BIBLIOPHILY is not just love, it is passion for books. Franko was a great bibliophile – he started putting his library together back as a student of Drohobych gymnasium, earning new books as reward for writing essays for his classmates. This is how he collected up to 500 volumes. Later on, Franko's personal library contained around 12,000 books of different topics, genres and epochs.

Franko worked in public libraries (Lviv, Odesa), libraries by monasteries (Krekhiv, Univ), universities (Lviv, Vienna, Chernivtsi), private libraries (at the Fedorovych family place in Ternopil Podillia). He was even almost late to his own wedding – got carried away by some rare book... People thought he got cold feet :)

A complete collection of his works was published in the writer’s lifetime – 220 separate volumes!


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

CHILDREN
The family of Ivan and Olha Franko had four children: three sons (Andriy, Taras and Petro) and the only daughter Anna. They were all very talented.

ANDRIY (1887-1913), studied at Mary Magdalene Polish public school, Lviv academic gymnasium and got a degree in classic philology from Lviv University. After his first year at the university, he became his father's secretary. Having taken after his father's academic interests, he became his first assistant when Ivan Franko had his hands paralyzed. Andriy accompanied his father in travels, even though he was himself frail and weak (he suffered from epilepsy). He died suddenly in his
sleep on Easter eve.

TARAS (1889–1971) demonstrated extraordinary linguistic skills since early childhood. He attended the same schools as his brother and excelled at studies there. In 1909, as a gifted student, he got the opportunity to study at the University of Vienna. He was interested in antiquity and wrote An Outline of the History of Roman Literature (the first one in Ukrainian). He was one of the founders of sports movement in Halychyna. Member of Ukrainian Galician Army. Worked as teacher and
researcher in Kharkiv and in Kyiv. Resided in Kyiv since 1950 and was head of Ivan Franko Library at T. Shevchenko Institute of Literature.

PETRO (1890–1941) was interested in natural sciences since early age. After graduating from the academic gymnasium, he went on to get a degree in chemistry from Lviv Polytechnics. He was a renowned athlete and organizer of the sports movement, one of the founders of Plast – Ukrainian scout organization. He was a member of the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen. A pioneer of Ukrainian military aviation and head of the flying division of Ukrainian Galician Army. Author of more than 30 patented inventions for milk treatment and processing. He wrote papers on sports and compiled a manual on military topography and a chemical and technological dictionary. Author of short novels, short stories and memories about his father. In October 1940, he became the first director of Ivan Franko Literary Memorial Museum in Lviv. Forcefully evacuated from Lviv in 1941... Went missing. Most likely, killed by the Soviet special services.

ANNA (1892–1988) studied at T. Shevchenko Private Ukrainian School for Girls of the Ruthenian Pedagogical Society, Teacher Training Seminary and nursing courses. When her parents got sick, she took over all the household chores. In the summer of 1914, she went to Kyiv to visit her aunt and could not come back home ever since – the war set its own borders. She died in Toronto, Canada, at Ivan Franko retirement home. She wrote a book of memoirs Ivan Franko and His Family and a number of sketches, short novels and short stories.

CARPATHIANS, a mountain range in Eastern Europe stretching across the territory of Ukraine, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Austria. Franko was born and

raised near the mountains. His first memories of mountains are connected to his stays in Lolyna and other villages of Boyko area and then in Hutsul area – in the villages and small towns on the banks of Chornyi (Black) and Bilyi (White) Cheremosh. The poet was particularly fascinated by Kryvorivnia, a village in Hutsul area, which he visited together with the family almost every summer. Thanks to Franko, Kryvorivnia became a favourite destination for famous writers, artists and scientists, which resulted in the village being dubbed the Hutsul Athens.

CHEREMOSH, a mountain river in the Ukrainian Carpathians on the border of Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions, right tributary of Prut river, formed by merging of the two rivers – Chornyi (Black) and Bilyi (White) Cheremosh. Cheremosh is called the "sacred river of Hutsuls.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

DROHOBYCH, a town in Lviv region, centre of salt, oil and ozokerite mining and processing. It is the city where Franko spent his youth, studying at Basilian Fathers School and Franz Joseph I gymnasium. Today, the local university is named after Franko.

