Andriy Lahovsky: The Crimean Agathangel — 416 pages, Ukrainian Modernist Memoir

Andriy Lahovsky. The Crimean Agathangel is a deeply personal, introspective work that stands as a touchstone of Ukrainian modernist literature. Written under the name Agathangel Krymsky, the novel presents itself in the form of a confessional intellectual memoir. Its protagonist—an erudite scholar and professor—navigates life amid societal conventions, internal contradictions, and a quest for authenticity. Throughout the narrative, themes of solitude, identity, and love unfold—especially gay love, which the protagonist pursues at great personal risk in a traditional environment.

The story explores the tension between high ideals and day‑to‑day compromises. Our hero oscillates between asceticism and desire, between idealism and betrayal, yet refuses to renounce his deepest self. The novel interrogates what it means to remain "such as one is" when faced with public pressure, hypocrisy, and the weight of tradition.

In this Ukrainian edition (Vikhola, 2023) spanning about 416 pages in a softcover format, readers will find thoughtful prose, literary references, and philosophical reflection. The work invites comparison with confessional modernist literature globally, while rooted deeply in Ukrainian cultural and historical context.

This edition is essential for readers who appreciate:

modernist introspection and internal monologue

LGBTQ+ themes in Eastern European literature

the struggle of artists and intellectuals in traditional societies

the interplay of memory, identity, and language