УКРАЇНКА НАТАЛІЯ КОБРИНСЬКА І ПОЛЬСЬКІСТЬ(ДО 100-Х РОКОВИН ВІД ДНЯ СМЕРТІ)

Abstract

Caring for the development of her native nation, Natalia Kobrynska (1856-1920), the Ukrainian writer and one of the outstanding Women’s Movement activists had direct contacts with Poland. She wrote in her “Autobiography” that in her early years she was reading originals of Polish fiction as well as socio-political pieces from her father’s private home library, including “Letters from Krakiv”, the threevolume book by J. Kremer, “Pan Tadeusz” and “Dziady” by Mickiewicz, literary works by Hofman-Tanska. She was fascinated by E. Ozheshko’s book «Kilka słów o kobietach» (“Some words about women”). Works by B. Limanovsky, the outstanding Polish activist, were of her special interest, since she knew him in person and often wrote about him to I. Franko and M. Pavlyk. Being in Switzerland, she felt appreciation on the part of the representatives of Polish diaspora and students. For quite a long time Kobrynska was linked by bonds of friendship with Vysloukh family – Boleslav and Maria – in the form of continual correspondence. She wrote a review for «Na przeboj» (“Into the Breach”), the literary work by M. Sheliha. Her story “Pani Shuminska” (“Mrs Shuminska” or “The Spirit of the Age”) was translated into Polish by Masliak and Orkan. Presented research exposes one of the aspects of Kobrynska’s activity, that is, socio-political and cultural, in the framework of the relations between Ukraine and Poland. The article is based exclusively on archive evidences which highly characterise long-term social and political activity of N. Kobrynska as well as her contribution to literature and cultural studies in terms of international ties of Ukraine and Galicia with the world-known foreign activists, particularly from Poland, in their homelands well as abroad (in Switzerland, for example). The study includes important information about Kobrynska’s epistolary legacy as a leader of Women’s Movement and initiator of ties with Slavs and other lands. Kobrynska personal writings enriches history and literature of Ukraine and Poland with indisputable facts important for literary, social and cultural criticism of both countries. The article enables us to broaden studies in terms of world contacts of Ukraine with the help of archival material.