Ukrainians have been settling down in Toronto since the First and Second World Wars. The city attracts people with flourishing industries and high standards of living. Orest Subtelny also lived in Canada and realised his scientific potential here, being a Professor of History and Political Science at York University (Toronto). Here, the professor published his outstanding scientific bestseller Ukraine: A History.
Orest Subtelny devoted most of his life to history. He was born into a family of Ukrainian immigrants in Krakow. After the Second World War, the family went overseas, where Orest studied and realised his career. Despite a busy schedule, the professor often visited Ukraine. His lectures gathered full halls of listeners. The audience had a unique opportunity to communicate with a living legend. Learn more at itoronto.info.
Getting an education in the best universities in the world
Orest Myroslavovych Subtelny was born into a family of Ukrainian immigrants in 1941. The family of the future historian lived in Krakow but left Poland in search of a better life. In his youth, Orest joined Plast (a Ukrainian scouting organisation), played sports and was especially interested in football.
He received his higher education at Temple (Philadelphia, USA), Vienna (Austria) and Hamburg (Germany) universities. In 1973, he graduated from Harvard University and became a Doctor of Philosophy, having defended the dissertation Reluctant allies: Pylyp Orlyk and his relations with Crimean Khanate and Ottoman Empire, 1710–1742. He started lecturing at Harvard University. Subsequently, he continued his career at Hamilton (New York) and York (Canada) universities.
Orest Subtelny was interested not only in the history of Ukraine. He also researched the history of national movements in Eastern Europe, the history of imperialism and political elites. The scientist was also engaged in publishing activities and became a co-founder of the periodicals “Рецензія” (Review), “Гарвардські українські студії” (Harvard Ukrainian Studies), “Записки про національності” (Notes on Nationalities).
Ukraine: A History, Orest Subtelny’s main literary achievement
Orest Subtelny gained world fame thanks to his comprehensive popular science book Ukraine: A History, which was published in Toronto in 1988. For many years, the professor worked on rethinking Ukrainian history and wrote a book that became a real treasure. Ukraine: A History was translated into Ukrainian by linguist Yurii Shevchuk in 1991. The “Либідь” (Lybid) Kyiv University publishing house published 100,000 copies of the book.
The first edition was sold out so quickly that it was republished the following year. Even the economic crisis in the young independent state didn’t stand in the way. Orest Subtelny explained his success by the fact that previously, the scientific understanding and teaching of history was limited to the Soviet paradigm. The scientist decided to get rid of contemporary patterns and showed his own vision of the history of Ukraine, thoroughly analysing other popular scientific books. Of course, some of the critics of that time didn’t share Subtelny’s opinion. Some called the historian’s book an intellectual revolution. Others believed that Orest Subtelny wrote a kind of fairy tale about Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the book Ukraine: A History was republished several times and it has been translated into many languages. The book is also recognized as one of the most influential and important literary works that were published by the University of Toronto.
During his visits to Ukraine, Orest Subtelny talked a lot with scientists, students and public figures. In his interviews, the professor shared his own vision of the development of Ukrainian history.
The historian presented his book as a textbook, which became popular among Ukrainian youth. Students and all Ukrainians who were interested in history highly appreciated the efforts of the compatriot. The works of the famous Ukrainian historians Mykhailo Hrushevskyi and Ivan Krypiakevych were not as successful as Ukraine: A History by Orest Subtelny.