Urizh Gothic. Halyna Pahutiak

“Urizh Gothic” is a novel-preparation of the life of an extraordinary Galician village of the 19th century.

The local priest, Father Antony, writes down the peasants’ stories about strange events in a thick book — and there are plenty of strange events in Urozh. A new heir settles in the manor house, who sleeps during the day and reads Lucretia and wanders the streets at night. After the arrival of a traveling photographer and a shipping agent to the village, who seduces the landlord with stories about the fabulous country of America, three people die in Urizh under mysterious circumstances. Police detectives arrive from Drohobych, an investigation begins, but the peasants are sure that these opirs are killing those they don’t pity, and they are ready to commit lynching.

Petro’s father was tortured in Nahujevychi, he and his mother fled to Urozh, but for many years he never became his own here. His father managed to transfer his power to him before his death; Petro cannot get rid of it, but stubbornly suppresses it, several times tries to confess to Father Antony, but something constantly prevents him.

“Urizh Gothic” - a Gothic novel? Yes. But at the same time detective, historical and philosophical. This is a story about the competition of science and prejudice, progress and tradition, light and darkness. It seems that a simple description of the life of the author’s native village, the history of which she carefully researched, turns into a parable about the whole world and the human soul.