Abstract:
The article contains V. Stus’s literary-critical views at the works of individual representatives of the Ukrainian classical literature through the analysis of his epistolary heritage. The attention is focused on such writers as H. Skovoroda, I. Kotlyarevskyi, T. Shevchenko, I. Franko, Lesya Ukrayinka. The poet treated H. Skovoroda’s creations with the affection, re-read and summarized his works and considered their philosophical and ideological content as a good literary and everyday life example. The critic characterized Eneyida negatively and does not accept its humor. Epistolary shows that V. Stus recognized Shevchenko’s genius, carefully and demandingly analyzed his poetry and strongly rejected attempts to adjust Shevchenko’s works to the Soviet ideological canons. V. Stus evolved in conceptions about I. Franko’s heritage. In the early epistles he characterized writer’s literary works positively but later he told about the classic like a mediocre poet. Letters indicate that V. Stus particularly appreciate Lesya Ukrayinka’s dramatic talent but at the same time he judged her poetry composition.
