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Among the Ukrainians, by Peter Shirt
Download Ebook Among the Ukrainians, by Peter Shirt
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Product details
Paperback: 318 pages
Publisher: The Laundry Press (February 22, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0956512909
ISBN-13: 978-0956512901
Product Dimensions:
5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars
3 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#3,422,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
This books is not a romantic travelogue, a scholarly history, nor a useful travel guide. It is journalism on an important subject which is quite difficult for us Westerners to understand. Ukraine, with no history of self-governance and saddled by the stereotype of combatative men and seductive women, is poised on the brink of becoming a nation, and a large and powerful one if it succeeds. It may not--it is deeply divided by language (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Tatar), religion (Russian Orthodox, several "Ukrainian Orthodox" churches, Roman Catholic, Muslim, and a few Jews), and ethnic loyalties. It is vulnerable to bullying by Russia and many Ukrainians would prefer to surrender to Russian than to struggle for autonomy. A large region is dangerously radioactive. The means of production are controlled by a few billionaires who had the inside track when the state industrial monopolies were auctioned off. Gangs resembling the mafia are powerful, and people tell me there is not an honest politician in the country. The porno and sex businesses are booming, but the medical system is not prepared to deal with AIDS. (Not that the US should brag.)It is a situation in rapid flux, and facts and statistics are hard to come by. (Not even a census.) I commend Peter Shirt for diving into this swamp to give us bulletins from the front lines, for I doubt that the Western nations are sufficiently informed to make good decisions on international policy.As a journalist, Shirt quotes his sources a bit uncritically--I doubt that Zhdanov had anything to do with the Doctors Plot. Stalin despised Zhdanov, Beria hated him, and I see no need to drag in a "conspiracy" of Jewish physicians to explain his mysterious death.It is a large "country," well-endowed with brains, muscle, natural resources, and strategic location. (And yes, gorgeous women.) Read this book quick, before the situation changes again.
If Peter Shirt were a university professor, his classes would be standing room only--and, the wait-list to attend them would probably extend beyond most students' graduation dates. Information about the Ukrainian people and their contributions to world history that has been little known, or neglected, or deliberately suppressed is presented by him in an engrossing/engaging conversational writing style which is sumptuous with imagery, alliteration, and comparisons spiced throughout with interesting, apropos anecdotes and quotes that will continuously keep your interest piqued. This is a remarkably reader-friendly volume of information that, undoubtedly, will be referenced/referred to time and again by those in quest of impartial information and riveting reading. The information within buttresses with hard evidence the fact that the Ukrainian people deserve to be more widely known for their contributions to world history.In his Introduction, Peter Shirt invites readers to, in part: "look at the evidence. If we look to history...." This invitation permeates and is prevalent throughout Among the Ukrainians--a sort of Paul Harvey moment--the rest of the story--and, readers will do themselves a great service by accepting Peter Shirt's invitation. The evidence will be eye-opening for many, since as author Shirt states in his Introduction, and as many Ukrainians growing up learned through experience: "What happened in practice was that Ukrainians who achieved something significant were, and continue to be, referred to as Russians or Soviet heroes or discredited. Scientists, doctors, and engineers were promoted to the Russian (later Soviet) Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, and distinguished men and women were awarded titles such as "Hero of the Soviet Union," "Pilot Cosmonaut of the Soviet Union," and "Inventor of the Soviet Union." If we review this labelling in the context of Ukraine as an independent country with its own history--as this book tries to do--some of the greatest artists, scientists, engineers, and doctors should be referred to as Ukrainian first, and Soviet second, but not Russian." Based on the foregoing, the idea for this book, that the Ukrainian people deserve to be more widely known for their contribution to world history, germinated. Among the Ukrainians is the fruit of Peter Shirt's sowing the grounds of truth with facts as they are, not as some would have you believe.Although in the Introduction author Shirt shares a few words about what his book is and what his book isn't, his disclaimers notwithstanding, his words bespeak otherwise--Peter Shirt is much too modest! Albeit his chronology of antiquity and annals from scripted events recorded for posterity is not a chronology per se (for that, see his section entitled Chronology, which follows the last chapter and gives a synopsis of Ukrainian history), and he does state that there is no chronology to his book, and, indeed, he may have omitted entire periods of history, and, that this isn't a travel guide (although I do envision many using parts of it as such since he describes his experience of living in Ukrainian cities and traversing many of the regions of Ukraine), nonetheless, this volume does touch on history and on travel and in the process imparts information that hasn't been available from either just history or just travel books.The cover painting titled 'Pryvit' is by Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn (artbylarisa), and was originally commissioned by the Veselka Ukrainian Dancers (veselka.ca). 