COOPERATION BETWEEN OLEKSANDR LOTOTSKY AND BORYS GRINCHENKO IN CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING BOOK PRODUCTION PUBLISHED IN UKRAINIAN DURING 1894–1900s

Abstract

The cooperation between a prominent Ukrainian scientist, writer, publicist, publisher Oleksandr Lototsky and prominent Ukrainian writer, educator, lexicographer, literary critic Borys Grinchenko have been analysed in this article. The epistolary of Oleksandr Lototsky’s , heritage located in the fund of the Institute of Manuscripts of V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine was used as a background for the study by the author. The study of Оleksandr Lototsky’s correspondence with Borys Grinchenko enables to determine that their active cooperation began in 1894 and was aimed, first of all, at the distribution of Ukrainian printed products, that had been published by Borys Grinchenko in Chernihiv. In the article for the first time it is pointed out on to the archival materials that revealed detailed information of Grinchenko books distribution in Kyiv and showed the difficulties of their sale in the bookstores. It is revealed that the further sale of books published in Chernihiv by Borys Grinchenko was made by Musiy Kononenko under the patronage of Oleksandr Lototsky. The cooperation of the writers in the publication of the collection «Vik», in which Grinchenko, who sent his works for publication, was involved, is enlightened in the article. The content of Grinchenko works published in the collection are discussed by the writers. In particular, the format of the collection «Vik» (photos, biographies, types of paper, printing), as well as payment and forwarding it to Chernihiv city, were subject for the discussion with Oleksandr Lototsky, who was true adviser for Borys Grinchenko. In this respect it has to be emphasised that the selfless and painstaking work of Oleksandr Lototsky with an aim of gathering materials to the collection «Vik», often in spite of adverse circumstances (censorship and prohibitions) formed the basis of a national culture. New names and information about important historical events have been brought to the scientific circle, some facts about the history of book publishing in Ukraine have been clarified, cultural and publishing relations of Ukrainian leaders have been revealed. Important information has been found, which opens new perspectives for further in-depth analysis of their lives and literary activities, tearing back the curtain and revealing the difficulties of the historical environment of those times. It is found out that relations of both cultural leaders behind the cooperation in the literary and publishing areas during the 1894–1900 years were attentive and friendly despite the various “inconveniences” that arose from time to time.