1. Literature in Ukraine: Mykhaylo Kotsiubynsky and Oles Honchar

Old Ukrainian literature took centuries to develop, influenced by two bookish languages and, therefore, two literary styles. The introduction of Christianity broadened the usage of Church Slavonic which for almost 800 years remained the means of inter-slavic communication.

«The Precept of Volodymyr Monomakh» is an outstanding literary memorial of the distant past, in which the image of a virtuous Christian, wise politician, loving father and demanding teacher was skilfully described.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Patericon» describes the lives of the Fathers of the Caves, «The Lay of the Host of Ihor» is a gem of ancient literature, a poetic masterpiece whose brilliant author combined rare literary talent with political wisdom and profound knowledge of history.

In the 16th century poetry received a powerful impetus. The late 17th – 18th centuries, the period of Ukrainian literary baroque, saw the spreading of religious philosophic ideas and panegyrical literature, poetry and dramaturgy. It was the time of Hrygoriy Skovoroda, the most outstanding philosopher and writer.

Ivan Kotlyarevsky's epic burlesque «Aeneid» abundant with juicy Ukrainian folk witticisms, skilfully coloured realistic portrayals and characters, turned out the first creation of new Ukrainian literature.

Came the 19th century, the Golden Age of Ukrainian literature.

The new epoch in the progress of Ukrainian literature, the language and the whole of culture and national self-consciousness started with the appearance of Taras Shevchenko's verse and works of art. In 1840, his «Kobzar» came off the press. His creative endeavours reflected the best folk poetic traditions, acquiring universal humanistic significance as an eloquent expression of the hopes and aspirations of a downtrodden nation. For the first time the Ukrainian language echoed across the world with a Shakespearean strength and philosophic depth.

Realism flourished in the second half of the century. It was the tune of such literary giants as Ivan Franko, Ivan Nechui-Levytsky, Panas Myrny, Mykhaylo Kotsiubynsky, Oles Honchar, Pavlo Hrabovsky and Lesya Ukrainka.

In the 20th century the Ukrainian literary process was rather complicated.

At present, the Writers' Union of Ukraine has a membership of 1,500.

1.1 Mykhaylo Kotsiubynsky

Mykhaylo Kotsiubynsky is a classic of Ukrainian literature. He described the life of the Ukrainian people at the turn of the 20th century. He developed literary traditions created by Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Franko. Even today he is near and understood for his ideals of good, humanism and justice. His name is connected with public love and respect. There are monuments and memorial museums to the writer in Vinnytsia, where he was born, and in Chernihiv, where he lived for several years and was buried.

The writer was born into the family of a poor official (clerk). At the age of fourteen, after his father's death Mykhaylo became the breadwinner in the family to support his sick mother and four younger brothers and sisters. At this time he also devoted his spare time to self-education. He read much, became acquainted with the works of Russian and Ukrainian writers, as well as with social-economic and philosophical literature.

With the development of the social-liberation movement at the end of the 19th century, Kotsiubynsky was in the heart of the struggle on the side of progress, democracy and socialism. The writer's first work appeared in April, 1890 on the pages, of the Lviv children's magazine «The Bell».

He followed traditions of the school of realism of Levytskyi, Panas Myrny. He used manners characterising the ones of naturalistic school of Emile Zola, or resembling certain works by Guy de Maupassant.

Kotsiubynky was also under the influence of the literary school of Scandinavian writers. At the same time the writer's style remained distinctly individual.

Kotsiubynsky's favourite genre became short stories, which dominated his writings.

In 1902 he wrote his short story «On the Rocks» which can be a sort of boundary of two periods of his creations, and the transition to the new elaboration of topics having been begun yet in 1899.

His famous works are «Persona Grata» (1907), «Inter-mezzo» (1908), «Apple Blossoms» (1902).

As a talented master Kotsiubynsky was noticed as a writer in Russia and in other countries.

His works were translated into Russian and Western European languages during his lifetime and gained popularity far, beyond the borders of Ukraine. Kotsiubynsky's works appeared in German, Czech, Polish, Rumanian and Swedish languages.

Today it can be stated that the works by Kotsiubynsky are a phenomenon of not only national Ukrainian literature but of world literature. Some works are already known to the English-speaking countries.

The first English language translations appeared back in 1925.

1.2 Oles Honchar

Ukrainian literature contains a lot of glorious names, such as Lina Kostenko, Vasyi Stus, Pavlo Zagrebelny and others. One can continue this list for many pages, but I want to tell you about the life and work of Oles Honchar. «Tronka», «Tvoya Zorya», «Ziklon»… These novels are about the difficult fate of a person in the modern world, about his place among other people. The most famous novel «Sobor» is also about this. This novel left no one indifferent. «Sobor» was unknown to the reader for a long period of time, because it was banned. Recently this outstanding man died.

This author can justly be called the conscience of Ukraine in his works such problems as the good and the evil, honour and dishonour, love and hate were raised. His book «Praporonostsi» was one of the first true stories about the Great Patriotic War in Ukrainian literature. ............