have been translated into English, German, Serbian, Portuguese, Russian, Belarusian, Czech and Polish. Besides, individual publications his collection of short stories "Killer. Collection of stories" was published in translation by the Polish publishing house Biuro literackie and a collection of poems by the Austrian publishing house BAES.

Ukraine, represented in the best works of our writers, is gradually finding its way to the minds and hearts of readers all over the world. In our selection, we take it for granted that the works of our classics are known and loved by Ukrainianists and students of departments Ukrainian language and literature in other countries. We do not mention writers Ukrainian origin who lived and worked abroad without positioning themselves as representatives Ukrainian culture: the same Joseph Conrad, who was born in Berdichev, but is known to the whole world as a British writer. Writers of the Ukrainian diaspora more than deserve a separate article. Here we tried to gather representatives of modern Ukrainian literature: authors who live and create in Ukraine, whose works are translated and published in other countries of the world.

Sexual interest in Ukrainian sex

Oksana Zabuzhko, Komora

Even if you are among those who do not like Zabuzhko, you cannot but agree that she is a master of modernity, a deep connoisseur of Ukrainian history and an attentive researcher of human relations. Some novels come to us just when we should read them: this one is about the danger of complete immersion in another person, about total love, which requires a woman to give up herself, her talent, mission and space, her soul and destiny. The novel has been published in English, Bulgarian, Dutch, Italian, German, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Czech. Other works by Oksana Zabuzhko: "Sister, sister", "The Tale of Viburnum Sopilka", "The Museum of Abandoned Secrets" are also published in translation abroad.

Perversion

Yuri Andrukhovych, "Lilea"

A completely crazy plot, and it is clear why foreign readers liked it. Imagine a scientific symposium in Venice, the theme of which is: “Post-carnival without a head of light: what's on the brink?”. The Ukrainian writer Stanislav Perfetsky gets to the syposium through Munich, who is given a ride by a strange married couple: Ada Citrine and the mute Doctor Janus Maria Riesenbock. In Venice, Perfetsky, rushing after a prostitute, falls into a sectarian service: representatives of migrants different nationalities a new deity is worshiped, to whom a large fish is sacrificed at the end of the ceremony. And then the plot twists in such a way that Perfetsky finds its finale only on the remote island of San Michele, finally finding the only priest who can listen to his confession and talk to him about Ukraine. The novel has been published in many languages, as well as another cult work of the author - "Moskoviada".

Mesopotamia

Sergey Zhadan, "Family Dosville Club"

"Mesopotamia" is nine stories in prose and thirty verse clarifications. All the texts of this book are about one environment, the characters move from one story to another, and then into poetry. philosophical digressions, fantastic images, exquisite metaphors and specific humor - there is everything that attracts so much in the works of Zhadan. These are the stories of Babylon, retold for those who are interested in matters of love and death. Stories about the life of a city lying between two rivers, biographies of characters who fight for their right to be heard and understood, a chronicle of street fights and daily passions. The novel is very popular abroad.

Cult

Lyubko Deresh, Calvary

"Cult" is the first novel by Lubomir (Lubko) Deresh. Back in 2001, the young author was 16 years old. Some define the genre of this work as fantasy, but be that as it may, Deresh's novel "says hello" to such masters of gothic and fantasy as Poe, Zelazny or Lovecraft. The novel has been translated and published in Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Italy and France.

Picnic on Ice/Death of an Outsider

Andrey Kurkov, Folio

Kurkov is perhaps one of the most published Ukrainian writers abroad; translations of his "Picnic on Ice" were published by the best publishing houses. On the english book came out under the title "Death and the Penguin" (Death and the Penguin), and many languages ​​​​have retained this version. To date, the novel has been translated into five languages, including English, German, and Italian. What interested foreign readers in the story? The fact that this is a very interesting intellectual detective story. Journalist Viktor Zolotarev receives an unusual assignment from a major newspaper: to write obituaries for prominent influential people, although they are all still alive. Gradually, he realizes that he has become a participant in a major game of shadow structures, getting out of which alive turns out to be an almost unrealistic task. Kurkov's works have been translated into 37 languages ​​of the world.

Tango of death

Yuriy Vinnichuk, "Folio"

This novel was named the 2012 Air Force Book of the Year. The novel takes place in two storylines. In the first, we meet four friends: a Ukrainian, a Pole, a German and a Jew who live in pre-war Lvov. Their parents were soldiers of the UNR army and died in 1921 near Bazar. Young people go through all the vicissitudes of their age, but never betray friendship. Second story line has other characters, and its action takes place not only in Lvov, but also in Turkey. Both lines intersect in an unexpected ending. Vinnichuk's works were published in England, Argentina, Belarus, Canada, Germany, Poland, Serbia, USA, France, Croatia, Czech Republic.

