Ukraine's long history of culture, learning and literature

Angelic sower: an etching displayed in the art gallery of  Ostrog Castle, Ukraine.

 
In this heartbreakingly difficult time for Ukraine I often think back and remember those extraordinary days touring there as part of the Terra Poetica Festival, the concerts full of music, singing, dance and poetry. The wonderful hospitality from these talented, warm people who love the arts.
 

Right now, I want to think of Ukraine’s love of learning and literature, its long cultural history and traditions (which have survived despite previous invasions, famines and carnage). The Ostroh Academy was founded in 1576, the first in Eastern Europe, and it had many international connections. It is now a National University. And Kyiv's University is named after their most famous poet Taras Shevchenko. I was honoured to receive, as the Audience Award, a beautifully illustrated book of his poetry. 

 

 

The Festival was organized by Dmytro Drozdovskyi, Lesia Mudrak with many helpers, and the support of the Ministry of Culture and various media organisations. Writers from Ukraine and twelve other countries gave readings, talks and workshops. Our first performance was in Kyiv’s National Drama Theatre, and in the following days we visited Rivne, Ostroh, Zhytomyr then back to Kyiv. The evening poetry readings formed part of concerts which included musicians, choral singing, opera singers, dancers, all to a packed audience.

Rivne Drama Theatre

 You can read the full posts about this extraordinary tour, Rivne & Ostroh,  and Zhytomyr.
 

The Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov has written several novels but his non-fiction Ukraine Diaries (2014) describes the Maidan events of 2013-14 and if you read it you will understand the spirit of the Ukrainian people, who occupied the Maidan in Kyiv and succeeded in overturning their government when it went back on its agreement to bring Ukraine closer to Europe and away from Russian influence. The book will show you what these people are made of. They will never surrender their country.

The poem below is from the Terra Poetica anthology produced alongside the Festival. The anthology contains many Ukrainian poets, as well as poems of the performers from other countries. All of the poems which were not originally in English, (most of them) were translated into English. This one is by the Ukrainian writer and translator Oksana Lutsyshyna. (Her collection Persephone Blues has been published in English translation by Arrowsmith Press.)

Mementos of Ukraine, and gifts of beautifully produced books of poetry.