Drohobych is also the birthplace of Yuriy Drohobych (Kotermak), Ukrainian astronomer and philosopher of the Renaissance Age, rector of the University of Bologna. Bruno Schultz, Polish modernist writer and graphic artist of Jewish origin, was also born here.

DOCTOR UNIVERSALIS (from Lat. "universal doctor"), honorary title for a scientist with vast interests and knowledge. In Middle Ages it was the name used for Albertus Magnus. In Ukrainian history this title can rightfully be applied to Ivan Franko. It is no wonder that in his lifetime people called him "academy of sciences" and a "university" combined in one person.

A universal ideal of a person according to Franko is a "wholesome man", wholesome, well-rounded and harmonious personality with high aspirations and profound ability to feel, someone socially active and empathetic towards the pain of others.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

ENCYCLOPAEDIST (from Old Greek "encyclopaedia" – "circle of sciences", "cycle of studies and education"), a person knowledgeable in many spheres of sciences and human activities. Franko is a real encyclopaedist as his academic interests included history and theory of literature, literary criticism, bibliography and bibliology, linguistics and translation studies, folklore studies and ethnology, art studies and culture studies, history and political science, economics and sociology, statistics and legal studies, pedagogy and psychology, philosophy and nature studies...

ECONOMIST, another facet of Franko as a scientist – he is the author of more than 200 papers on economics-related issues. He was interested in finances and banking, demography and statistics, agrarian and industrial relations. Franko understood the importance of economic factor for the society. He warned about excessive attention to primitive "gut [i.e. material] ideas" and stressed on the priority of national idea.

ETHNOGRAPHICAL EXPEDITIONS, academic trips to various corners of native land with the purpose of studying local traditions and rural life. Materials were later systematized and published in Ethnographic Collection – serial publication of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv. Franko was the compiler of 9 books of the series, including Halychyna-Ruthenian Folk Proverbs and Sayings (in 3 volumes, 6 books).


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

FOREST, natural landscape covered in trees and bushes. Forest was Franko's favourite place for rest and creative inspiration. We may call him a poet of the forest.

As a child, he wandered along forest paths. As a gymnasium student, he went to the forest to catch bats, junebugs, grass snakes and snakes for the zoological collection of Professor Ivan Verkhratskyi. As a young man, Franko often had meetings with his fiancée Olha Roshkevych in a forest near Lolyn. As a grown man, he went to the forest with kids and friends. Many of Franko's fairy tale characters are forest inhabitants. In his free time Franko loved going to the forest for mushroom hunting – he knew a lot about them, distinguished between edible and poisonous ones and already knew their Latin names back when he was a gymnasium student.

"Ivan Yakovych went to the forest barefoot, carrying a basket, and very rarely a cane," his son Taras reminisced.

"Franko always brought the most mushrooms as he looked for them very attentively," Ivan Yatsuliak, the writer's school friend, noted.

FISHING, Ivan Franko's favourite pastime. "Fishing is my passion", he claimed.

He went fishing with friends, acquaintances, colleagues, locals and his family. He enjoyed fishing with a net and landing nets, not a fishing rod; sometimes he caught fish with his bare hands. His fishing basket was rich and varied. Images of fish decorated the walls of rooms at his villa – he received them as a reward during Lviv General Regional Exhibition, which took place in Stryiskyi Park in 1894, for being able to give Latin names of all those fish.

"FOX MYKYTA", fairy tale poem by Ivan Franko about a sly Fox who emerges victorious under adverse circumstances. The poem was published in 1890 in Lviv children's journal Dzvinok (Bell) and was a great success – it became a best-seller and was even included into school first reader. For adult readers Franko's text embodied subtle satire on social order and unstable judiciary.

FOOD

According to his contemporaries, Franko was not picky about food – one of favourite dishes was fried mushrooms with new potatoes. For breakfast he would have a cup of coffee and a bun. His lunch consisted of soup or broth. He loved mineral water and teas, which were not very popular in Halychyna at the time.