Difficulty

Taras Prokhasko, "Lilea"

Neprostі - who are they? Hutsuls call so people who differ from others in knowledge and skills, which can benefit or harm other people. The novel is dedicated to the "alternative" history of the Carpathians, its action takes place in the period from 1913 to 1951. The Carpathians were at the same time a very archaic environment and, paradoxically, a very open zone of intercultural communication. This second myth, about the open Carpathians, is its alternative history. Prokhasko's works have been translated into English, German, Polish, and Russian.

Licorice Darusya

Maria Matios, "Piramida"

The most famous novel by Maria Matios, rightly called "a tragedy adequate to the history of the twentieth century," and Darusya herself - "almost in a biblical way." The action takes place in Bukovina, in a mountain village where Darusya and her parents live, and where the NKVD officers come after the occupation of Western Ukraine by Soviet troops. Now Darusya, whom her fellow villagers consider crazy and call “sweet” for some reason, lives alone. In the yard - 70s. Darusya remembers her young and loving parents, who were “ground” by the millstones of the regime, and sometimes reminds the people living around her of the sins committed. But the moment comes, and Darusya's life changes. The novel went through 6 editions. "Solodka Darusya" was published in Polish, Russian, Croatian, German, Lithuanian, French, Italian.

Eye of Prіrvi/Chotiri Romani

Valery Shevchuk, A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA

Valery Shevchuk is a living classic. The publishing house of Ivan Malkovich has released a book with four of the most famous novels of the author, among which is "The Eye of Prіrvi". The genre of this novel is historical and mystical dystopia. Its action takes place in the distant XVI century, but the author, of course, hints at totalitarian regime USSR. Shevchuk's works have long been published in English, Polish and German.

Remain the bajan

Evgenia Kononenko, "Annetta Antonenko's vidavnitstvo"

How do writers die who have been lying all their lives? They served the regime, wrote books that no one read, although the writer's family lived in abundance for fees. No one will die until they tell the truth. Even if a notebook with an autobiography falls into the hands of his son, having lain in a pile of unnecessary drafts for a decade and a half. Evgenia Kononenko is a wonderful author and translator fiction. Her works have been translated into English, German, French, Croatian, Russian, Finnish, Polish, Belarusian and Japanese.

Modern Ukrainian literature is created by writers of a new generation, such as: Yuriy Andrukhovych, Oleksandr Irvanets, Yuriy Izdryk, Oksana Zabuzhko, Mykola Ryabchuk, Yuriy Pokalchuk, Konstantin Moskalets, Natalka Belotserkovets, Vasyl Shklyar, Yevheniya Kononenko, Andriy Kurkov, Ivan Malkovich, Bogdan Zholdak, Sergei Zhadan, Pavel Ivanov-Ostoslavsky, Alexandra Barbolina and others.

Yuri Andrukhovych - one of the most famous Ukrainian cultural figures. His works are very popular not only in Ukraine, but also abroad. Andrukhovych's books and journalistic works are translated and published in many European countries.

1993: Laureate literary prize Blagovist

1996: Ray Lapika Award

2001: Herder Prize

2005: Received special award as part of the Peace Prize. Erich Maria Remarque

2006: European Understanding Award (Leipzig, Germany)

Western criticism defines Andrukhovych as one of the most prominent representatives of postmodernism, comparing his importance in the world literary hierarchy with Umberto Eco. His works have been translated into 8 European languages, including the novel "Perversion" published in Germany, Italy, Poland. The book of essays was published in Austria.

Alexander Irvanets - poet, prose writer, translator. Born on January 24, 1961 in Lvov. Lived in Rivne. In 1988 he graduated from the Moscow Literary Institute. Author of 12 books, 5 of which are poetry collections. Collaborated with many periodicals. Now he has an author's column in the magazine "Ukraine". One of the founders of the popular Bu-Ba-Bu society, which also included Yuri Andrukhovych and Viktor Neborak. A. Irvanets teaches at the Ostroh Academy. Lives in Irpen.

Yuri Izdryk

In 1989 he founded the magazine "Chetver", which since 1992 he has been editing together with Yuri Andrukhovych.

Actively involved in artistic life in the late 1980s. He took part in many exhibitions and actions, worked on the design of books and magazines, recorded music. At the same time, the first publications appeared - a cycle of stories " Last war"and the poetic cycle" Ten poems about the Motherland ". Some of it was later published in the Warsaw magazine "Belp". Acquaintance with the writer Yuri Andrukhovych, as well as the union around the magazine "Chetver" of young Ivano-Frankivsk authors turned out to be an important factor in the formation of Izdryk as a writer. The result was an exit from the "countercultural underground" and the first "legitimate" publication in the journal "Suchasnist" of the story "Island of Krk". The story was positively evaluated by critics and eventually appeared in a Polish translation in Literatura na Swiecie.

