Presentation of new book: The Intellectual as Hero in 1990s Ukrainian Fiction. University of Toronto Press. By Mark Andryczyk

March 2, 2013


The 1990s were a period of tremendous artistic vigor, experimentation, and liberation for Ukrainian culture. The artists who emerged at this time unleashed a tidal wave of creativity that deliberately and aggressively reshaped inherited models. In this first English monograph on contemporary Ukrainian literature, Mark Andryczyk provides an in-depth analysis of the cultural explosion that engulfed Ukraine in its first decade of independence. The book weaves a fascinating narrative full of colorful characters by examining the prose of today’s leading writers. The author delves into the role of the intellectual in forging a post-Soviet Ukrainian identity, and follows these protagonists as they soar and stumble in pursuit of redefining their creative realm. In addition to introducing readers to vibrant literary gems, this books explores the artistic tendencies that determined the course of the Ukrainian cultural scene in the 1990s and continue to shape it today.

The publication was made possible by the financial support of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, USA, from the Ivan and Elizabeta Khlopetsky fond.

Mark Andryczyk