FAMILY NAME DAY PIE

Ingredients for pie:

1 packet of dry yeast

1 spoonful of sugar

1/2 spoonful of salt

1/2 glass of milk

2 glasses of milk

2 pounds of flour [1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. – B. Т.]

2-4 eggs

1/2 cup of clarified butter

Ingredients for filling:

1 pound of pork

1 onion

1 spoonful of butter

2 hard-boiled eggs

1 fresh egg

Dissolve a packet of dry yeast in half a glass of warm milk, adding half a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of sugar. When the yeast activates in a warm room, pour the mixture into a warm bowl, add two more glasses of milk and two cups of flour. Stir everything and cover with a piece of cloth. Give it an hour for the dough to rise. As soon as it rises, add 2 to 4 eggs (if the pie is sweet, add two spoonfuls of sugar) and the remaining flour and knead. When the dough no longer sticks to your hands, add half a cup of clarified butter and knead again. Put in a warm place and give it an hour to rise. The dough should be fluffy, not firm, otherwise the pie will turn out dense. When the dough has risen, divide it into three parts (the third one, for decoration, should be smaller). Grease the baking pan. Roll out one part of the dough and place it inside the baking pan. Put the filling on top. Roll out the second part of dough and place it on top of filling. Make thin rolls out of the third part of dough, use them to braid the edges and write the person's name. Cover the pie and put it inside the baking pan for another half an hour. As soon as it rises, grease with beaten egg and put the pie into the oven for an hour. Bake at 350˚. After 45 minutes, increase the temperature to 400˚ to give the pie a nice crust.

Meat filling: You can prepare it a day in advance. Fry chopped meat and finely chopped onions on butter, add salt (one may also add some pepper). Don't forget to stir. When ready, remove from the fire. Chop two hard-boiled eggs and mix with meat. Let it cool down. Before you put the filling into the dough, add a raw egg and mix well so that that the mass sticks together.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

GARDEN, a place for walks, rest and creativity; the earthly image of Heaven.

Franko loved taking strolls in parks and gardens of Lviv in search for inspiration.

The oldest city park in Lviv and in Ukraine – the Jesuit Garden – today is called Ivan Franko Park. Young Franko lived not far from there. The upper path of the park was where he and his first love Olha Roshkevych parted after dates...

Later the writer built his own villa near Stryiskyi Park and planted a fruit orchard around it.



Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

HALYCHYNA (Pol. Galicja, Ger. Galizien), historical name of ethnic Ukrainian lands to the north of Carpathian mountains in the basin of Dniester, Western Buh and Sian rivers. It includes traditional territories of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and parts of Ternopil regions and several adjacent Polish voivodships. In Franko's lifetime, it was crown land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria.

Contemporaries called Franko "the great Halychyna man", "the greatest poet of Halychyna Ukraine".

HYMN (from Old Greek "creditable song"), solemn musical and poetic piece which expresses feelings of a certain community.

Franko is the author of two hymns, which together with the national anthem of Ukraine (Nay, thou art not dead, Ukraine, see, thy’s glory's born again...) and are still considered symbols of identity and solidarity of the Ukrainian nation: “Hymn” (“The Spirit of Revolt”) and “National Hymn” (“The Time Has Not Yet Come...”).



Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

IVAN (from Hebrew "God's grace"), the name Yakiv Franko gave to his firstborn son in honour of his dad.

However, there was a custom to call a child another, "family" name to protect them from evil spirit. As a child, Ivan Franko was called Myron and his youngest brother Zakhar was called Mykhailo. Franko was "little Myron" until he reached the age of five, before he started primary school. Later on, the name became his favourite for pen name, known in different variations – Myron, Miron***, Myron***, Myron Storozh (the Night guard), Myron Kovalyshyn and others.

Franko would go on to create a whole array of literary "masks" which he used to hide his real "face" – Dzhedzhalyk, Ruslan, Ivan Zhyvyi, Unknown, Ne-Davyd, Ne-Teofast, Non severus, Vivus, Marko V-a, One of the Youngsters, One of the Ruthenians of the city of Lviv, I. F., Iv. Fr., I. F., Iw. Fr., Kkk and others. All in all, almost a hundred of different pen names and cryptonyms.

