Author Biography
Maik (Mykhailo) Iohansen (1896-1937) was a prominent Ukrainian writer, poet, and literary critic. After obtaining a degree in Philology, he started a promising career as a linguist, writing Ukrainian-language textbooks and even a Ukrainian-Russian Dictionary. However, soon he turned to literary writing, experimenting with German and Russian languages and publishing his first Ukrainian-language poetry collection in 1921. He later moved to prose writing with the adventure novel Pryhody Mak Leistona, Harri Ruperta ta Inshykh [The Adventures of Mac Layston, Harry Rupert and Others, 1928], and the novel Podorozh uchenoho doktora Leonardo i ioho mabutn’oii kokhanky Al’chesty u Slobozhans’ku Shvaitsariiu [The Journey of the Learned Doctor Leonardo and his Future Lover Alceste to the Switzerland of Slobozhanshchyna, 1930]. Alongside his artistic production, Iohansen showed an interest in theoretical issues. Proofs of this are his two essays Elementarni zakony versyfikatsii [Elementary Rules of Versification, 1922] and Jak buduietsia opovidannia. Analiza prozovykh zrazkiv [How a Story is Built. Analysis of Models of Prose Writing, 1928]. All his work can be interpreted as an attempt to elevate Ukrainian literature and culture to higher standards, engaging in a dialogue with European cultures – perceived as more fully developed – but always conforming to the revolutionary ideals in which he believed. Due to his often purely artistic interests and his European sympathies, he was arrested and sentenced to death in 1937.