The Art of Balance. Maxim Rylsky and His Time

The life and work of Maxim Rylsky is a captivating story about one of the most prominent Ukrainian poets of the 20th century. A descendant of a noble family, Rylsky from a young age felt the struggle of two cultures within himself — Ukrainian and Polish. Educated by the Kyiv Old Hromada, he became a prominent representative of neoclassicism.
The path to "purity and simplicity" of this style was not easy. The young poet experienced a fascination with symbolism, searched for himself in existential themes, and explored the dark sides of the human soul. The experience of opium visions and "magic poison" did not break him, but on the contrary, hardened him. Rylsky found the meaning of life in the art of balance, combining ancient harmony and decadent sophistication.

Particular attention in the book is paid to Rylsky's relationship with the Soviet regime. The author examines his texts with a double bottom, the ciphers with which the poet expressed the tragic collisions of the era of terror. Even in the most difficult times, Rylsky remained faithful to his muse, his faith in beauty and harmony of the world.