The Black Council: A Chronicle of the Year 1663

Before you is the first historical chronicle novel in Ukrainian literature, transporting us to the turbulent times of “The Ruin.” After the death of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Ukraine found itself at a crossroads. At the center of the plot lies the fateful council in Nizhyn in 1663, which split the country into two halves and sparked a fierce power struggle. Panteleimon Kulish created not just a novel, but a profound exploration of the Ukrainian soul in moments of its greatest trial. The Black Council describes one of the most tragic periods — the division into Left-Bank and Right-Bank Ukraine, when brother turned against brother in the pursuit of hetman authority.
Kulish masterfully shows how populism and manipulation of the “common people” can lead to catastrophe. He contrasts noisy politics with the quiet life of a country estate, where true traditions and morality are preserved. The novel is based on real chronicles and documents, bringing to life the figures who shaped our past.

This work is a cornerstone in the library of anyone who wishes to understand the roots of Ukraine’s state-building processes.