He also acts as an artist (a number of collective and personal exhibitions) and composer (two piano concertos, musical composition"Medieval menagerie" on poems by Yuri Andrukhovych)

Prose: Krk Island, Wozzeck, Double Leon, AMTM, Flash.

Translations: Czesław Miloš "Kind Europe", together with Lydia Stefanovska.

Oksana Zabuzhko - one of the few Ukrainian writers who live on royalties from written books. Although, a significant share of income is still from books published abroad. Zabuzhko's works were able to conquer European countries, and also found their adherents in the USA, moreover, in a number of exotic countries.

In 1985, the first collection of Zabuzhko's poems "Herbal Iniy" was published.

Oksana Zabuzhko is a member of the Association of Ukrainian Writers.

In August 2006, the Korrespondent magazine included Zabuzhko among the participants in the TOP-100 “Most Influential People in Ukraine” rating, before that, in June, the writer’s book “Let my people go” topped the list of “Best Ukrainian Book”, becoming the choice of readers of Correspondent No. one.

Yuri Pokalchuk - Writer, translator, candidate of philological sciences, member of the National Union of Writers since 1976. From 1994 to 1998 - Chairman of the foreign branch of the NSPU. In 1997-2000 - President of the Association of Ukrainian Writers.

In the USSR, he was the first translator of the Argentinean cultural writer Jorge Luis Borges. In addition to him, he translated Hemingway, Salinger, Borges, Cortazar, Amada, Mario Vargas Llosa, Kipling, Rimbaud and many others, wrote more than 15 fiction books.

Author of the books “Who are you?”, “I at once, and forever”, “Colorful melodies”, “Kava z Matagalpi”, “Great and Maliy”, “Shablya and arrow”, “Chimera”, “Those on the back” , “Doors to ...”, “Lake Wind”, “Last Bik Month”, “Other Sky”, “Odysseus, Father Icarus”, “Stink Seems”, “Beautiful Hour”.
Among the most famous books by Pokalchuk are "Taxi Blues", "Circular Road", "Forbidden Games", "The Stupefying Smell of the Jungle", "Kama Sutra".

Konstantin Moskalets - poet, prose writer, literary critic, musician.

One of the founders of the Bahmach literary group DAK. He served in the army, worked at a radio factory in Chernihiv, was a member of the Lviv theater-studio "Do not scold!", acting as a songwriter of his own songs. Laureate of the first all-Ukrainian festival "Chervona Ruta" (1989) in the nomination "author's song". The author of the words and music of the song “She” (“She” (“Tomorrow I will come to the room ...”)), a well-known song in Ukraine. Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine (1992) and the Association of Ukrainian Writers (1997). Since 1991, he has been living in the village of Mateevka in the Cell of the Tea Rose, built with his own hands, engaged exclusively in literary work.

Konstantin Moskalets is the author of the poetry books “Thoughts” and “Songe du vieil pelerin” (“Song of the Old Pilgrim”), “Night Shepherds of Being” and “The Symbol of the Rose”, the prose book “Early Autumn”, the philosophical and literary essay “The Man on the Ice Floe ” and “The Game Goes On”, as well as the book of diary entries “The Cell of the Tea Rose”.

The prose of Konstantin Moskalets has been translated into English, German and Japanese; into Serbian and Polish, translated numerous poems and essays.

Prize winner. A. Beletsky (2000), im. V. Stus (2004), im. V. Svidzinsky (2004), im. M. Kotsiubinsky (2005), named after. G. Skovoroda (2006).

Natalka Belotserkovets - her first book of poetry "Ballad of the Undefeated" was published in 1976 when she was still a student. Collections of poems underground fire(1984) and November(1989) became real signs of Ukrainian poetic life in the 1980s. Her meticulous, refined lyrics became a serious competitor to the powerful masculine verse of the 1980s generation. For the entire young generation of post-Chernobyl Ukraine, her poem "We Will Not Die in Paris" was a kind of prayer. Her name is often associated with this poem, although she wrote many other wonderful poems. The last book of Belotserkovets Allergy(1999) is considered the pinnacle of her poetry.

