Chronicles of the Princely era in the "Ukrainska Biblioteka / Ukrainian Library" by Ivan Tyktor: publishing compromise between scholarship and reader’s demand

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to reveal the effective practices of Galician researchers and publishers from the 1920s - 1930s, representatives of the Shevchenko Scientific Society and the largest publishing concern in interwar Galicia "Ukrainska Presa [Ukrainian Press]" in their joint efforts to enhance the cultural and educational level of Ukrainians by deepening their knowledge in the field of history through the publication of editions for the mass audience. The research methodology is based on the application of historical, chronological, retrospective, and partially biographical methods, which, in conjunction with editorial analysis methods, allowed for the reconstruction of the original approach of the publishers of the "Ukrainska Presa" concern to the processing and publication of complex content texts intended for an unprepared reader. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the exploration of lesser-known aspects of collaboration between Galician historians in the 1920s - 1930s and representatives of the contemporary publishing business. The result of this collaboration includes the publication of the first Ukrainian translations of chronicles from the Princely era. Conclusions. The collaboration between researchers from the Shevchenko Scientific Society and representatives of the publishing concern "Ukrainska Presa", who accurately perceived and addressed the contemporary readership demand, resulted in the publication of the first translations of chronicles from the Princely era into modern Ukrainian. The inclusion of the Galician-Volhynian Chronicle and the Tale of Bygone Years in the popular "Ukrainska Biblioteka [Ukrainian Library]" contributed to their widespread dissemination among the Galician Ukrainian community, playing a role in patriotic education. The experience of concern serves as a reminder to modern Ukrainian publishers that historical works should be a part of the publishing repertoire and the book market. This helps deepen knowledge and shapes in society accurate, research-backed understanding of its own history.