IMENYNY (NAME DAY), name day celebrated according to church calendar.

In Halychyna people would congratulate on name day and not on birthday. In Franko's family every member got a special pie for the occasion which had the name written in thin dough and only the pie made for father had the word "FATHER" on it. The recipe of this pie was preserved by Anna Franko-Kliuchko.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

JOKES, fun bits, tricks played for fun; according to Aristotle, "rest for the soul".

Franko had a brilliant sense of humour; he liked joking and knew how to give a witty response. Once he got himself out of a situation when he stopped a fight and suggested that the parties dictate swear words for his notebook.

Taras Franko remembers, "In everyday life Father would joke, spin off puns and have an easy laugh." And his son Petro said that his father would give the kids 10-20 coins [cents] saying, "There you go, go squander this on apples!"

* * *

People would often ask Franko how he found the time to read that much, "You write so much yourself!"

He replied in all seriousness, "Well, I don't read books. I sniff them!"

* * *

When the composer Mykola Lysenko met the author of "The Spirit of Revolt", he embraced him with the words, "Franko is a saint!" "Well, if only a Turkish one!" Franko replied with a silent laughter hinting at perpetual lack of money (“poor as a Turkish saint” – “poor as a church mouse”).

* * *

Once the Orientalist Ahatanhel Krymskyi was trying to persuade Franko to learn Arabic,

"With your great interest in Arabic fairy tales and your linguistic skills, it won't be a hard task. We have no one who could translate One Thousand and One Nights from the original.

"My dear friend," Franko replied. "I cannot deal with my own nights and you want to add a thousand Arab ones.”

* * *

Franko, who was always critical in his assessments, was rebuked for "destroying" a young talent with his harsh review.

"A talent that can be destroyed with a review is not a talent," he retorted.

A poet from Young Muse modernist group had the following lines in one of his verses, "Darling, the stars are laughing at us, / That we don't sleep at night..." Franko's response was as follows, "No wonder that the stars are laughing at you. A horse would have laughed!"

JOURNALISM, Franko's main profession that earned him a living. The list of publications where he served as author, editor or founder is quite impressive: Druh (Friend), Hromadskyi Druh (Community Friend), Dzvin (Bell), Molot (Hammer), Svit (World), Tovarysh (Colleague), Zoria (Star), Pravda (Truth), Dilo (Business), Narod (People), Khliborob (Breadmaker), Hromadskyi Holos (Public Voice), Kurjer Lwowski, Zhytie i Slovo (Life and Word), Literary and Scientific Journal. His articles were published in Viennese Die Zeit and many other European periodicals. Critical journalism was a "school of political thinking" for the writer.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

KAMENYAR (Stonemason), a craftsman, a professional who lays stones or bricks; a poetic image from Franko's verse "Kamenyari" ("Stonemasons") written in the summer of 1878 when the poet observed stonemasons at work on the corner of modern Solomii Krushelnytskoyi and Kameniariv Streets in Lviv. The author Himself confirmed the external source of poetic generalization, "Lying at the core of this theme were specific impressions of workers who were breaking stones on the road." The paraphrase "the Great Stonemason" has become rooted in the Ukrainian literary studies as an image of a person who is paving the way and "breaking down the rock".

KAISER (from Lat. "caesar"), the highest title in Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In Franko's time the title belonged to the emperor Franz Joseph I (1830-1916), from the House of Hapsburg, who ruled for 68! years.

KYIV, a city above Dnieper river, the capital city of Ukraine-Rus from the times of Kyivan Rus till nowadays, one of the largest and oldest cities in Central and Eastern Europe.

In Kyiv, at the chapel by Petro Galagan Collegium, on May 04, 1886, 30 year-old Franko "Austrian subject, writer...of Greek Uniate faith", wed 22 year-old Olha Khoruzhynska, the daughter of titular counsellor.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

LVIV (LEMBERG), the capital of Halychyna and major city in Western Ukraine. In the past – one of the largest cities of Principality of Galicia-Volhynia, in Franko's lifetime – centre of the crown land of Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (Volyn).

