Recently, I reviewed The Shaping of a National Identity, Subcarpathian Rus’, 1848-1948 by Dr. Paul Robert Magocsi.
Today’s book, although published 25 years later, works as a companion book, but with a more narrow literary focus.
Stradding Borders, Literature and Identity in Subcarpathian Rus’ by Dr. Elaine Rusinko was published in 2003 by the University of Toronto Press and like Dr. Magocsi’s work is very academically oriented.
It is also a lengthy volume with 465 pages of text, 69 pages of Notes and an index.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Straddling Borders
- Inventing an ‘In-between’ Culture
- Mimics and Other ‘Others’
- Awakening to Rusyn Reality
- Strategies of Survival Under the Magyar Yoke
- Re-imagining Rusyn Identity
- The Makings of Rusyn Modernism
Conclusion: Straddling Past and Future
Notes
Works Cited
Index
As can be seen from the chapter titles, this examination of the development of the Rusyn literary voice and point of view has faced the same challenges as the daily life of its people.
Very little was ever printed in the Rusyn language compared to the various political entities in power through the ages.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that Rusyn poets and authors were more easily (not necessarily EASILY) able to publish their works and it wasn’t until the early 20th century that more Rusyn literature became available to the masses.
Dr. Rusinko has given us an academic, well written book that illustrates the difficulties of Rusyn writers through the ages.
It is uplifting to note that one dialect of the Rusyn language was codified (standardized for written work) in 1995 and that there are many active Rusyn writers today.
I’ve always lamented the fact that I never learned Rusyn as a child. My grandparents spoke Rusyn and my father grew up speaking and understanding it. I have always loved studying languages, but the only word I ever learned was “Cekaj!” When I came home from school, Nana was often talking on the phone to a friend. I’d try to interrupt to share some fun thing from school. With a wave of the hand, I was told “Cekaj!” or “Wait!”
Nana said, like many other immigrant grandparents of the era, that I wasn’t taught Rusyn because we were Americans and we spoke English!
I highly recommend Straddling Borders, Literature and Identify in Subcarpathian Rus’ for those who have a serious academic interest in this topic. The topic is more limited in its scope of interested readers and it definitely isn’t a quick and easy read.
For those interested, the book is out of print, but copies can often be found line in the $50-$60 range. There are also copies in the $200+ range. If that’s all that comes up when you search, pass and wait it out for a more reasonably priced copy to appear.
I’ll finish with a plug for the Carpatho-Rusyn Research Center. They offer a wide range of Rusyn books, ranging from academic to lighter history reading, language books and an excellent 30 x 40 inch map of Rusyn villages for just $18.00.
Finally, if you are Rusyn and interested in learning more about your heritage and connecting with other Rusyns, there is the Carpatho-Rusyn Society, based in Pennsylvania, but which offers many programs online. If you are just beginning your Rusyn family history research, click on the Genealogy tab and then the Genealogy Forum, where you can ask research questions and members will help as best they can. Consider joining today!