Vasily Shklyar

One of the most famous, widely read and "mystical" modern writers, "the father of the Ukrainian bestseller". He graduated from the philological faculties of Kyiv and Yerevan universities. While still a student, he wrote his first story “Snow” in Armenia, and in 1976 a book was already published, and he was admitted to the Writers' Union. Armenia, of course, forever remained in his soul, it left a mark on his worldview, consciousness, feelings, because he lived in this country in his youth, at the time of his formation as a person. In all his books, stories, novels there are Armenian motifs. After graduating from the university, he returned to Kyiv, worked in the press, was engaged in journalism, wrote prose and translated from Armenian. The first translations are the stories of the classic Axel Bakunts, the poems of Hamo Sagyan, Vagan Davtyan, and “Hunting Tales” by Vakhtang Ananyan. From 1988 to 1998 he was engaged in political journalism, visited "hot spots". This experience (in particular, the details of saving the family of General Dudaev after his death) was then reflected by him in the novel "Elemental". As a result of a fishing accident, he ended up in intensive care, and after “returning from the other world,” he wrote his most famous novel, The Key, in a month. For him, Vasily Shklyar received several literary awards (Grand Prix of the competition of the action-packed novel "Golden Babai", awards from the capital's magazines "Modernity" and "Oligarch", the award of the international science fiction convention "Spiral of Centuries", etc.). Of these, his favorite is "the author whose books were most stolen from stores." The “Key” has already gone through eight reprints, translated into several languages, twice published in Armenian, and it also contains Armenian realities. Shklyar headed the Dnepr publishing house, within which he publishes his translations-adaptations of foreign and domestic classics(“Decameron” by Boccaccio, “Taras Bulba” by M. Gogol, “Povia” by P. Mirny) - in abbreviated form and modern language, without archaisms, dialectisms, etc.

About two dozen of his prose books were published, which were translated into Russian, Armenian, Bulgarian, Polish, Swedish and other languages.

Evgenia Kononenko

Writer, translator, author of more than 10 published books. Works as a researcher at the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Research. Laureate of the Prize. N. Zerova for the translation of the anthology of the French sonnet (1993). Laureate of the literary prize "Granoslov" for a collection of poetry. Author of short stories, children's books, short stories, novels and many translations. Some short stories by Kononenko have been translated into English, German, French, Finnish, Croatian, Belarusian and Russian.

A book edition of the collection of short stories by Kononenko in Russia is being prepared.

By analogy with Balzac, who wrote The Human Comedy all his life, Evgenia Kononenko can be called the demiurge of the Kyiv Comedy. But unlike the French classic, the genre forms here are much smaller, and the means are more compact.

Andrey Kurkov (April 23, 1961, Leningrad region) - Ukrainian writer, teacher, cinematographer. He began writing in high school. Graduated from the School of Translators from Japanese. Worked as an editor of the Dnepr publishing house. Since 1988 he has been a member of the English Pen Club. Now he is the author of 13 novels and 5 books for children. Since the 1990s, all of Kurkov's works in Russian in Ukraine have been published by the Folio publishing house (Kharkov). Since 2005, Kurkov's works have been published in Russia by the Amfora publishing house (St. Petersburg). His novel "Picnic on Ice" sold 150,000 copies in Ukraine - more than a book by any other contemporary Ukrainian writer. Kurkov's books have been translated into 21 languages.

Kurkov is the only post-Soviet writer whose books have made it into the top ten European bestsellers. In March 2008, Andrei Kurkov's novel The Night Milkman was included in the "long list" of the Russian National Bestseller Literary Prize. He worked as a screenwriter at the film studio A. Dovzhenko. Member of the Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine (since 1993) and the National Union of Writers (since 1994). Since 1998 he has been a member of the European Film Academy and a permanent jury member of the Felix European Film Academy Award.

More than 20 feature and documentary films have been staged according to his scripts.

Books: Don't Bring Me to Kengarax, 11 Extraordinaries, Bickford's World, Death of an Outsider, Picnic on Ice, Good Angel of Death, Dear Friend, Comrade of the Dead, Geography of a Single Shot, The President's Last Love, A Cosmopolitan's Favorite Song, The Adventures of the Apparitions (Children's Book), School of Cat Ballooning (children's book), Night Milkman.

Scenarios: Exit, Pit, Sunday Escape, Night of Love, Champs Elysees, Inkblot, Death of an Outsider, Friend of the Dead.

Ivan Malkovich - poet and book publisher, - author of the collections Biliy kamin, Klyuch, Virshi, Iz yangolom na shulhi. His poems have become a symbol of the generation of the 80s (a review of the first collection of poems was written by Lina Kostenko). Malkovich is the director of the children's publishing house A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-GA. Publishes children's books. Known for his unshakable convictions not only about the quality of the book, but also about the language - all books are published exclusively in Ukrainian.

One of the first in Ukraine began to conquer the foreign market - the rights to A-BA-BA books were sold to leading publishing houses in ten countries of the world, including such a giant book market, as Alfred A. Knopf (New York, USA). And Russian translations Snow Queen and Tales of Foggy Albion, the rights to which were bought by the Azbuka publishing house (St. Petersburg), entered the top ten best-selling in Russia.

A-BA-BA is one of the most nominated publishing houses in Ukraine. His books won the Grand Prix 22 times and took first place at the All-Ukrainian Forum of Publishers in Lviv and in the Book of Rock rating. In addition, they consistently lead the sales rankings in Ukraine.