'Pryvit' was created in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Veselka Ukrainian Dance Association - Edmonton. "The 'Pryvit' is a Ukrainian dance performed at the beginning of a program to welcome all the guests. Often the dance is broken into segments of regional representation featuring folk costumes and dance steps from the various areas of Ukraine. At some point during the dance the performers bring forth bread and salt resting on an embroidered rushnyk (see note in paragraph below). The bread represents the warmth of Ukrainian hospitality and the salt is symbolic of eternal friendship. Together they are presented to the audience as a humble and heartfelt greeting, thanking everyone for taking the time to come and enjoy the performance." And, it's in this sociable/hospitable way that author Shirt welcomes readers to open the covers of Among the Ukrainians and delve into informative, enjoyable excursions into Ukraine's history.A further note about the rushnyk (Ukrainian plural is rushnyky)--it's a ritual ceremonial cloth. As The Ukrainian Museum in NYC states on its website: "rushnyky (ritual cloths). The ritual cloths have a long history in the Ukrainian folk art tradition, dating back to pagan times. These textiles, as well as their designs are deeply symbolic. While most of the symbolism and magic surrounding their meaning has been lost with time, nevertheless enough information has been passed down through the centuries for people to still utilize rushnyky even today in various religious ceremonies and passage of life rituals."Among the Ukrainians has a companion website--it's named just as the book (see comment following this review for the web address)--and, sure to be enjoyed is the additional information provided with excerpts on the making of this book and the latest blogs. A note on transliterations and names together with a map of Ukraine gives readers background information prior to perusal of the book. The four-page Table of Contents lists a five-page informative Introduction followed by seventeen chapters covering just about everything a person would want to know about Ukraine and Ukrainians, a three-page Chronology (mostly one-line entries outlining Ukrainian history by date from 8000 BC to February, 2010), six pages of Notes expounding by chapter on various issues raised, and a seven-page Index of myriad materials covered. Transliterations and names used are those that Peter Shirt believes the non-native reader will encounter most commonly, and/or that which is most easily pronounced by the reader (Vladimir instead of Volodymyr is such an example).As an astute person, and never one to let an opportunity slip by, Peter Shirt relates in the first chapter (Pondering Ukraine's Controversial History) one anecdote which illustrates this point precisely. While attending a breakfast meeting with about twenty other businessmen at the British Embassy in Moscow (hosted by the British Ambassador in honor of the visit of a Secretary of State), he recalled his first visit to the Embassy in the winter of 1981. A friend had told him to notice the green-roofed British Ambassador's residence--and, as Peter Shirt looked at that roof, he recalled that the British Ambassador's residence was built in the 1890s by a Ukrainian, Pavel Kharitonenko (he had inherited the most profitable sugar business in Ukraine [then the Russian Empire], but since he preferred life in Moscow, Kharitonenko demolished the sugar storage depot and built a Muscovite-style house with a gothic-style interior, oak-paneled Scottish baronial hallway, a broad staircase, a carved ceiling, and a large white and gold ballroom). The group took their seats shortly after the Secretary arrived. As they were about to savor a traditional English breakfast, a businessman seated to Peter Shirt's left asked him to please pass the bread. As the man lifted a croissant from the basket, Peter Shirt, seizing the moment, asked: "Do you think the 'bread basket' of Ukraine will once again be controlled by Russia?"The largest country entirely within Europe, the richest in natural resources and largely unknown to outsiders, Ukraine has been considered to be part of Russia for centuries, and until recently part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has always been deprived of her own voice. In his gripping acccount, Among the Ukrainians, Peter Shirt provides that voice with a robust vocalization that needs to be heard around the world.As an example, in the past and even today, many Western historians, notwithstanding their privilege of objective analysis, have been proponents of the theory that Russia's history rather than Ukraine's history started with Kyivan Rus ("the largest contemporary European state by area, dominated by the city of Kyiv from about 880 to around the middle of the twelfth century"). Author Shirt elaborates that albeit that idea is surprising, nonetheless, it's common. Some Western historian sources and their comments are cited. That Russian historians are proponents of such statements isn't surprising; that Western historians continue to propagate this misconception/misinformation/disinformation needs to be addressed and remedied.Author Shirt asks, and rightly so, why do historians describe the Austro-Hungarian lands as a multinational empire, but refer to Russia (including Ukraine and Belarus) as a homogenous empire? In doing that, the historians made Ukraine part of an empire before it could become a nation. How can historians refuse to recognize the fact that "the term 'Ukraine' came into use in the twelfth century, but the term 'Russia' was only coined in the eighteenth century by Peter the Great? Did they not recognize that tenth-century Kyiv, with a population of fifty thousand people, was probably two and a half times the size of London, and the largest city in Europe? Yet, not a single brick had been laid to build Moscow?"Based on the logic of some historians that the Princes of Suzdal, Vladimir, and Moscow claimed sovereignty over Kyiv due to dynastic links, Peter Shirt argues that logic then follows that the English could also then have a claim since Vladimir Monomakh's first wife, Gytha of Wessex, was a daughter of King Harold of England (according to tradition, she was killed by an arrow at the Battle of Hastings). These are the type of insightful statements, questions, and answers to be found in Among the Ukrainians.First published in Great Britain in 2010 by The Laundry Press, Among the Ukrainians was first published in the United States of America in 2010. Needless to say, Among the Ukrainians will not only be read and referenced by Ukrainians, but also by those interested in Ukraine and Ukrainians, and by those interested in expanding their knowledge of Ukraine and Ukrainians beyond parameters presented thus far. Very definitely five stars plus!Addendum: Readers, you're invited to visit each of my reviews--most of them have photos that I took in Ukraine (over 600)--you'll learn lots about Ukraine and Ukrainians. The image gallery shows smaller photos, which are out of sequence. The preferable way is to see each review through my profile page since photos that are germane to that particular book/VHS/DVD are posted there with notes and are in sequential order.To visit my reviews: click on my pseudonym, Mandrivnyk, to get to my profile page; click on the tab called review; scroll to the bottom of the section, and click on see all reviews; click on each title, and on the left-hand side, click on see all images. The thumbnail images at the top of the page show whether photos have notes; roll your mouse over the image to find notes posted.Also, you're invited to visit my Listmania lists, which have materials sorted by subject matter.
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