The book by Zakarpattia writer and journalist, a winner of a number of all-Ukrainian and oblast literary prizes, Oleksandr Havrysh, Legends of Silver Rus’ includes six legends, which tell about the most important castles of the Silver Land. “Whereas a number of big prose works have been written about the medieval events in Kyiv and Galicia, the concerning our land is not filled,” the author says. “I for one am very attracted to this period of our history, which is connected with the existence of a whole number of castles, which were in the center of stormy life. I wanted to create a fiction story with its target audience being first of all the younger generation, but that would be interesting to adults too.” The luxurious publication with an original design was published by Uzhhorod-based Oleksandra Harkusha Publishing House.
The book presents six legends about ten castles. The stories tell about Nevytsky, Uzhhorod, Serednie, Mukacheve, and Chynadiiovo strongholds. The tale “Curse of Prince Chornohor” tells about the events that unfolded in Khust, Bronka, Koroleve, Borzhavsky, Vynohradove castles. Every story is based on well-known old legends.
Original and colorful illustrations in the book were created by its publisher Oleksandra Harkusha, who studied painting at Uzhhorod School of Applied Arts and Ukrainian Printing Academy. The artist used traditional tile painting as the basis of each picture. The plot in each illustration resembles a fragment from medieval frescoes, used by our ancestors to decorate churches and items of everyday use. The text is accompanied by side pictures on the margins.
Finally, it is worth saying that The Legends of Silver Rus’, with the pressrun of 500 copies, was published within the framework of the oblast program of supporting the publications by Zakarpattia authors and funded from the oblast budget.
