We’re excited to announce the release of Marko the Damned, now available in its first-ever English translation. This gripping gothic tale is written by renowned 19th-century Ukrainian author Oleksa Storozhenko. Storozhenko is celebrated for his deep connection to Ukrainian folklore and kozak history. In Marko the Damned, he creates a world where superstition, mysticism, and morality intertwine. The story explores themes of vengeance, power, and the supernatural.
Marko the Damned is now available as an eBook on Amazon and Google Books, with the print edition also available on Amazon.
This book has been published with the support of the Translate Ukraine Translation Program.
Who Was Oleksa Storozhenko?
Oleksa Storozhenko (1806–1874) was a master storyteller and a key figure in Ukrainian literary heritage. He was born into a kozak noble family in the Poltava region, deeply influenced by the legends and folklore of his homeland. His military and public service experiences gave his stories an authentic and detailed touch, especially when portraying the supernatural.
Here is an excerpt from Bilyi’s Foreword (to the first publication of the novella, 1879): “Oleksa Storozhenko, … as a public figure, as a writer, and as an artist in the highest and broadest sense of the word, awaits a worthy biography. With a bright mind and a pure, warm heart, he was a talented cellist, sculptor, and draftsman: for his work in sculpture, he was awarded a medal from the Academy of Arts…
Moreover, as a great lover of nature, he diligently engaged in gardening at his estate near Brest. In the final years of his always active life, he suffered from a heart aneurysm due to an injury sustained during his military service in the Turkish War, on 2 May 1829, in the Battle of Giurgiu… He passed away on 7 November 1874 while holding the positions of Brest Marshal of the Nobility and Chairman of the Magistrates’ Court.”
Storozhenko is best known for his vivid depiction of kozak life and his seamless weaving of folklore into his narratives. His works, including Marko the Damned, combine historical realism with dark, supernatural elements, reflecting the cultural richness of Ukraine.
What is Marko the Damned About?
Marko the Damned tells the story of Marko, a vengeful figure who defies both human and supernatural laws. Set against the rugged landscape of kozak life, Marko’s descent into damnation is gripping and terrifying. Villagers fear his power and rage as the line between myth and reality blurs. The story explores timeless themes of revenge, fate, and moral choices.
In his letter to his friend and publisher Bilyi, Oleksa Storozhenko, wrote the following about Marko. “He is a cursed wanderer, rejected by both earth and hell for his sins. There is a saying among Ukrainians: ‘He wanders like Marko in hell.’ This suggests that there must be a legend about Marko’s adventures in oral folklore. And for more than thirty years I have been searching for and collecting pieces of the fragmented legend and have managed to gather much. According to folklore, Marko’s adventures date back to the distant times of the Zaporizhian Sich and are connected with the war of 1648, which was a consequence of Khmelnytsky’s Uprising.”
Storozhenko’s signature style shines in this tale. Rich in folklore, his portrayal of rural life is vivid and tinged with darkness. Readers of gothic fiction and Ukrainian folklore will find this story both haunting and captivating.
The morality of the Ukrainian Sinner
In her insightful Afterword, Dr. Svitlana (Lana) Krys highlights the key traits that distinguish Marko from his Western counterparts. Here is an excerpt:
The human and heroic side of Marko is what stands out in Storozhenko. Nowhere in Maturin’s or Balzac’s novels do we see the sinner acting for the benefit of humanity, or with good intentions towards a human being. Melmoth the Wanderer shows hints of morality, left in the sinner from the days of his human life. However, he is always overpowered by his new, malevolent, powerful side of a predator hunting for helpless victims in order to tempt them to join him in eternal damnation. Whereas in Storozhenko when Kobza is drawn into the midst of the Khmelnytsky Uprising, Marko acts as Kobza’s and other kozaks’ guardian angel (same as Harkusha did in The Twin Brothers)…
Ultimately Storozhenko leaves it for the reader to decide where to place Marko on the scale of evilness…
Yet it is Marko who brings to mind an ancient guardian spirit of the Ukrainian land and its people, for he bestows harm only on the enemies of Ukraine in the novel. This feature adds even more to the uniqueness of the Ukrainian eternal sinner and invites political interpretation.
Further Reading
At Sova Books, we are proud to have published several gothic works by Ukrainian authors, continuing our commitment to bringing timeless and haunting tales to readers. To explore more of our releases and stay updated on the latest, check out further articles on our website:
Gothic Elements of the Ukrainian Legend “The Living Grave”