Without roots. Legends of Old Kyiv. Natalena Koroleva

Natalena Koroleva is a writer whose life journey from being born in a Spanish monastery to being recognized as a star of Ukrainian diaspora literature in the Czech Republic is itself reminiscent of an adventure novel. Her texts, like her life, are a mixture of truth and fiction, and it is almost impossible to understand what is what.
The autobiographical story “Without Roots” is an intimate confession of a woman torn from her native soil. Through memories of the Kyiv Institute of Noble Maidens, the author depicts the drama of otherness: how a girl raised on European values ​​can withstand the pressure of the imperial system. This is a story about inner freedom and a woman who fights for this right for herself.
In “Legends of Old Kyiv,” Natalena Koroleva brings to life stories about knights-errant, monks, and chronicle heroes. Combining historical chronicles with folk tales, she creates a holistic picture of life, where everyday life is closely intertwined with faith, and state affairs with personal dramas.