Paul R. Magocsi

A History of Ukraine
Author: Paul Robert Magocsi
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Published In: Seattle, WA,USA
Date: 1997
Pgs: 784

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The state of Ukraine came into existence in the wake of the 1989 dissolution of the Soviet Union, but this wasn’t the first Ukrainian state. Little Russia, as she is sometimes known, has been in conflict, immigrational flux, and cultural evolution for many, many years. Cultures and peoples have marched across her settling and sweeping through: Russians, Greeks, Tatars, Poles, Lithuanians, Germans, Jews, Mennonites. She is all these and more. Her common Slavic ancestry with the Russia and Belarus aside, she has a rich history all her own. Previous histories were too much Russian history...Soviet history...Polish history...Lithuanian history with Ukraine thrown in because she was part and parcel to those. This is Mother Ukraine.

Genre:
History
Non-fiction

Why this book:
In light of current events, when I saw the spine of this book as I wandered the library, it had to come home with me.

This Story is About:
courage, greed, sadness, the sweep of history

Favorite Character:
I kept thinking that I was going to find a hero in Ukrainian history that would be my favorite character. One never presented themselves.

Least Favorite Character:
Stalin, Hitler...take your pick.

Character I Most Identified With:
N/A

The Feel:
Those poor bastards.

Favorite Scene:
The mental image of the continuous march of “barbarian” tribes sweeping in, settling down, absorbing the local populace, before being pushed out by the next wave of population. Funny how many of these tribes names appear on the list of “barbarians” who swept into the Roman Empire, sacked Rome, and settled down there too: Vikings, Scythians, Goths, the Huns.

Pacing:
The pace, for a history text, was good.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
The history is very focused on the administrative elements of each of the rulers of the Ukraine. The book is more admin driven as opposed to event driven.

Hmm Moments:
I like how it gives a look at the historical viewpoints and political overtones of other histories as it tells its own story, ie: Russian, Soviet, Polish, Ukrainian. And the evolution of the Slavic peoples The idea of Pan-Slavism pushed by some other historians won’t survive a true study of the diversity of the peoples.

The Russian view has dominated Ukrainian history with Ukraine being seen as Little Russia, part and parcel of their larger Slavic brother. The Tsars used the idea of continuity from the Kievan principalities to give their rule more legitimacy and history. As a result, Ukrainian history in many texts has been seen as a parcel and part of Russia. This gives short or non-existent shrift to the Ukraine that existed prior to Russia and that is existing now beyond Russia. The Russian view of Ukraine as part of Russia, indeed, Little Russia, is apparent in recent current events.

Scholars in the West fell into the trap presented by the Russian/Soviet perspective on the history of Ukraine. They bought the lineage Kievan Rus-Muscovy-Russian Empire-Soviet Union. Many today, more properly, believe that the Kievan Rus is Ukrainian history and was adopted/co-opted by Russian and Soviet scholars and their rulers as a means of providing a longer lineage and the aura of stability to their studies and dynasties.

Interesting how many of the entities that conquered/subsumed the populations of the Ukraine would eventually go on to sack Rome and bring about the downfall of the Roman Empire.

World War One seems like just one more chapter of many masters walking across Ukraine and claiming it for their own for a brief moment before the next master of the land sweeps in.

The modern conflict in Ukraine seems to mirror the 1917 struggles between the Kharkiv Soviet Congress and the Central Rada, based in Kiev. In some aspects, they are still fighting the battles of the Russian Revolution that eventually birthed the Soviet Union. Though in that era, many didn’t consider the Crimea part of the Ukraine. In the 1917-1921 time frame, Ukraine had so many masters and nationalist movements, that by the time the Soviets finally truly grabbed power, they were probably relieved before realizing the horror that was to be visited upon them through Stalin’s forced resettlements, pogroms, purges, and urbanizations.

Why isn’t there a screenplay?
Could be a History Channel show, for sure.

Casting call:
N/A

Last Page Sound:
Damn.

Author Assessment:
The history is long and dry as any truly comprehensive history will be.

Very scholarly. Dry. But well done.

Editorial Assessment:
Well edited. Could have done with the section on the historical perspectives that have guided the scholarship on the history of Ukraine being shorter, but it did provide a guidepost for what is in print publicly.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it

Disposition of Book:
Library

Would recommend to:
students of history, those interested in current events… (más)