Stories from Classic Ukrainian Literature: Ivan Franko

In Ukraine, we have a very complicated relationship with the classical literature. It is mandatory in school, though its tragic narratives (as painful as Ukrainian history at all) are frightening and difficult for children to understand. Most of these books are more interesting for adults and help to create a bigger picture of what Ukrainian literature is about and what it offers in the context of European and global culture.

And when you dare to look into classic writers' stories - you will be rewarded with exciting discoveries.

Ivan Franko is the most famous Ukrainian author, who was proposed for the Nobel Prize in 1916. He knew six languages and worked as a poet, novelist, journalist, and social activist. With examples from different genres of novels, dramatic works,s and poems, I'll try to show you what makes them unique and worth reading.

Books by Ivan Franko: "Stolen Happiness" and "Borislav is Laughing," Ukrainian editions

Ivan Franko (1856-1916) was born in western of Ukraine, a part of the Austrian empire. He went to German- and Polish-speaking schools, but his mother tongue was Ukrainian, in which he wrote most of his works. After graduation from a gymnasium, he continued his studies of classical philology and Ukrainian language at Lviv University and Chernivtsi University (1875-1891). Ivan Franko was the first Ukrainian professional writer, which means he made a living by writing books and articles or doing translations. In fact, Ivan Franko was the first who translated some novels from Verner von Heidenstam's book "The Charles Men" into Ukrainian in 1908.

I've found two books by Ivan Franko in Malmö City Library, and another one I read in Ukraine in a beautiful double edition of "Raineke Fuchs" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and "Lys Mykyta" by Ivan Franko telling about the trickster archetype from European folklore (as Carl Jung called it).

If you look at Ivan Franko's books from the perspective of European literature trends between the XIX and XX centuries, you can see that he wrote on the same topics as other European authors. And sometimes, he was the first to talk about them, such as the beginning of the modern European labor movement in his book "Borislav is Laughing."

Borislav is Laughing

The book "Borislav is Laughing" is based on real events from 1860 when the industrial revolution progressed rapidly in the Austrian empire, including Ukrainian Galicia. The novel tells about the organization of a strike among oil industry workers in Borislav. Ivan Franko shows how they learn to fight for their rights in a modern way instead of chaotic revenge actions, as it was before.  Workers make a union with membership fees and require better working conditions from their employers, which used to get cheap labor due to the impoverishment of Galician peasants.

The main antagonists in the book are two families of Jewish capitalists with exciting storylines. 

Written in 1881-1882 for the Lviv magazine "Svit," this novel remained unfinished and was published for the first time in 1922 with the ending by Ivan Franko's son Petro. 

The book "Borislav is Laughing" is an example of European realistic literature that flourished at the end of the XIX century.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't translated into English. You can find other editions on Goodreads.

This Ukrainian edition of "Borislav is Laughing" was published by JiaHu Books, Great Britain.

Stolen Happiness 

"Stolen Happiness" is a social-psychological play written in 1891-1893 years and based on a folk song about a woman who was forced by her family to marry a man she didn't love. You can find the same plot in many European ballads. As a scientist, Ivan Franko worked on the research "Female slavery in Ukrainian folk songs", where he explored the Ukrainian Galician "Song about the Gendarme."

The book "Stolen Happiness" tells about a woman, Hanna, whose brothers lied to her to not share their father's inheritance, and they told her that her beloved had died. After years of marriage to a man she didn't love, she discovered that the man she loved was alive. And they were trapped in a dramatic situation that couldn't have a happy ending.

In his play, Ivan Franko accentuates the characters' inner world and psychologism, which differs his book from the original song with a social perspective. This is an innovative view for the time of the end of the XIX century, and this book is definitely worth reading.

There is also no English edition of this book. 

Fox Mykyta / Lys Mykyta

"Lys Mykyta," first published in 1890, is a fascinating and funny story about the characters we all meet in our everyday lives: a sly fox, an insatiable wolf, a bear, and others - classic archetypes from medieval folklore fairytales and poems. You can find these characters in traditional French, German, and Belgian tales and in a folk song called "Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre."

Ivan Franko makes this fox a typical Ukrainian: Lys Kykyta is a decent family man living in his own castle in the west of Ukraine. He is a clever, brave, sly cheater who needs to go to Lviv for a Royal court, where he manages to get rid of all the charges and buy off the king, promising him treasures that don't actually exist. Mykyta is a great speaker, as well as a brave fighter. Following his personal interests, he can always get out of a difficult situation and make fun of his enemies. 

The first four editions of the book were published with amazing illustrations by Teofil Kopystynski, which perfectly complemented the exciting story.

Ivan Franko's "Lys Mykyta" isn't a children's book. His characters are complicated and intelligent - an absolute pleasure for readers who love satiric stories with interesting details.
This fantastic book is translated into many languages, and I highly recommend it!

The book "Fox Mykyta / Lys Mykyta" on Goodreads

"Lys Mykyta", 1890, illustration by Teofil Kopystynski.

"Reineke Fuchs" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and "Lys Mykyta" by Ivan Franko, Ukrainian edition, Aprioiri publisher. Photo: yakaboo.ua.

"Sagan om Mickel Räv", Swedish edition

Classic literature may sometimes be challenging for modern readers because of its language, historical issues, and context. But by giving it a chance, you dive into another time and stories crafted by the most talented authors that will reward you with exciting impressions and knowledge, pushing you to research more about the topics and expand your horizons.

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