Drohobych Astrologer. Stories. Novels | Ніна Бічуя

Nina Bichuya first appeared on the literary scene in the 1960s alongside Yevhen Gutsal, Hryhor Tyutiunnyk, and Valeriy Shevchuk. This collection presents her most notable works, including "The Drohobych Astrologer," "The Stone Master," "A Carpet of Three Flowers," and others.

A kaleidoscope of events from Ukrainian history opens before us: the Haidamaks, who after defeat are expelled from Uman to Lviv, the era of Prince Danylo Halytsky, the life path of Lesya Ukrainka, and even the death of Stalin. However, the main task of the writer is not so much to convey the historical context, but to explore the emotional state of the people experiencing these events, their inner world, and how history is reflected in their consciousness. Does the fear of tyranny disappear when the tyrannical regime itself ceases? What could Lesya Ukrainka have been like? How is the personality of the writer revealed when he or she immerses himself in memories, often painful, from his or her life?

Thus, historical plots are intertwined with casual scenes from everyday life, creating a multifaceted basis for dialogue about historical and personal experiences.

Regarding the "Non-Canonical Canon" series

When thinking about the canon of Ukrainian literature, only a few names from the school curriculum often come to mind – Shevchenko, Franko, Nechuy-Levytsky. However, in reality, this list is much broader and more diverse.

The series "Non-Canonical Canon" was created to open up to the reader those about whom they previously knew little, whose works were read without realizing all the nuances of the historical context. This is an invitation to reacquaint themselves with unfamiliar acquaintances. It contains a huge variety of Ukrainian authors and their works - from Pidmohylny and Bahryany to Khvylovy and Johansen, from sophisticated intellectual novels to exciting adventure stories, from innovative urban prose to psychological essays.

Each work is accompanied by comments by Ukrainian literary scholars who point out key points for understanding the text, helping to appreciate the legacy of Ukrainian classics in a new way.