Contrary to Prohibitions: A Publishing Project of A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko on Edition of the Ukrainian Books for “People’s Reading” (1892–1896)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study the practices of issue of the Ukrainian books for people’s reading by A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko in 1892–1896 on the basis of Moscow lubok publishing house of Ye.Gubanov with a focus on the description of the choice of the tools for national priorities advocating in the space between the official censorship institutions and commercial interests of the publisher.

Methodology of the study is based on combining of the principles and methods of the studios of books and reading history and cultural anthropology.

Scientific novelty. On the basis of the epistolary and journalistic heritage of A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko, the circumstances of the project initiation are reconstructed. Established the factors influenced the choice of the works to be printed. There were revealed the behavioral strategies of project managers in establishing of the communication between the censorship authorities and commercial publishers to obtain the permits on print, to protect the manuscripts copyrights, to design and edit the texts. Summarized the information on the register of the Ukrainian books published by A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko. Indicated the practical legacy of their printing initiatives.

Conclusions. In spite of the bans on publishing of the Ukrainian popular editions, A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko managed to publish at least 11 books for “people’s reading” in 1892– 1896. The appeal to Moscow lubok publisher made it possible to print them in the format familiar to the peasants and to distribute in the Ukrainian villages. In upholding the ideas of national enlightenment, the initiators of the project paid special attention to the selection of works and their editing. Because of the lack of the manuscripts that met the requirements of the managers, censors, and publishers, the published books were mostly reprints of the earlier released editions. A look at the routine problems that the project managers had to solve reveals the role of the individual enthusiasts in distribution of “popular education” in the national spirit. At the same time, an analysis of the epistolary writings of Ukrainian activists reveals the broad civic futility of individual efforts by activists in search of alternative strategies for overcoming the censorship bans: publishing efforts of A.Krymskyi and B.Hrinchenko were written in the system of the publishing practices and intellectual contacts built by the public figures.