Ukraine, the Middle East, and the West

Before the Soviet era, Ukraine had limited contact with the outside world due to politics, ideology, and geography. However, it had diverse exchanges with its Islamic neighbors, the Crimean Khanate, and the Ottoman Empire, as well as its central and western European neighbors, such as Poland and France. Thomas Prymak's book "Ukraine, the Middle East, and the West" challenges stereotypes about Ukrainian isolation by exploring various subjects such as Ukrainian travelers in the Middle East, Tatar slave raiding, poetry, and art. It is an interdisciplinary study that reintroduces Ukraine's long-overlooked connections beyond Eastern Europe.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

For decades, Ukrainian contacts with the outside world were limited, hindered by politics, ideology, and geography. However, before the Soviet period, the country engaged in diverse exchanges with its Islamic neighbors, the Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire, as well as its central and western European neighbors, particularly Poland and France.

In his book, "Ukraine, the Middle East, and the West," Thomas Prymak challenges prevailing stereotypes about Ukrainian isolation by exploring geographical knowledge, international travel, political conflicts, historical relations with religiously diverse neighbors, artistic developments, and literary and language contacts. The book covers a wide range of subjects, including Ukrainian travelers in the Middle East, such as pilgrims to the Holy Land and political exiles in Turkey and Iran; Tatar slave raiding in Ukraine; the poetry of Taras Shevchenko and the Russian war against Imam Shamil in the High Caucasus; Ukrainian themes in the works of French writers Honoré de Balzac and Prosper Mérimée; Rembrandt's enigmatic painting titled "The Polish Rider"; and Ilya Repin's legendary painting of the Zaporozhian Cossacks writing their satirical letter mocking the Turkish sultan.

By drawing together political and cultural history, languages and etymology, folklore, and art history, "Ukraine, the Middle East, and the West" offers an original interdisciplinary study that reintroduces Ukraine's long-overlooked connections beyond Eastern Europe. Prymak's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this book a valuable contribution to the field of Ukrainian studies and beyond, shedding light on the country's complex and multifaceted history.

Dimension: 235 x 159 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228005780