Fieldwork in Ukrainian Children’s Literature

Fieldwork in Ukrainian Children’s Literature showcases the work of prominent scholars of children’s literature from Ukraine and the diaspora as it traces the history of books written, marketed for, and circulating among young people since the rise of Ukraine’s nationhood in the nineteenth century. This book encompasses a full range of texts and genres (e.g., fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picturebooks, graphic novels), with special attention given to the most important authors and works as defined by aesthetics (＂literary excellence＂), popularity, or historical and cultural significance. In its focus on ideology and historical context, the collection takes an interdisciplinary and transnational approach. It places titles and trends in broader context, considering the socio-political situation, changing taste, and the history of institutions that shape the production and reception of children’s literature. The collection addresses folklore and the beginnings of a distinct tradition of Ukrainian children’s literature produced in the nineteenth century; the role played by children’s literature in the maintenance of the Ukrainian literary tradition during the Soviet era; and the flourishing Ukrainian book market, with the appearance of numerous new genres and forms, and the growing significance of Ukrainian books around the world. The collection highlights the importance of familiarizing non-Ukrainian students and scholars of children’s literature with the richness of the country’s literary history and cultural distinctiveness. Fieldwork in Ukrainian Children’s Literature is intended primarily for scholars of children’s literature and culture, including specialists in the fields of literary studies, education, and Slavic studies.

Mateusz Świetlicki is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wroclaw’s Institute of English Studies (Poland), Director of the Center for Young People’s Literature and Culture, and Deputy Dean for Student Affairs at the Faculty of Letters.

Anastasia Ulanowicz is an Associate Professor of Children’s Literature at the University of Florida (USA).