The Ukrainian writer and civil-rights campaigner died on July 1st, from injuries sustained in a Russian missile attack
She found it before he did. The loose pages were wrapped in rolled-up cellophane, muddy but safe. She photographed herself holding them like a weapon, because they held the truth.
Her first novel, “The November Syndrome” had been about a man who had the gift, or complaint, of total empathy with the suffering of others, entering their minds and, in the end, their actual lives. She seemed to have a form of that. Her pale face and long curtain of hair made her look shy, even fragile, but army boots and a flak jacket soon gave her a tough edge. She needed one.
She had not written much poetry before. But war gave her no option. Missile strikes shattered language as well as buildings. She was left with a debris of words for what was often indescribable anyway. In 2021 she founded a literary festival in a town in front-line Donetsk, to keep the flag flying. As a child, though, she had naturally thought Moscow the centre of the world. She grew up in Lviv speaking Russian, going to Russian school, praying in Russian church. At 15, to her surprise, she discovered that Muscovites thought she was oppressed. She told them she was not, but the propaganda went on. Within her own family, too, and neighbours’ families, there was silence about what exactly had happened during the Holodomor, the war, and afterwards.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Minefields and target practice: What life in recaptured Ukrainian territory is really likeUkrainian forces are slowly recapturing land, but are grappling with the world's largest minefield the Russians have left behind. Farms and meadows in the village of Storozheve have been re-purposed for target practice.
Read more »
Victoria Beckham to 'reunite with Spice Girls' for special 30th anniversary showVictoria's bandmates Emma Bunton, 47, Geri Horner, 50, Mel Brown, 48, and Mel Chisholm, 49, have all provisionally agreed to tour dates in 2024
Read more »
Victoria Embankment paddling pool major update amid second phaseThe original pool dates back to the 1940s
Read more »
Victoria Beckham 'will rejoin Spice Girls for 30th anniversary reunion'The Spice Girls look set to reunite as a five piece for the first time since 2012 to celebrate their 30th anniversary reunion, after months of 'secrets talks with Victoria Beckham'
Read more »
Victoria Beckham set to 'reunite' with Spice Girls for 30th anniversary showPosh Spice is said to have 'one condition' when it comes to performing with her fellow bandmates again.
Read more »
Putin threatens to use Russia’s ‘sufficient stockpile’ of cluster bombs against UkraineVladimir Putin has warned that Russia has a “sufficient stockpile” of cluster munitions and warned he “reserves the right to take reciprocal action” if Ukraine uses the weapons Taz_Ali_ reports
Read more »