The Ukraine

by Artem Chapeye
The Ukraine cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 297
  • Added: 2025-09-07
  • Updated: 2025-09-09
  • ISBN: 9781644212967
  • Publisher: Seven Stories Press
  • Published: 2024-01-30
  • Formats: 14
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £12.99

The Ukraine is a debut collection of 26 pieces by Artem Chapeye that blur the lines between fiction and creative nonfiction, evoking the country's spirit through vivid sensory details and candid portrayals of everyday life. The stories reveal the contradictions of Ukraine—its compassion and indifference, simplicity and complexity—through snapshots of small towns, big cities, and the people who inhabit them. The title story, originally published in the New Yorker, humorously critiques the English misuse of the article “the” before Ukraine, reflecting on how foreigners perceive the nation. The collection includes varied narratives such as an elderly woman mourning the loss of men and youth from her town, a couple navigating provincial life under the influence of substances and faith, and a man reconciling nostalgia for Soviet times with the realities of Putin’s Russia. Chapeye’s work is deeply personal and urgent, as he wrote the book’s preface on his phone from the front lines of the conflict his country is enduring. The Ukraine offers readers an unvarnished, tender, and sometimes uncomfortable portrait of a nation and its people fighting for survival and identity.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-02-01
poignant 4.50

The book offers a vivid, candid portrayal of Ukraine through 26 pieces blending fiction and nonfiction, capturing the essence of the country and its people with both affection and brutal honesty.

This collection stands out for its unique blend of fiction and nonfiction that vividly conjures the textures of Ukraine—its people, places, and moods. The author’s clever play with the English misuse of the article “the” in the title story reflects the external misconceptions about Ukraine, while the stories themselves provide brutally candid, engaging snapshots of ordinary lives and typical places. The narratives convey the complex reality of a country the author and his compatriots are literally fighting to defend, with intimate portraits that range from rural life struggles to reflections on Soviet nostalgia and contemporary challenges. The preface, written from the front lines, adds a powerful personal context to the work.

Quick quotes

    A stunning debut collection of fiction and creative nonfiction— irreverent and unglorified; loving and tender; uncomfortable and inconvenient.

    In the title story, Chapeye facetiously plays with the English misuse of the article “the” in reference to Ukraine.

    The Ukraine conveys to readers a place that Chapeye and his countrymen are currently fighting for with their lives.

Foreword Reviews · 2024-01-01
insightful 4.25

The Ukraine presents an expansive, humane portrait of the country that goes beyond war headlines to reveal the complexity and resilience of its people through both fiction and nonfiction.

Artem Chapeye’s work transcends typical war reportage to provide an earthy, empathetic look at Ukraine’s people and places. The fictional stories focus on everyday struggles and humanize characters facing hardship with humor and affection, while the nonfiction pieces offer sobering insights into regions affected by conflict and political unrest. The vivid details, such as improvised repairs and scarce resources, provide a tangible sense of life under duress. Overall, the book is praised for its deft, humane approach and its ability to capture the contradictions and enduring spirit of Ukraine.

Quick quotes

    The Ukraine is a deft, humane, and empathetic text that contemplates a nation's ever-shifting fortunes.

    Chapeye’s fiction entries focus on the quotidian: an old village woman venturing to Kyiv to sell potatoes while dodging nosy police officers.

    The true meat of Chapeye’s powerful collection is its numerous creative nonfiction segments, chronicling his travels across Ukraine.

Los Angeles Review of Books · 2023-01-26
resonant 4.40

Chapeye’s stories offer a heartfelt, realistic portrayal of ordinary Ukrainians navigating complex social and political realities with dignity and respect.

The collection reflects Ukraine’s linguistic and cultural complexity, presenting stories that avoid embellishment in favor of a realistic narrative style focused on plot and character. The characters, from laborers to delivery boys, are depicted with deep empathy, highlighting their everyday struggles and aspirations amid broader historical and political challenges. The reviewer draws parallels between Chapeye and classic American storytellers, noting how the author elevates and honors the mundane, making the experiences of post-Soviet life and impending war resonate deeply with readers unfamiliar with these realities. The translation captures this emotional density and literary significance, making the book a profound tribute to Ukraine and its people.

Quick quotes

    Chapeye represents a modern-day Ukrainian counterpart to classic American writers like Mark Twain or O. Henry.

    His sheer perceptiveness renders each story deeply resonant, even if most English-language readers will never experience post-Soviet malaise or impending war firsthand.

    The literary and emotional density of these narratives cannot be overstated.

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