Poet Lina Kostenko Celebrates Her 88th Birthday

Photo from Ukrinform – UATV

 

Ukrainian poet and writer, Lina Kostenko, celebrates her 88th birthday today, March 19.

Kostenko is the author of more than 15 poetry collections. She was awarded the Shevchenko Prize in 1987, the highest state prize in Ukraine for the works of culture and arts, for a novel in the verse “Marusia Churai” and the collection “Nepovtornist.”

She is an undeniable moral authority for many Ukrainians, because she did not compromise with the Soviet government. While most of her compatriots shied away from voicing their concerns against those in power, she had no qualms in saying and standing for exactly what she felt was right.

Kostenko is an honorary professor of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

She received the Antonovych Prize in 1989, which is a yearly award given to authors of Ukrainian literary works. She was also awarded the Petrarca Preis in 1994, which was a European literary and translation award. She rejected the title of “Hero of Ukraine.”

In 1965 and 1968, Kostenko signed several open letters protesting the arrests and secret trials of Ukrainian intellectuals. For this, her poetry was banned and was not published in Ukraine again, until 1977.

She is among the most famous women of ancient and modern Ukraine.