Zholda to Bogda n Alekseevich (1948) - Ukrainian writer, screenwriter, playwright.

Graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the Kyiv State University. T. G. Shevchenko (1972). He was the host of several television programs on Ut-1 and the channel "1 + 1" and a weekly radio broadcast on the first channel of the National Radio "Breaks - literary meetings with Bogdan Zholdak." Works at the film studio "Ros" at JSC "Company" Ros ", lays out screenwriting at the film department of the Kyiv State Institute theatrical art them. I. Karpenko-Kary. Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine and the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine and the association "Kinopis".

Books: "Calm down", "Yalovichyna", "Like a dog fid tank", "God bovaє", "Anticlimax".

Sergey Zhadan - poet, prose writer, essayist, translator. Vice President of the Association of Ukrainian Writers (since 2000). Translates poetry from German (including Paul Celan), English (including Charles Bukowski), Belarusian (including Andrei Khadanovich), Russian (including Kirill Medvedev, Danila Davydov) languages. Own texts were translated into German, English, Polish, Serbian, Croatian, Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russian and Armenian.

In March 2008, Zhadan's novel "Anarchy in the UKR" in Russian translation was included in the "long list" of the Russian literary award "National Bestseller". The nominee was Dmitry Gorchev, a writer from St. Petersburg. Also, this book was shortlisted in 2008 and received a diploma of the Book of the Year competition at the Moscow International Book Fair.

Poetry collections: Quote book, General Yuda, Pepsi, Selected poetry, Baladi about war and death, History of culture on the cob of the century, Quote book, Maradona, Ethiopia.

Prose: Bіґ Mak (collection of short stories), Depeche Mode, Anarchy in the UKR, Anthem of Democratic Youth.

Pavel Ivanov-Ostoslavsky - poet, publicist, local historian, public donor. In 2003, Pavel Igorevich published his first collection of poetry, Sanctuary of Fire. This book has since been reprinted several times. In 2004, Pavel Ivanov-Ostoslavsky organized and headed in Kherson the Regional branch of the International Association of Russian-speaking writers, as well as the regional branch of the Union of Writers of the South and East of Ukraine; became the editor of the poetic almanac" Milky Way". In the same year, the poet published a collection of poems" You and I ".

2005 - Laureate of the First All-Ukrainian Literary Festival "Pushkin Ring" in the nomination "For the aristocracy of creativity."

2006 - Laureate of the Nikolai Gumilyov International Literary Prize (awarded by the central organization of the International Association of Russian-speaking writers). This award was given to the poet for his debut collection "Sanctuary of Fire".

In 2008, Pavel Ivanov-Ostoslavsky became the chairman of the jury of the All-Ukrainian independent literary award "Art-Kimmerik".

The poet is a member of the Interregional Union of Writers of Ukraine, the Union of Russian Journalists and Writers of Ukraine, the Congress of Russian-speaking Writers of Ukraine. His poems and articles are published in newspapers and magazines: "Moscow Bulletin", "Bulava", "Reflection", "Kherson Visnik", "Hryvnia", "Tavriyskiy Krai", "Russian Education" and others.

Alexandra Barbolina

He is a member of the Interregional Union of Writers of Ukraine, the Union of Writers of the South and East of Ukraine, the Congress of Russian-speaking writers of Ukraine and the International Association of Russian-speaking writers, deputy chairman of the jury of the All-Ukrainian Independent Literary Prize "Art-Kimmerik".

The work of the poetess is characterized by lyricism and technicality. In her collection of poems "Love is like God's grace", published in 2000, there is a theme of intimate relationships between a man and a woman. The author touches in his poems depth psychology these relationships. Art world Alexandra Barbolina is full of nobility. The intimacy of the poetess's poems suggests that for her lyrical heroine, love is like a precious nectar enclosed in a bowl. This cup must be carried carefully, without spilling a drop, otherwise there will not be enough nectar to quench the thirst for love.

The later poems of Alexandra Barbolina are a complex search for inner harmony, the author's desire to comprehend her true destiny.

Alexandra Barbolina prefers poetic miniatures. Her creative credo is to write about the complex - briefly and, if possible, simply.

Ukrainian literature originates from a common source for the three fraternal peoples (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian) - Old Russian literature.