Lviv is the city of Ivan Franko. There he spent 40 out of less than 60 years of his life. There he studied at the university, worked at libraries and editorial houses, relaxed at coffee houses and restaurants and was even incarcerated. There he built a family villa, brought up his children and finally was laid to rest at Lychakiv Cemetry.

But Lviv is first of all the city of Franko's creativity, the city of his love and his heart.

LIPIK AND LOVRAN, resort cities in Croatia (the former in located in Slavonia and the latter on the Adriatic coast of Istria), where Franko underwent treatment for his grave disease (rheumatoid polyarthritis which caused paralysis of both hands and his untimely death). In the early 20th century, the towns were famous treatment and resort centres in Austria-Hungary, which hosted people from the whole empire. Lipik was famous for its thermal and mineral waters and Lovran was known for Mediterranean climate and healing air.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

MARIA KULCHYTSKA (1835–1872), the poet's mother, who came from the family of so-called "szlahta zaściankowa" (impoverished nobility who wore slippers instead of boots). The family tree goes back to Yuriy Kulchytskyi, hero of the Vienna battle and founder of coffee houses, where coffee was not drunk not Turkish style (bitter) but with cream and sugar.

MUSEUM (from Old Greek "House of Muses'), an institution called to preserve, study and popularize monuments of nature, history and culture as well as renowned personalities.

Museums which cherish the memory of Ivan Franko have been set up in the poet's native village of Nahuievychi, the village of Kryvorivnia in Hutsul Carpathians, where he loved vacationing, and in the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv. Yet, the most important of them is the Ivan Franko Lviv National Literary and Memorial Museum. It is also known as the Franko House as it is located inside the writer's own home at 4 Poninskoho St. (current 152 Ivana Franka St.) near the villa of renowned Ukrainian historian and politician Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, which has also been made into a museum.

What is interesting, is that Franko and Hrushevskyi are neighbours not only on the map of Lviv (they lived close to each other and had many joint projects) but also on money. Their portraits may be found on Ukrainian national currency – 20 and 50 UAH bills.

"MOSES", a philosophical poem by Ivan Franko, in which the poet in an original manner portrays the Old Testament prophet who led the people of Israel out of the Egyptian slavery when called to by Jehovah. The plot canvas is based on Biblical story, yet the author endows it with a fable context. The hardships of Israelites in search of the Promised Land are an allegory to Ukrainians who are striving to create their own state. And the figure of the prophet, whom Franko called "the most grandiose figure in the ancient history of mankind", becomes the projection of the author himself. That is why since publication of the poem, Franko has been called the Ukrainian Moses and the poem is considered the archwork of the poet-thinker, his political testament and a masterpiece of the Ukrainian literature.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

NAHUIEVYCHI, Franko's native village near the town of Drohobych.

NOBEL PRIZE, one of the most prestigious international prizes awarded annually for extraordinary scientific achievements, revolutionary inventions or significant contribution to culture or development of the society.

In late 1915, gymnasium professor from Vienna, Greek-Catholic priest and Doctor of Philosophy, Yosyf Zastyrets, wrote a letter to the Nobel Committee in which he told about "the greatest Ukrainian and Slavic poet and scientist", "the great leader of his nation, an international genius" Ivan Franko. Recognition of Franko's versatile activities with a Nobel Prize according to Professor Zastyrets would be of crucial political importance for the national fight for independence of the Ukrainian people. Unfortunately, because of his untimely demise, Franko remained only a Nobel Prize nominee.

"Highly Esteemed Royal Academy, Stockholm.

...He is the national poet of his people.

The bibliographical index of his works in Ukrainian, German, Russian, Polish, Czech and other languages makes up a huge volume. He is indeed the greatest writer of modern Europe.

...He is an outstanding poet and prose writer, whose songs became national hymns. He is the Leader of his nation and an international genius who deserves to be awarded a Nobel Prize by the noble Royal Academy. I am also stressing upon the extraordinary political importance of such an award for the national struggle of the old cultural nation, which is now fighting to have its own university. Awarding Ivan Franko with a Nobel Prize would be of utmost importance not only for Ukraine itself but also for Western and Eastern Europe.

