Martin Borulya: A 19th-Century Ukrainian Satirical Classic about the Quest for Nobility—Newly Translated into English (Ukrainian Classics in English)

A Ukrainian stage classic—now in clear, contemporary English. On a late-19th-century Ukrainian farm, prosperous Martin Borulya is no longer content to be a respected villager. He wants papers, seals, and a title that prove he is “truly” noble. Soon his dream of entering the noble register pulls everyone into its orbit: his practical wife Palazhka, his strong-willed daughter Marisia, her honest suitor Mykola, and a parade of slippery clerks and petty officials. Lawsuits multiply, bribes change hands, and a disastrous “good marriage” is arranged—all in the name of status. First staged in 1888, Martin Borulya is Ivan Karpenko-Karyi’s classic satirical comedy for the stage: a fast, funny village play about pride, paperwork, and what really counts as dignity. What you’ll find A quick, playable village comedy of manners, status, and self-delusion. Unforgettable figures: stubborn Martin, sharp-tongued Palazhka, clear-eyed Marisia, loyal Mykola, and the vain officials who feed on their dreams. Satire of empire and class: lawsuits, titles, and noble registers that promise honor—while draining money and common sense. Family, love, and dignity tested by social climbing: will Martin choose status on paper or the people under his roof? A cornerstone of Ukrainian comic theatre that still feels modern on the page and on the stage. About this edition Translated into fluent, contemporary English by Anastasiia Shestopal, faithful in sense and image yet easy to read. Proper names follow modern Ukrainian transliteration (e.g., Martin Borulya, Marisia, Mykola, Natsiievsky). Cultural and legal terms are kept where they read naturally in dialogue; stage directions are lightly modernized for clarity, preserving the rhythm and humor of the original play. No footnotes—just clean, performable text. Drafting used AI as a tool under the translator’s direction; the finished English text reflects substantial human authorship, revision, and literary craft. The source play by Ivan Karpenko-Karyi (Martin Borulya, 1888) is in the public domain. View Less