The revival of cultural life in Ukraine at the end of the 16th - the first half of the 17th century, connected with the development of the Ukrainian nationality, reflected the axis in the activities of the so-called brotherhoods, schools, and printing houses. The founder of book printing in Ukraine was the Russian pioneer Ivan Fedorov, who founded the first printing house in Ukraine in Lvov in 1573. The emergence of printing contributed to the growth of the cultural community of the Ukrainian people, strengthened its linguistic unity. In the conditions of the acute struggle of the Ukrainian people against the Polish-gentry oppression and Catholic expansion in the late 16th - early 17th centuries. polemical literature arose in Ukraine. An outstanding polemicist was the famous writer Ivan Vyshensky (second half of the 16th - early 17th centuries). During the liberation war of 1648-1654. and in the following decades, school poetry and drama were rapidly developing, directed against the Latin Uniate dominance. school drama had a predominantly religious and instructive content. Gradually, she retreated from narrow-church themes. Among the dramas were works on historical plots("Vladimir", "The Grace of God liberated Ukraine from the easy-to-be-beared grievances of Lyadsky through Bogdan-Zinovy ​​​​Khmelnitsky"). In displaying the events of the liberation war, elements of realism and nationality are observed. They are amplified in interludes, nativity scenes, and especially in the works of the philosopher and poet G.S. Skovoroda (1722-1794), the author of the collections Kharkiv Fables, The Garden of Divine Songs, and others, which were outstanding phenomena in the period of the formation of new Ukrainian literature.

The first writer of new Ukrainian literature was I.P. Kotlyarevsky (17b9-1838) - the author of the famous works "Aeneid" and "Natalka-Poltavka", which reproduced the life and way of life of the people, high patriotic feelings of ordinary people. Progressive traditions of I. Kotlyarevsky in the period of formation and approval new literature(the first half of the 19th century) were continued by P. P. Hulak-Artemovsky, G. F. Kvitko-Osnovyanenko, E. P. Grebenka and others. also the works placed in the almanac "Mermaid of the Dniester" (1837).

The work of the greatest Ukrainian poet, artist and thinker, revolutionary-democrat Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) finally established critical realism and nationality as the main method of artistic reflection of reality in Ukrainian literature. "Kobzar" (1840) T. Shevchenko marked new era in the development of artistic creativity of the Ukrainian people. All poetic creativity of T. Shevchenko is permeated with humanism, revolutionary ideology, political passion; it expressed the feelings and aspirations of the masses. T. Shevchenko is the founder of the revolutionary-democratic trend in Ukrainian literature.

Under the powerful influence of T. Shevchenko's creativity, in the 1950s and 1960s Marko Vovchok (M. A. Vilinskaya), Yu. -1907) "People's Advice" (" Folk stories)," the story "Institute" were a new stage in the development of Ukrainian prose along the path of realism, democratic ideology and nationality.

The next stage in the development of realistic prose was the work of I. S. Nechuy-Levitsky (1838-1918), the author social stories Burlachka, Mykola Dzherya (1876), The Kaidash Family (1878) and others, in which the writer created true images of peasant rebels.

The intensified development of capitalist relations after the reform of 1861 led to a sharp aggravation of social contradictions in Ukrainian society, to the intensification of the national liberation movement. Literature is enriched with new themes and genres, reflecting the originality of new socio-economic relations. Critical realism in Ukrainian prose acquired qualitatively new features, the genre of the social novel arose, works from the life of the revolutionary intelligentsia and the working class appeared.

The intensive development of culture during this period, the activation of social thought, and the intensification of the political struggle contributed to the emergence of a number of important periodicals. In the 1970s and 1980s, such magazines and collections were published as "Friend", "Gromadsky Friend" ("Public Friend"), "Dzvsh" ("Bell"), "Hammer", "Svt" ("Peace" in the meaning of the universe). A number of Ukrainian almanacs appear - "Moon" ("Echo"), "Rada" ("Council"), "Niva", "Steppe" and others.

At that time, the revolutionary-democratic direction in Ukrainian literature acquired significant development, represented by such outstanding writers- revolutionary democrats like Panas Mirny (A. Ya. Rudchenko), I. Franko, P. Grabovsky - followers and successors of the ideological and aesthetic principles of T. Shevchenko. Panas Mirny (1849-1920) began his literary activity in the early 70s of the 19th century. (“Dashing Beguiled”, “Drunkard”) and immediately took a prominent place in the Ukrainian literature of critical realism. His social novels "Xi6a roar the will, how is the manger povsh?" (“Do oxen roar when the manger is full?”), “Pov1ya” (“Walking”) represent a further stage in the development of revolutionary-democratic literature. A new phenomenon in the literature of the revolutionary democratic trend was the work of I. Ya. Franko (1856-1916) - the great poet, prose writer, playwright, famous scientist and thinker, fiery publicist public figure. After "Kobzar" by T. Shevchenko, the collection of poems by I. Franko "3 Peaks and Lowlands" ("Peaks and Lowlands", 1887) was the most outstanding event in Ukrainian literature of the 80s. In the poems and poems of I. Franko, the high ideological content of revolutionary art, the principles of a new, civil poetry, born in revolutionary political struggle, poetry of broad socio-philosophical generalizations. For the first time in Ukrainian literature I. Franko showed the life and struggle of the working class (“Borislav laughs”, 1880-1881). I. Franko's influence was enormous, especially in Galicia, which was then part of Austria-Hungary; it was reflected in the work and social activities of writers M.I. Pavlik, S.M. Kovaliv, N.I. Kobrinskaya, T.G. Bordulyak, I.S. Makovei, V.S. M. Gorky, JI. S. Martovich, Mark Cheremshina and others.

