Lesya Ukrainka. Books of Sibyl w. ukraińska

This book seeks to reinterpret the life of Lesya Ukrainka, exploring the intricate connections between her illness and creativity, the duality of Ukraine and being a "foreigner," and the interplay between politics and literature, as well as tradition and modernity, love, and mortality. It delves into how her illness influenced her writing, specifically noting the creative insights born from the trauma of caring for the terminally ill Merzhynskyi. Her spiritual and intellectual connection to Drahomanov and her relationship with Kobylyanskaya are examined, highlighting themes of women's culture. The concept of artistic madness is considered, recognized during moments of elevated creativity. Her journeys through Europe are recounted alongside her experiences with sanatorium tourism, illustrating her status as someone perceived as "different"—a "new woman" and "foreigner" even in her own country. This status, viewed through a lens of historical and cultural uniqueness, allowed Larisa Kosach-Kvitka to carve her distinct path and emerge as a prophetic figure of the 20th century's dawn. In her final year, Lesya Ukrainka confided in her mother, expressing that only a woman could write Mavka's story. However, it is evident that all her works could only have been crafted by a woman who lived and created with a fearless disregard for death.