Herostratus

“Herostratus” is the first novel by Ukrainian writer Emma Andiievska. Its theme is embedded in the title itself: man’s eternal thirst to gain fame and immortalize himself in any way. Back in 356 BC, the Greek Herostratus set fire to the temple of Artemis in Ephesus so that his name would be remembered by descendants. Has human nature changed since then? Before answering this question, the author reflects on human existence, God, and man himself. The heroes of the novel do not have names; they boast about what they themselves are not actually capable of creating. The writer warns: herostatism is a phenomenon that poses a threat to the moral and spiritual life of a person.