Stories of Khmelnytsky

Amelia M. Glaser is Associate Professor of Russian and Comparative Literature at the University of California, San Diego.

"Art is powerful. It shapes public opinion and influences political action. As this fact is becoming increasing recognized, studies of the literary treatments of historical figures are growing in number, making this book most timely. It is a clearly written and well-researched contribution to a growing body of work."—Natalie Kononenko, Slavic Review --- "This collection indeed serves as a model of interdisciplinary and multicultural approaches that help to overcome the limitations inherent in national history and identity politics. As such it should appeal to a wide range of readers."—Zenon E. Kohut, The Russian Review --- "What we have here is a finely structured series of approaches to the topic, from the interested cultures, but also in a variety of genres—legend, myth, historiography, literature, politics, film and visual arts. By coming at the elusive target from so many different angles, the reader has a sense of an ever growing acquaintance with a figure who is both center stage and hiding in increasing shadows. This is one of the most cohesive collective volumes I have ever read."—David Frick, University of California, Berkeley --- "This is a pioneering collective work examining the diversity of representations of the dramatic events of 1648–1649 in historiography, literature, and film. There is probably no other historical event of that age which has generated so many contradictory responses in different cultural traditions, and which until today strongly reverberates in collective memories of different peoples. This collection can serve as a model of multicultural approach to a complex and controversial subject and will undoubtedly appeal to a wide range of readers."—Mikhail Krutikov, University of Michigan