Ukrainian literature has come a long way in becoming in order to reach the level that exists at the moment. Ukrainian writers have contributed throughout the entire period from the 18th century to the works of Prokopovich and Grushevsky, to contemporary works by authors such as Shklyar and Andrukhovich. Literature developed and enriched for many years. And I must say that modern Ukrainian writers are very different from the authors who laid the foundation for Ukrainian literature. But one thing remained unchanged - 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. By 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. Many different genres and directions in literature have appeared. These were novels, novels, short stories, and feuilleton. Most writers and poets took a political course. Pupils study most of the authors in the school curriculum, reading works and trying to understand the main idea of each work. Analyzing each work individually, they bring out the information that the author wanted to convey to them.
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko is rightfully considered the founder of national literature and a symbol of the patriotic forces of the country. Years of life - 1814-1861. The main work is considered "Kobzar", which glorified both the author and the people of the whole 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:
- Gaydamaki.
- "Hire".
- "Hustochka."
- "Caucasus".
- "Poplars".
- Katerina and many others.
Shevchenko’s works were criticized, but the works pleased the Ukrainians and won their hearts forever. While in Russia he was received rather coldly, coming home, he always met 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 political views and exiled.
The poet's life was full of events, both joyful and mournful. But all his life he did not stop creating. Even when he was doing military service in the form of a recruit, he continued to work, and his work was saturated with love for his homeland.
Ivan Franco
Ivan Yakovlevich Franco is another bright representative of the literary activity of that time. Years of life - 1856-1916. Writer, poet, scientist, he almost received the Nobel Prize, but early death prevented him from doing this. The extraordinary personality of the writer evokes many different statements, since he was the founder of the Ukrainian radical party. Like many famous 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 Franco was a member of the Russophile society that existed at that time in Transcarpathia. During the membership, he wrote his works "Folk Song" and "Petria and Dovbushchuk." Frank's famous work is also his translation into Ukrainian “Fausta”. For his activities in society, Ivan was arrested for nine months, which he spent in prison.
After leaving 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 went out, he wrote many works revealing human flaws and, conversely, showing the breadth of the human soul. His work “Zakhar Berkut” won an award at a national competition.
Grigory Kvitka-Osnovyanenko
The years of life of the writer - 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 painful boy, and still blind until the age of six, Gregory began his career as a student only. He studied in Kharkov and it was there that he began to write and send his works to a journal for print. He wrote poems and short stories. This was the beginning of his work. The real works that deserved attention were the novels written in the 30s in Ukrainian:
- "Maroussia."
- "Konotop witch."
- "Soldier Portrait".
- "Heart Oksana" and others.
Like other Ukrainian writers, Hryhoriy also wrote in Russian, as evidenced by the novel "Pan Kholyavsky." The author’s works are distinguished by a beautiful literary syllable, simple expressions that are easily perceived by the reader. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko showed excellent knowledge of all aspects of life of both the peasant and the nobleman, which can be seen in his novels. According to the story of Gregory, the play "Trouble in a County" was released, which was the predecessor of the famous "Examiner".
20th century literature
Ukrainian writers of the 20th century 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 this time. Partially banned, then studied at will, she suffered 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 the time, who made a huge contribution to literature. Years of his life - 1924-2009. Paul’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 a university in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, and only there he began his creative career by printing the collection “Kakhovskie Tales” in the journal Rodina. Among the author's works there are such famous ones as:
- "Steppe flowers".
- "Europe, 45."
- "Southern comfort."
- "Wonderful."
- "I, Bogdan."
- "Primost" and many others.
The most popular author brought the novel "Roksolana", which narrated the fate of a girl who fell into the harem of the Turkish Sultan and became his legal wife. Subsequently, the film and the series were shot based on the work.
Anna Yablonskaya
Anna Grigoryevna Yablonskaya is another literary figure that I want to talk about. The years of life of the writer - 1981-2011. Since childhood, the girl was fond of literature and drama. Firstly, her father was a journalist, wrote feuilleton, and largely because of him, she developed a passion for literature. Secondly, from school, Anna began to write poems and with pleasure read them 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, which 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 "Camcorder". 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 in a terrorist attack at Domodedovo Airport. She did not have time to do much, but what she managed to leave an indelible mark on the literature of this time.
Alexander Kopylenko
Alexander Ivanovich Kopylenko was born in the Kharkov region. Born 1.08.1900, died 1.12.1958. He always strove for knowledge and study. Before the revolution, he studied at the seminary, then traveled a lot, which gave him a lot of experience and experience for further literary work. Was in Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia. During the war of 1941-1945. worked on the radio, where he broadcast for partisan units. After he became editor of Vsesvit magazine and worked closely with many directors, screenwriters and writers. His poems first saw the light of day in 1922. But most of all he wrote prose:
- "Kara Krucha".
- Raging Hops.
- "In the name of the Ukrainian people."
- "Solid material" and others.
He also has children's works, such as:
- "Very well".
- "10th 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 civil war. Kopylenko's works have been translated into many foreign languages of the world.
Modern Ukrainian writers
Modern Ukrainian literature does not lag behind in the number of outstanding people. Nowadays, many authors work, whose works are worthy of being studied in schools and translated into different languages of the world. We present to you a list of not all modern authors, but only the most popular. 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:
- L. Kostenko.
- V. Shklyar.
- M. Matios.
- O. Zabuzhko.
- I. Karp.
- Yu. Andrukhovich.
- L. Luzin.
- S. Zhadan.
- L. Deresh.
- M. and S. Dyachenko.
Lina Kostenko
Lina V. Kostenko is in first place 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 a 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 "Traveling of the Heart" put the poet on a par with outstanding literary figures. Among the author's works are such works as:
- "Over the banks of the eternal river."
- "Maroussia Churai".
- "Originality".
- "Garden of non-melting sculptures."
All the works of Lina Kostenko are distinguished by their individual literary style and a 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 its life and customs. In addition to what Shklyar himself did, like many Ukrainian writers, he translated many works from the Armenian language, which earned him special respect. Readers are well aware of his work, Elemental, The Key. His works are also translated into different languages of the world, and book lovers from different countries read his prose with pleasure.
Maria Matios
Maria printed her first poems when she was fifteen. Later, Matios tried herself in prose and wrote the short story “Yuryana and Dovgopol”. The writer is loved for meaningful works. Among her books of poetry:
- "Women's fence in the garden of impatience."
- "From grass and leaves."
- "Garden of impatience."
Maria Matios has created a number of prose works:
- "Life is short"
- "Nation"
- Sweet Darus
- "Diary of the executed and many others."
Thanks to Mary, the world became acquainted with yet another talented Ukrainian poetess and writer, whose books abroad are read with great pleasure.
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. Thanks to their works, children from an early age have the opportunity to hear beautiful Ukrainian speech. Poems and stories for toddlers and older children - this is what authors such as:
- A.I. Avramenko.
- I.F. Budz.
- M.N. Voronoi.
- N. A. Guzeeva.
- I.V. Zhilenko.
- I.A. Ishchuk.
- I. S. Kostyrya.
- 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 versatile and vibrant. Its figures are familiar not only in the country itself, but also far beyond its borders. The works and quotes of Ukrainian writers are published in many publications of the world. Their works are translated into dozens of languages, which means that the reader needs them and he is always waiting for new and new works.