Chapter The Reception of Serhiy Zhadan in Ukraine and in the West

Abstract

Serhiy Zhadan’s poetry and prose has garnered critical acclaim both in Ukraine and beyond, captivating audiences with its raw emotional intensity, vivid imagery, and a deep sense of social consciousness. His works often delve into themes of personal and collective identity, the struggles of marginalized communities, and the challenges of post-Soviet transformations. The objective of this paper is to examine how Zhadan’s literary voice is perceived both in Ukraine and in the West, and to understand the implications of his work in a transnational context. The study analyzes interviews, critical responses, and reviews of Zhadan’s works to uncover how Ukrainian, American and European readers, critics, and scholars have embraced and interpreted his writings.