Revolutionary poet P. A. Grabovsky (1864-1902), known for his original poetic and critical works published in the 90s years XIX century, reflected the thoughts, feelings and moods of the revolutionary democracy of the 80-90s.

A high level of development was reached in the 80-90s by Ukrainian drama, represented by the names of prominent playwrights and theatrical figures M. Starytsky, M. Kropyvnytsky, I. Karpenko-Kary. The works of these playwrights, which are successfully staged on the stage and in Soviet theaters, depict the life and life of the Ukrainian village, class stratification and the struggle of the advanced intelligentsia for progressive art, the struggle of the people for freedom and national independence. The most prominent place in the history of Ukrainian drama belongs to I. Karpenko-Karom (I. K. Tobilevich, 1845-1907), who created classical examples of social drama, a new type of social comedy and tragedy. An ardent patriot and humanist, the playwright denounced the modern system, revealing the social contradictions of bourgeois society. His plays are widely known: "Martin Borulya", "One Hundred Thousands", "Sawa Chaly", "Master", "Vanity", "The Sea of ​​Life".

In the development of literature late XIX- beginning of XX century. the work of M. Kotsyubinsky, Lesya Ukrainka, S. Vasilchenko was the highest stage of Ukrainian critical realism, organically connected with the birth of socialist realism.

M. M. Kotsyubinsky (1864-1913) in the story "Fata morgana" (1903-1910) showed the leading role of the working class in the bourgeois-democratic revolution in the countryside, revealed the rottenness of the bourgeois system, and exposed the traitors to the interests of the people. Lesya Ukrainka (1871 - 1913) sang the revolutionary struggle of the working class, exposed the reactionary nature of populist and Christian ideals. In a number of artistic and journalistic works, the poetess revealed the reactionary meaning of bourgeois philosophy and affirmed the ideas of revolution, the international unity of workers from different countries. The Bolshevik newspaper Pravda, responding to the death of the writer, called her a friend of the workers. The most significant works of Lesya Ukrainka are collections of political lyrics (“On the wings of a horse”, 1893; “Dumi i mri” - “Thoughts and Dreams”, 1899), dramatic poems “Long Cossack” (“Old Tale”), “In the Forest” , "Autumn Tale", "In the Catacombs", the plays "Forest Song", "Kamshny Gospodar" ("Stone Lord") - are among the best works of Ukrainian classical literature.

In the conditions of the cruel national oppression of the Russian autocracy, along with the creation of works of art, Ukrainian writers carried out a great cultural and educational work. Especially vigorous activity in the national-cultural movement, the scientist and realist writer B. Grinchenko distinguished himself.

The literary process in Ukraine was not ideologically homogeneous; it was a struggle of different social and political forces. Along with the artists of the word democratic direction, writers of liberal-bourgeois, nationalist convictions (P. Kulish, A. Konissky, V. Vinnichenko, and others) spoke.

At all historical stages, Ukrainian literature of the pre-October period developed in close connection with freedom movement people, in organic unity with advanced Russian literature. Writers who expressed the interests of advanced, revolutionary art fought for realism, nationality and high ideological content of Ukrainian literature. Therefore, Ukrainian classical literature was a reliable basis for the creation of a new Soviet literature, born of the October Socialist Revolution.

Ukrainian Soviet literature

Ukrainian Soviet literature is an integral and integral part of the multinational literature of the peoples of the USSR. Even in the early stages of its development, it acted as an ardent fighter for the ideas of socialism, freedom, peace and democracy, for the revolutionary transformation of life on the foundations of scientific communism. The creators of the new Soviet literature were people from the working class and the poorest peasantry (V. Chumak, V. Ellan, V. Sosyurai, etc.), the best representatives of the democratic intelligentsia, who began their activities even before the October Revolution (S. Vasilchenko, M. Rylsky, I. Kocherga, P. Tychina, Y. Mamontov

In the first post-revolutionary years, the books of poets were very popular: V. Chumak "Zapev", V. Ellan "Blows of the Hammer and the Heart", P. Tychyna "The Plow", poems and poems by V. Sosyura, etc. The process of establishing Soviet literature took place in a tense struggle against the enemies of the revolution and the agents of the bourgeois-nationalist counter-revolutionaries.

