On Kyivska Street in Zhytomyr, a building has survived where writer and public figure Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky lived in the late 19th century. The future author of "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" lived here for several months — from November 1897 to March 1898.
At that time, Kotsiubynsky worked in the editorial office of the Zhytomyr newspaper "Volyn". At first, he was the administrator of the publication, and later he ran the column "Svet i teni russkoi zhizni" (Light and Shadows of Russian Life), signing his materials with the cryptonym "M. K.". The Zhytomyr period became a notable stage in his journalistic activity.
The writer lived in a two-story L-shaped brick building, erected in the second half of the 19th century as a hotel. During the Second World War, the building was partially destroyed and rebuilt in 1949. On the facade, there is a memorial plaque in honor of Kotsiubynsky, and the building itself is included in the list of historical and architectural monuments of local significance. Today, cafes and commercial establishments operate here.
Kotsiubynsky and Zhytomyr
In the late 19th century, Zhytomyr was one of the main cultural centers of Volyn. Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky came here to work for the newspaper "Volyn" after unsuccessful attempts to find a job in Chernihiv.
During this period, he:
- actively engaged in journalism;
- worked with editorial materials and ran his own column;
- defended the independence of the Ukrainian language in newspaper polemics.
The Zhytomyr months were not easy: in letters to his wife, Kotsiubynsky complained about exhausting work and delayed pay. In this house, he was visited by ethnographer Lev Shternberg and local historian Vasyl Kravchenko. Despite the fact that the writer lived in Zhytomyr for a short time, the city forever remained part of his biography.
What can be seen nearby
The building stands in the center of Zhytomyr, near famous city landmarks:
- St. Michael's Cathedral;
- Tribel House on Mykhailivska Street;
- Peremohy Square and Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral;
- the famous "Flat House".
Therefore, this part of Kyivska Street is one of the most atmospheric and historic in the city.
Interesting fact
In different years, Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky was not only a writer, but also a journalist, editor, and civil servant. The Zhytomyr period of his life is less known than the Chernihiv one, yet it was here that he actively worked in the press and shaped himself as a publicist.
