The Princess

Olha Kobylianska's novella «The Princess» is a profound story about a female writer who strives for success during an era of entrenched patriarchy, a time that was extremely unfavorable to women's self-realization. Written in the format of a diary, this work is essentially an autobiographical reflection of the author's inner world.
In the main character, Kobylianska embodied her vision of the ideal woman in society, emphasizing the key role of creativity, education, and self-realization for the full development of a personality. However, the book's ending differs from Olha Kobylianska's real life: her heroine manages to achieve both creative fulfillment and family happiness. Even in choosing a partner, her destiny remains completely in her hands: she successfully avoids the trap of a marriage of convenience, rejects an unworthy suitor, and forms a union only with someone who fully shares her values and beliefs.
«The Princess» is not only a powerful manifesto of early 20th-century female emancipation but also a timeless narrative about the search for one's own path, the desire for freedom, and the indomitable spirit in the face of social limitations.