Lesia Ukrainka and Ukrainian Women Writers - Encounters with Polish Literature - S4E2

Lesia Ukrainka and Ukrainian Women Writers with Marko Pavlyshyn
Lesia Ukrainka (also written “Lesya,” born Larisa Kosach, 1871-1913), is one of Ukraine’s most important writers. A poet, playwright, essayist, and feminist thinker who participated in leftist, anti-tsarist circles, her work is enjoying a particular revival right now, with new scholarship, discussion particularly among women writers such as Oksana Zabuzhko, and three new translations coming out in 2024-25 from Harvard University Press.
In this episode, we reflect on some of her poems, such as “Contra speram spero” and “Khamsin” in which she engages the question of her European perspective in Egypt, though she does not herself represent a colonizing power. We focus primarily on her drama, Cassandra, set in the time of the fall of Troy, and we look at the elements of modernity that she brings to classical myth, layering psychology on top of philosophical ideas, and considering the women’s point of view.
Encounters with Polish Literature is a video series for anyone interested in literature and the culture of books and reading. Each month, host David A. Goldfarb will present a new topic in conversation with an expert on that author or book or movement in Polish literature. More about the Encounters with Polish Literature series and the timeline.
Learn more about this episode, and see the biography of the guest on the Polish Cultural Institute New York's website: bit.ly/4bea7tV
Access the Playlist of the entire series:
bit.ly/47Q7xHL
Bartek Remisko, Executive Producer
David A. Goldfarb, Host & Producer
Natalia Iyudin, Producer

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Check out all our episodes on Ukrainian and Polish-Ukrainian topics at- kzbin.info/aero/PLjEZUUDKxULpveAlhq8qj6Jn_IW6NiWGf&si=axbgSIRRFfF3RmJy

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