Towards an Intellectual History of Ukraine. An Anthology of Ukrainian thought from 1710 to 1995

Together with a long introductory essay, the editors of this volume have provided a collection of major documents dating from 1710 to 1995. The texts, many of them translated for the first time and some perhaps unfamiliar to Ukrainian readers, explore issues that intellectual history has traditionally set out to examine and explain. They touch on religious, philosophical, aesthetic, ethical, sociological, historical, and political ideas, and thereby illuminate significant attitudes, values, ideological commitments, and systems of thought that have crystallized at central moments in the development of Ukraine. Leading Ukrainian writers, scholars, intellectuals, political figures, and statesman present their views on Ukrainian history, especially its relation to Russia, but also discuss their society, literature, and culture, as well as the slow but dramatic formation and growth of national identity. These texts best reflect the transformation of Ukraine, and the obstacles to such a transformation, into a modern nation, which in 1991 declared its independence. They serve, therefore, as a guide to a complex period of hundreds of years, which, up to now, was too often considered only as a part of Russian history. In this context, the anthology contributes to an understanding of the past few centuries from a post-colonial perspective. This Volume Presents A Collection Of Major Ukrainian Documents Dating From 1710 To 1995, With An Informative Introductory Essay By Volume Editors Ralph Lindheim And George S.n. Luckyj. The Texts, Many Of Them Translated For The First Time And Some Perhaps Unfamiliar Even To Ukrainian Readers, Explore Issues That Intellectual History Has Traditionally Set Out To Examine And Explain. They Touch On Religious, Philosophical, Aesthetic, Ethical, Sociological, Historical, And Political Ideas, And Thereby Illuminate Significant Attitudes, Values, Ideological Commitments, And Systems Of Thought That Have Crystallized At Central Moments In The Development Of Ukraine. Leading Ukrainian Writers, Scholars, Intellectuals, Political Figures, And Statesmen Present Their Views On Ukrainian History, Especially As It Pertains To Relations With Russia, And Also Discuss Their Society, Literature, Culture, And The Slow But Dramatic Formation And Growth Of A National Identity. The Texts Gathered Here Reflect The Transformation Of Ukraine, In The Face Of Formidable Obstacles, Into The Modern Nation That Declared Its Independence In 1991. They Serve, Therefore, As A Guide To A Complex Period Of Several Hundred Years, Which, Until Now, Has Too Often Been Considered Only As A Part Of Russian History. 1. The Bendery Constitution (abridgment) -- 2. Sermon On Royal Authority And Honour (excerpt) / Teofan Prokopovych -- 3. A Talk Between Great Russia And Little Russia (excerpt) / Semen Divovych -- 4. A Submission To The Legislative Commission (excerpt) / Hryhorii Poletyka -- 5. The Serpent's Flood (excerpt) / Hryhorii Skovoroda -- 6. Istoriia Rusov (excerpts) -- 7. Letters (excerpts) / Nikolai Gogol -- 8. The Books Of The Genesis Of The Ukrainian People (excerpt) / Mykola Kostomarov -- 9. Preface To An Unpublished Edition Of Kobzar / Taras Shevchenko -- 10. Epilogue To The Black Council / Panteleimon Kulish -- 11. Two Russian Nationalities (excerpts) / Mykola Kostomarov -- 12. A Letter To The Editor Of Kolokol / Mykola Kostomarov -- 13. The Science Of The Human Spirit (excerpts) / Pamfil Iurkevych -- 14. The Lost Epoch (abridgment) / Mykhailo Drahomanov -- 15. Polish Policy Towards Rus' (excerpts) / Stepan Kachala. Edited By Ralph Lindheim And George S.n. Luckyj. Articles Translated From Ukrainian. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Preface Introduction 1 The Bendery Constitution 2 Sermon on Royal Authority and Honour 3 A Talk between Great Russia and Little Russia 4 A Submission to the Legislative Commission 5 The Serpent's Flood 6 Istoriia Rusov 7 Letters 8 The Books of the Genesis of the Ukrainian People 9 Preface to an Unpublished Edition of Kobzar 10 Epilogue to The Black Council 11 Two Russian Nationalities 12 A Letter to the Editor of Kolokol 13 The Science of the Human Spirit 14 The Lost Epoch 15 Polish Policy towards Rus' 16 The Problem of Denationalization 17 Draft Constitution for the Ukrainian Society in the Free Union 18 Ukrainianism versus Russianism 19 Letters from Dnieper Ukraine 20 Beyond the Limits of the Possible 21 An Independent Ukraine 22 On the Issue of a Distinctive Ukrainian Culture 23 A Free Ukraine 24 Speech on National Minorities 25 The Fourth Universal of the Ukrainian Central Rada 26 The Rebirth of a Nation 27 Letters to My Brother Farmers 28 Nationalism 29 Pamphlets 30 Speeches 31 Ukrainian Reality and the Task of Women 32 Dontsov's Nationalism 33 The Manifesto of the OUN 34 Declaration of the Ukrainian National Council 35 Our Teachings about the National State 36 Theses on the Three-Hundredth Anniversary of the Reunion of Ukraine with Russia 37 Little-Russianism 38 Internationalism or Russification? 39 Program of the Popular Movement for the Restructuring of Ukraine 40 Constitution of Ukraine: Draft 41 The Manifesto of the Ukrainian Intelligentsia 42 Ukraine without Ukrainians? Dates in Ukrainian History Sources and Permissions Index of Names and Places Together with a long introductory essay, the editors of this volume have provided a collection of major documents dating from 1710 to 1995. The entries are persuasive testimony to the tenacity of Ukrainians' sense of their unique identity. All composed by Ukrainian writers, and in one way or another, they all address the subject of Ukrainian identity. There are excerpts from nine letters written by Nikolai Gogol in the 1830s, seven of them to his friend Mykhailo Maksymovich, a Ukrainian scholar who lived in Russia. "I am sorry that you are ailing," he wrote. "Give up your lousy Russianness and go to the Hetmanate" (p. 88). On hearing that Maksymovich had been appointed rector of the new university in Kiev, he rejoiced. "To Kiev! To ancient, beautiful Kiev! The city is ours; it is not theirs" (p. 90). These texts best reflect the transformation of Ukraine, and the obstacles to such a transformation, into a modern nation, which in 1991 declared its independence. They serve, therefore, as a guide to a complex period of hundreds of years. The anthology contributes to an understanding of the past few centuries from a post-colonial perspective.