Rebels, prophets, rockstars: three centuries of diverse voices in Ukrainian literature
Propelled into the global spotlight by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian literature can, nonetheless, offer much more beyond the undoubtedly powerful commentary on the ongoing Russian aggression. It is a literature full of remarkably diverse voices and unforgettable stories. A gifted boy born into a life of poverty and serfdom in a tiny village becomes the leading literary figure of his era. A German-speaking feminist from an aristocratic family brings powerful voices of unconventional women to the pages of her stories. A Yiddish author captures the daily joys and sorrows of the Jewish population in a small Ukrainian town before fleeing pogroms and immigrating to New York. A scholar of Crimean-Tatar descent with expertise in over 30 languages explores his homosexuality through Orientalist poetry. For centuries, Ukrainian literature has stubbornly resisted attempts to have it silenced, from the bans on books in Ukrainian in the Russian Empire to Stalin’s Great Terror wiping off a whole generation of Ukrainian writers. Despite these massive challenges, Ukrainians have produced a rich and fascinating body of work that is now becoming increasingly available in translation. In this lecture, Dr. Iryna Shuvalova, a poet, translator, and scholar from Ukraine, will give you a taste of the wealth of voices and stories Ukrainian literature has to offer.
This event is a part of series of lectures about history and culture of Ukraine. Organized by Den Ukrainske Forening i Norge in cooperation with UiO. Supported by Fritt Ord, Bergesensstiftelsen and Kulturdirektoratet.
The event will also be streamed.
NB! Registration is necessary for physical attendance at the House of Literature.
