Ivan and Phoebe
Ivan and Phoebe by Oksana Lutsysyna, published by Deep Vellum Publishing in 2023, is a literary exploration of the lives of young people during the Ukrainian student protests of the 1990s, known as the Revolution on Granite. This edition spans 425 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows married couple Ivan and Phoebe as they navigate the complexities of family, tragedy, and independence against the backdrop of a society transitioning from subjugation to revolution and post-Soviet rule.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of voices as the story unfolds, with Ivan recounting his experiences while Phoebe shares her past through poetic monologues. The narrative shifts between politically charged cities like Kyiv and Lviv, as well as Ivan’s traditional hometown of Uzhhorod. As the characters engage in their rights to free speech and protest, they confront the realities of marriage and home life, revealing underlying conflicts and multigenerational trauma. Oksana Lutsysyna’s work provides a panoramic view of post-Soviet society, delving into themes of family life and the impact of social, political, and economic crises.
Official synopsis Publisher
Ivan and Phoebe chronicles the lives of several young people involved in the Ukrainian student protests of the 1990s-otherwise known as the Revolution on Granite or the First Maidan and investigates the difficulties and absurdities of a society swiftly shifting from subjugation to revolution to post-Soviet rule.
Married couple Ivan and Phoebe grapple with questions about family, tragedy, and independence. Although protagonist Ivan tells the story, Phoebe’s voice rings through the text. The two reflect on the harrowing aftermath of revolution: torture at the hands of the KGB and each other. Ivan refuses to talk about his pain, while Phoebe recounts her past wounds through poetic monologues. The story bounces between politically charged cities like Kyiv and Lviv and Ivan’s small, traditional hometown of Uzhhorod. As characters come to exercise their rights to free speech and protest, they must also reevaluate the norms of marriage and home life. These initially appear to be spaces of peace and harmony but are soon revealed to be hotbeds of conflict and multigenerational trauma.
Through her characters’ vivid voices, Oksana Lutsyshyna creates a his- and her-story of Ukraine: a panoramic view of post-Soviet society and family life through social, political, and economic crises.
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