Serhy Yekelchyk analyzes the development of Ukrainian history writing from the fall of
communism to the early responses to Russia's massive invasion in 2022. He emphasizes the global
nature of the modern Ukrainian historical profession the important role of the Ukrainian
diaspora and the new Western approaches increasingly taking hold in Ukrainian historiography.
The author's argument about the importance of Postcolonial Studies in developing a new
conceptual vision of the Ukrainian past is especially relevant now when Ukrainian
intellectuals are openly speaking about decolonizing their country's history and memory.* *
*Russia's all-out aggression against Ukraine was both justified and inspired by the Kremlin's
misuse and abuse of history as a discipline. What is the history of Ukraine as an academic
discipline and how should one interpret it? This book by one of Ukraine's leading historians
provides a unique perspective on the field of Ukrainian history from the inside. By focusing on
the transformations in Ukrainian history writing and the public role of history since Ukrainian
independence it explains how both the discipline and the nation matured. Writing the Nation is
a must-read book for anyone who wants to understand not only Ukraine's past but also its
present.Serhii Plokhy Mykhailo Hrushevsky Professor of Ukrainian History and director of the
Ukrainian Research Institute Harvard University In his new book Serhy Yekelchyk confirms his
well-deserved reputation as a historian who is especially sensitive to methodological
innovations and the latest currents in theoretical thought. Rich in detail his critical study
invites readers on a fascinating trip into the diverse and ambivalent field of Ukrainian
history writing. This book challenges the reader to go against the grain by questioning
traditional historical narratives.Andrii Portnov Professor of the Entangled History of Ukraine
European University Viadrina (Frankfurt Oder).