Vienna, November 26, 1915

Yosyp Zastyrets, Professor, Doctor of Philosophy"


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

OIL, flammable natural substance, a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, the most important source of liquid fuel and lubricants.

Back in Franko days the "Halychyna California" experienced oil and ozokerite mining boom focused around Boryslav, a small town in Lviv region, not far from Drohobych.

Franko became the writer-chronicler of oil mining industry in Halychyna and dedicated the Boryslav cycle of short novels and short stories (in particular, "Boryslav is Laughing' and "Boa Constrictor"). They are the first literary pieces in the world literature dedicated to industrial theme, enriching it with examples of harsh, yet true naturalism in Emile Zolia style.

OLHA, a female name of Scandinavian origin (means "saint"), particularly dear and significant for Franko.

OLHA ROSHKEVYCH (1857–1935), married name Ozarkevych, Ivan Franko's fiancée, daughter of a priest from Lolyn (currently a village in Ivano-Frankivsk region). Olha was a well-educated and talented young woman; she spoke French and German, which she studied during private lessons together with her cousins. She loved reading and was interested in folk ceremonial traditions. The engagement was called off because the fiancé was suddenly arrested for allegedly being a member of secret anti-governmental organization.

OLHA FRANKO (1864–1941), nee Khoruzhynska, Ivan Franko's wife. She came from a noble family from Sloboda Ukraine, got education at Kharkiv Institute of Noble Maiden and was fluent in several foreign languages. Her dowry money was used to pay for the publication of Franko's poetry collection From the Heights and the Depths and Life and Word quarterly. Olha Franko was author of articles, translations and folklore research papers. She lived in their family house until her death, even after it became a literary and memorial museum.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

PENCIL, a writing tool, Ivan Franko's favourite for creative work.

There is a story about a pencil that happened when Franko studied in primary school at Yasenytsia-Silna. The autobiographical short story "Pencil" is based on it. A classmate stole a pencil from the young pupil and another boy was punished for the "stealing". This minor, yet characteristic episode, got stuck in the writer's emotional memory until he put it on paper. Maybe, with a pencil...

PROGRESS, the main concept of Franko's world view; steady move forward – 0

36the essence of human history in general and the life of each individual in particular. Franko is called the philosopher of progress as he provided an extended definition for the concept of labour in his paper What is Progress?

POLYGLOT, a person who knows many languages.

Ivan Franko knew 20 languages (including his native Ukrainian):

Polish;

Czech;

Slovak;

Russian;

Belarussian;

Bulgarian;

Serbian;

Croatian;

Old Slavic;

Lithuanian;

Old Greek;

Latin;

German;

English;

French;

Italian;

Spanish;

Yiddish;

Hebrew.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

QUESTIONS, the beginning of cognition – a form of thought and speech which foresees search for answers.

They say that curiosity is the start of intelligence.

Franko was extremely inquisitive. It is no wonder, as even the titles of his works are often questions – What is Socialism?, What is Solidarity?, What Unites Us and What Keeps Us Apart?, What is a Community and What Should it Be?, What is Progress? and others.

WHAT IS PROGRESS? is a historical and philosophical treatise, written in a simple and clear, dynamic and interesting manner similarly to a non-fiction work. This is the author's vision of the stages of historical development of mankind from the times immemorial until the early 20th century. "The worst wound of today's order" according to the author is inequality between the people while the stimuli for progress are "hunger and love", i.e. material and spiritual needs of a person.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

"RIPKA" ("The Gigantic Turnip"), Ukrainian folk tale told in a new way as rhythmic prose by Ivan Franko.

A funny tale of how a grandpa, grandma and their relatives and pets worked together to pull a giant turnip out of the ground in Franko's interpretation became of one the most popular Ukrainian children's fairy tales.

It is a fairy tale about the strength of a family and a testament to "together we are many, we cannot be defeated!"

REVOLUTION (from Lat. "upheaval", "drastic change"), a rapid change of social order or any other system.

Franko as a poet praised the strength and grandiosity of "deathless spirit of revolt, rousing man to mighty prowess".

Yet, as a social thinker he warned against primitive understanding of revolution as bloody "world massacre" and "world uprising of the rich against the poor".


