Vuhnal, Yuri

Zhyttia ta diial’nist’ Fed’ka Husky [The Life and Endeavors of Fedko Huska]

[Germany]. Illustrated wrappers. Item #816

36 pages; 21 cm. Text in Ukrainian. A copy from the library of Professor Alexander A. Granovsky. A slightly worn copy with the chipped corner. Please note the presence of several pen inscriptions on both the front wrapper and title page.

Yuri Vuhnal (real name Ivan Dmytrovych Kovtun; 1906-1937) was a Ukrainian humorist and satirist during the era of the Soviet cultural revival, tragically becoming a victim of Stalinist terror. In the mid-1920s, Yuri Vuhnal began his literary journey in the editorial office of "Selyanska Pravda," guided by the Ukrainian writer and literary critic Serhii Pylypenko (1891-1934). Despite his humble beginnings, Vuhnal's talent as a humorist soon shone brightly. He formed a close friendship with poet Oleksa Vlyzko (1908-1934), aiding him in communication due to Vlyzko's deafness. Both Vuhnal and Vlyzko, like many talented writers of their time, found themselves in literary opposition, resisting the pressures to conform to the prevailing party line.

Vuhnal's humor was vibrant and profound, evoking a Ukrainian Chekhov with a more cheerful tone and less moralizing. In the year 1929, State Publishing House of Ukraine published Vuhnal's "Humoresques." This literary masterpiece served as a gathering ground for the brightest minds and the most exceptional literary endeavors of the time. Notably, it also featured "The Life and Endeavors of Fedko Huska," marking the first edition of this book and further cementing its significance in the annals of Ukrainian literature.

This edition, characterized by its print type and paper quality, strongly suggests that it might be a Ukrainian displaced persons (DP) camp publication, released in a German or Austrian refugee camp in the aftermath of WWII. It provides a unique glimpse into the remarkable talents of Yuri Vuhnal, a humorist whose contributions have left an indelible mark on Ukrainian literature.

Alexander A. Granovsky was a Ukrainian American entomologist, activist, and poet, who arrived in the United States from Berezhtsi, Ukraine, in 1913. He received his education at Colorado State Agricultural College and the University of Wisconsin, later becoming an entomology professor at the universities of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Granovsky was a prominent figure in the Ukrainian American community, serving as the president of the Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine, Inc. (ODWU). In St. Paul, Minnesota, he was an active member of St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and after World War II, he played a crucial role in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, showcasing his dedication to his fellow Ukrainians.

Price: $250.00