During the period of restoration of the national economy (20s), Ukrainian literature developed especially intensively. At this time, writers A. Golovko, I. Kulik, P. Panch, M. Rylsky, M. Kulish, M. Irchan, Yu. Yanovsky, Ivan Jle, A. Kopylenko, Ostap Vishnya, I. Mikitenko and many others Young literature reflected the liberation struggle of the people and their creative work in creating a new life. During these years, a number of writers' unions and groupings arose in Ukraine: in 1922, the "Plug" co*oz of peasant writers, in 1923, the "Gart" organization, around which proletarian writers grouped, in 1925, the union of revolutionary writers " Western Ukraine»; in 1926, an association of Komsomol writers Molodnyak arose; There were also futuristic organizations (Association of Pan-Futurists, New Generation). The existence of many diverse organizations and groupings hampered the ideological and artistic development of literature and hindered the mobilization of writers throughout the country to carry out the tasks of socialist construction. At the beginning of the 1930s, all literary and artistic organizations were liquidated, and a single Union of Soviet Writers was created.

Since that time, the theme of socialist construction has become the leading theme of literature. In 1934, P. Tychina published a collection of poems "The Party Leads"; M. Rylsky, M. Bazhan, V. Sosiura, M. Tereshchenko, P. Usenko, and many others come out with new books. Ukrainian prose writers achieve great success; the novels and stories of G. Epik “First Spring”, I. Kirilenko “Outposts”, G. Kotsyuba “New Shores”, Ivan Le “Roman Mezhyhirya”, A. Golovko “Mother”, Y. Yanovsky “Horsemen”, etc. The theme of the revolutionary past and modern socialist reality becomes the main one in dramaturgy. In the theaters of Ukraine with great success the plays “Personnel”, “Girls of our country” by I. Mikitenko, “Death of the Squadron” and “Platon Krechet” by A. Korneichuk and others are being performed.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), a third of the entire writers' organization of Ukraine joined the ranks of the Soviet Army and partisan detachments. Journalism is becoming a particularly important genre. Writers appear in the army press with articles, publish pamphlets and collections of articles in which they expose the enemy, and help to educate the high morale of the Soviet people, who have risen to fight the fascist invaders. FROM works of art in which the heroism and courage of the people are depicted, patriotism and the high ideals of Soviet soldiers are sung, M. Rylsky ("Zhaga"), P. Tychina ("Funeral of a friend"), A. Dovzhenko ("Ukraine on fire"), M. Bazhan ("Daniil Galitsky"), A. Korneichuk ("Front"), Y. Yanovsky ("Land of the Gods"), S. Sklyarenko ("Ukraine Calls"), A. Malyshko ("Sons"), etc. Ukrainian literature was a loyal assistant to the Party and the people, a reliable weapon in the fight against the invaders.

After the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War, writers for a long time turn to the theme of heroism and patriotism, military prowess and courage of our people. Most significant works on these topics in the 1940s were “Banners” by A. Gonchar, “Certificate of Maturity” by V. Kozachenko, “Chernomortsy” by V. Kucher, “General Vatutin” by L. Dmiterko, “Prometheus” by A. Malyshko, works by Y. Galan , A. Shiyan, J. Bash, L. Smelyansky, A. Levada, Yu. Zbanatsky, Yu. Dold-Mikhaylik and many others.

Topics socialist labor, friendship of peoples, the struggle for peace, international unity become leading in the Ukrainian literature of all post-war years. The treasury of the artistic creativity of the Ukrainian people was enriched with such outstanding works as the novels by M. Stelmakh "Big Relatives", "Human Blood Is Not Water", "Bread and Salt", "Truth and Falsehood"; A. Gonchar "Tavria", "Perekop", "Man and Weapon", "Tronka"; N. Rybak "Pereyaslav Rada"; P. Panch "Bubbling Ukraine"; Y. Yanovsky "Peace"; G. Tyutyunnik "Whirlpool" ("Vir") and others; collections of poems by M. Rylsky: “Bridges”, “Brotherhood”, “Roses and Grapes”, “Goloseevskaya Autumn”; M. Bazhan "English Impressions"; V. Sosyura "Happiness of the working family"; A. Malyshko "Beyond the Blue Sea", "Book of Brothers", "Prophetic Voice"; plays by A. Korneichuk "Over the Dnieper"; A. Levada and others.

Important events in literary life were the second (1948) and third (1954) congresses of Ukrainian writers. A huge role in the development of Ukrainian literature was played by the decisions of the 20th and 22nd Congresses of the CPSU, which opened up new horizons for the ideological and artistic growth of Ukrainian literature, its strengthening on the positions of socialist realism. The path of development of Ukrainian Soviet literature testifies that only on the basis of socialist realism could the artistic creativity of the Ukrainian people develop rapidly. Ukrainian Soviet literature at all stages of its development was true to the ideas of the Communist Party, the principles of friendship between peoples, the ideals of peace, democracy, socialism and freedom. She has always been a powerful ideological weapon Soviet society in the struggle for the victory of communism in our country.