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

SPORT (from Old French "leisure", "amusement"), a game, competition with certain rules.

Franko's family lived according to the principle "a sound mind in a sound body" and the father set an example for his children. In addition to early morning water therapy, he did dumbbell exercises and took long walks until late in his life. In winter, the yard near the house was doused in water so that the children could have a skating rink. They skied and skated down the street and in the springtime organized races, games and merry making in the streets.

Encouragement of such entertainment grew into systemic engagement in sports. Franko's children attended physical education classes at Sokil-Batko (Father Falcon) sports society. They went in for gymnastics, fencing, skiing and played football and tennis professionally. Taras and Petro Franko taught physical education at gymnasiums and wrote a number of papers on physical education and sport.

SOFIYIVKA, picturesque outskirts of Lviv, adjacent to Stryiskyi Park, location of Saint Sophia Cathedral since long ago. This is where the Franko family home was. Today it is Ivan Franko Lviv National Literary and Memorial Museum.

TARAS SHEVCHENKO (1814–1861), poet and painter, Ukrainian genius and prophet.

Franko was the founder of Shevchenko studies – he wrote 50 separate papers dedicated to the author of Kobzar and compiled a 2-volume edition of Shevchenko's poetry. He translated the works by Shevchenko into Polish and German.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616), British playwright, world's greatest dramatist.

Because of Franko's efforts as publisher and editor, 10 Shakespearian dramas in the Ukrainian translation by Panteleymon Kulish saw the light of day. Franko himself translated The Merchant of Venice and excerpts from King Lear and The Tempest as well as 12 sonnets. Ukrainian Shakespeare studies were initiated by Franko in his papers, forewords to translations and article “Shakespeare bei den Ruthenen” ("Shakespeare in Ukraine").

ANDREY SHEPTYTSKYI (1865–1944), bishop of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic church.

Franko and metropolitan Andrey knew each other. They would discuss relevant problems and exchange small gifts (books). This relationship is an example of understanding between the secular and church elites.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

TRAVELLING, favourite pastime for Ivan Franko (together with fishing and collecting mushrooms). He most frequently travelled on foot, recording folk songs, fairy tales and legends of Halychyna, Boyko and Hutsul areas. He was often accompanied by his wife, children and friends. It was Franko who initiated and organized Ukrainian-Ruthenian student trip in the summer of 1884. The route ran through Drohobych and as far as Vyzhnytsia and Usteriky in Hutsul area. In honour of this trip, the poet wrote the song "Hit the Road!" which became the first hymn of Ukrainian tourists.

It is no coincidence that Ivan Franko is considered the founding father of organized tourism in Eastern Halychyna.

Quite often Franko's routes would go even farther – to Peremyshl, Krakow, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Chernivtsi, Kyiv, Odesa... He also visited Serbia (Belgrade), Croatia (Lipik and Lovran) and Germany (Nuremberg and Frankfurt). The writer also took an unforgettable trip to Italy in 1904. During the trip Franko and Mykhailo Hrushevskyi visited Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

UNIVERSITY (from Lat. "the whole", "aggregate"), a self-governed higher educational institution, emerged in the Medieval Europe as a centre of free thought, science and culture.

Franko studied at three universities: Lviv, Chernivtsi and Vienna, where he got his PhD. Even though Doctor Franko was not admitted as lecturer at Lviv University, today the university bears his name.

UKRAINE, a country in Central Eastern Europe, the largest country entirely within Europe.

Back in Franko's days Ukraine was not on the world map – its territory was divided between Austria-Hungary and Russian Empire, yet the writer's life motto was "It is time that we live for Ukraine". With his creativity, social and political work the writer was trying to prove the possibility, feasibility and necessity of creating a unified, free, sovereign and independent national state for the people of Ukraine.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

VIENNA (Wien), the capital of Austro-Hungarian Empire, one of the largest cities of Europe in the late 19th-early 20th century, a centre of world culture, science and education. Franko got his PhD from the University of Vienna. His thesis was titled Barlaam and Josaphat – Old Christian Spiritual Novel and Its Literary History. He wrote it under the scholarly supervision of the renowned Croatian Slavic studies expert Vatroslav Jagić.

