Marusia Bohuslavka. The Fiery Circle

Ivan Bahrianyi conceived of a grandiose epic about Ukrainian youth during World War II. However, he only managed to write two parts: the novels «Marusia Bohuslavka» and «The Fiery Circle». An untimely death cut short the writer's creative flight, so we can only guess what masterpieces could have been created.
«Marusia Bohuslavka» paints a grim picture of pre-war Soviet life. The author focuses on the difficult fate of Ukrainian youth in the harsh conditions of the communist dictatorship. Survival in this atmosphere was possible only in two ways: by becoming a conformist or by living in a mask, hiding one's true essence.
The novel «The Fiery Circle» reveals the tragedy of the "divided" Ukrainian people. It describes the brutal confrontation between Ukrainians thrown into the hell of war by the German and Soviet occupiers. The novel is based on the history of the SS Division «Galicia», which the Germans threw into battle near Brody in 1944 to secure their retreat.
This novel is an alloy of pain and despair, self-sacrifice and courage, hopes and losses, as well as the unyielding spirit of the Ukrainians who did not surrender to the enemy.