“Ma Vie”: Paris diary of Borys Lazarevskyi (1927–1929)as source for studying history of Ukrainian emigration

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to expand the problems of researching the manuscript heritage of representatives of Ukrainian culture in emigration in the 20s and 30s of the 20th century. The research methodology is based on the developments of the French Annales School of History, using the concepts of “mentality” and “authorial ego” in the interpretation of its representatives. Scientific novelty. For the first time the article is devoted to the historiography of a study of one of the 60 volumes of diary entries that were belonged to the Russian and Ukrainian writer, public and cultural figure of Paris emigration space Borys A. Lazarevskyi (1871– 1936). In the proposed materials, his Parisian “Diary” is partially analyzed, certain provisions regarding the evaluations of the “Diary”, which are available in Ukrainian historiography, are elaborated, clarified and denied. The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that up to today, Ukrainian historiography has not studied the diary entries of Borys Lazarevskyi in a comprehensive manner, in relation to his views, beliefs, artistic and journalistic creativity, and public work. Conclusions. The memoir and epistolary heritage of Borys Lazarevskyi as an object or subject of scientific research is almost absent in modern Ukrainian historiography. This is especially true to his emigration period, that is so-called Silver Age. The source of the publication were works of the Soviet writer, front correspondent of World War II Ivan Honcharenko (1908–1989) and his daughter Honcharenko Oksana (1940–2016). The research, analysis and publication of the full content of the historical artifact, which “Diary” absolutely is, is the cause of future. Meanwhile, “Diary” is a valuable and important primary source, the content of which will undoubtedly complement modern Ukrainian historiography in the study of Ukrainian intellectual (lite rary, scientific, creative) emigration of the 1920’s. The article partially covers the Lazarevskyi genealogy, Borys’ figure, his biography, outline the emigrant friends, creative achievements of the writer in his pre-emigrant period, circumstances of the creation of “Diaries”, their general content, location, etc. Further prospects of scientific research are determined.