VYSHYVANKA (Embroidered shirt), traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt. It is not a mere element of national costume but one of the symbols of Ukraine (along with the anthem, trident and flag). Franko's contemporaries reminisced that he always wore vyshyvankas – on regular days and on holiday. He had an entire collection but preferred Boyko patterns. He was the first to combine vyshyvanka with a traditional European suit, thus starting a new trend. When he was delivering a demo lecture for the right to teach at Lviv University, he boldly wore a tuxedo and a vyshyvanka.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

WOMEN played a crucial role in Franko's life and creativity. They were not only muses and a source of inspiration for him but also equal partners in joint literary and academic work and political fight. Franko supported the idea of female emancipation and was an active proponent of the feminist movement in Halychyna, he tried to promote and popularize it. He dedicated a number of relevant articles to the female issue and edited the first female almanac – First Wreath (1887). Franko may be considered a legitimate feminist and fighter for women's rights.

WITHERED LEAVES, lyrical drama by Ivan Franko, his most famous book of intimate lyric poetry. First published in Lviv in 1896, this drama is about unrequited love of Ukrainian Werther and his femme fatale ladylove joined the ranks of best world love poetry. Many of the texts from this collection became popular songs.

WHEN ANIMALS COULD TALK, a collection by Ivan Franko consisting of 20 fairy tales about animals. The author implemented the idea of his wife Olha to use plots from world literature and adapt them for children. According to Franko, children aged 6-12 like fairy tales about animals so the characters in his collection can think, talk, live and behave as humans.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

XMAS (CHRISTMAS), one of the biggest Christian holidays which celebrates the miracle of Christ's birth.

Christmas holidays were particularly important in the life and creativity of Ivan Franko. Some of the early Christmas-themed works include "Description of the Christmas Eve" and "Carol (To Ruthenian Hosts)" and one of the latest is "Lean Dinner". Unfortunately, the writer celebrated his last Christmas far from his family, at military hospital for the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, in the mid of World War I.

ХХХL

The scope of Franko's creative legacy is immense: it is estimated at almost 100 volumes. Undoubtedly, Ivan Franko is one of the most productive writers in the history of Ukrainian and world literature.


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

YAKIV (YATS) FRANKO (1802–1863), Ivan Franko's father, blacksmith from the village of Nahuievychi. A good and pious man – he gifted a Gospel in silver frame to the church in his native village and in honour of abolition of serfdom in Halychyna he forged a commemorative metal cross. He placed high hopes on the education of his firstborn son: the poet reminisced how his father, who was invited to school for best students award, cried when he heard his son's name announced first.

"With the people and for the people", that was Yakiv Franko's motto.

YOUTH, the spring of human life, the time of great strength and expectations.

Franko pinned his hopes on youth, saying,

"Work, young fellows, work hard and incessantly to improve yourselves! Gain knowledge, theoretical and practical, temper your will, make yourselves into serious, conscious and wealthy men, full of love for your people and able to express the love not in floods of noisy words but in hard quiet work."


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy

ZAKHAR BERKUT, a historical novel by Ivan Franko about the fight of the people of Tukhlia (a Carpathian village in the Skole Beskids) against the Mongol invasion. Written for the competition in Zoria (Star) magazine and first published in the same periodical in 1883. The novel has a subtitle: A Picture of Life in Thirteenth-Century Carpathian Ruthenia. It represents the writer's vision of an ideal social order based on equality, personal freedom and mutual help of all members of the community who unite to fight back the enemy. In Zakhar Berkut, the eponymous protagonist embodies intelligence, courage and responsibility.

The novel has several screen adaptations.

Fathers and brothers!

This day's victory is of great importance to us.

How did we win?

Was it only due to our weapons? No!

Was it then, our cleverness? No!

We won because of our communal order, our unity and friendship.

Remember this well!

So long as you live in a community order, remaining together in friendship, staunchly standing all for one and one for all, so long no enemy force will be able to defeat you. (translation by Mary Skrypnyk)


Author: Tiholoz Bogdan, Tiholoz Natalia
Illustrations: Romanyshyn Roman and Lesiv Andriy