It's been 154 years since Lesya Ukrainka's birthday: what is known about the adopted daughter and relatives of the legendary Ukrainian writer

On February 25, Ukraine celebrates the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka, a prominent poet, playwright, and translator. Her work has become a part of the treasury of world literature, and her personality remains a symbol of indomitable spirit. However, Larysa Kosach's life was not only full of struggle against tough illness and creative achievements but also of love and care for her loved ones. One of these pages of her life was the adoption of a girl.

Lesya Ukrainka and her husband Klyment Kvitka did not have their own children, but they raised their adopted daughter Maria Sobinevska, according to the Vysokyi Zamok. The girl first lived with the Karpov family, who were close to Klyment. When difficulties arose in raising the child, Lesya took her under her care. OBOZ.UA will tell you more about her.

The poetess taught Maria to read and write, helped her with arithmetic and foreign languages, and together they did embroidery and painted Easter eggs. She also took care of her education, paying for it at her own expense. After the family moved to the Caucasus, Maria graduated from a gymnasium with honors.

After Lesya Ukrainka's death, Maria stayed in Russia, became a telegraphist, married a man surnamed Beshkurov, and gave birth to 11 children. She wanted to name one of her daughters Lesya, but her husband objected, fearing that this would be a constant reminder of her adoptive mother. Nevertheless, before her death, Maria asked her children to honor Lesya Ukrainka's memory and to bow to her grave.

Why Lesya Ukrainka did not have children of her own

Lesya Ukrainka's lack of biological children remains a subject of debate. Some researchers believe that this was her conscious decision due to her health condition - the poetess suffered from bone tuberculosis and later contracted the pulmonary form of the disease, which made pregnancy extremely dangerous.

In particular, her work touches upon the theme of a sick person's responsibility to future generations. For example, the drama The Blue Rose touches upon the issue of hereditary diseases. At the same time, Lesya Ukrainka's letters do not directly mention her desire or unwillingness to have children. This is what Daryna Romanska, author of the podcast Sheva, Lesya, and Franko, said.

Lesya Ukrainka's relatives

There were no direct descendants of Larysa Kosach-Kvitka, but her sisters had children, according to Suspilne Culture. In particular, Roberto Haab, Lesya Ukrainka's great-nephew and grandson of her sister Oksana Kosach-Szymanowska, lives in Switzerland. Olha Luton-Petrova, who is the poet's great-niece and granddaughter of Isydora Kosach-Borysova, lives in the United States.

Information about the descendants of the writer's other siblings is partially lost. It is known that her younger brother Mykola Kosach was the only relative buried in Kolodiazhne. He died in 1937, leaving behind his memory, but his descendants have not survived.

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