Representation of Ukraine in Sweden Based on Correspondence between Stepan Rudnytsky and Alfred Jensen

The purpose of the publication is to update information on the form of representation of Ukraine, its geographical area, history, literature, folk and ethnographic traditions, as well as political pretensions of the early twentieth century, in Sweden, contained in correspondence between Stepan Rudnytsky and Alfred Jensen. The methodology includes consistent application of the principles of historicism and impartiality, provides a comprehensive study of historical sources based on integrated and interdisciplinary approaches. A thorough analysis of the available letters allowed to identify different layers of source information, to establish some biographic facts of the writers, to demonstrate the way of forming their professional connections in the scientifi c community. The application of the comparative method allowed to critically analyse and reconcile the information extracted from the letters of Alfred Jensen to Stepan Rudnytsky, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, as well as from other sources and scientifi c literature. The scientifi c novelty is to present the results of an interesting study aimed at revealing previously unknown information about the long-term organizational preparation of the publishing project «Library of Nations», the peculiarities of forming a writing team to prepare a special volume on Ukraine, establishing communication between Swedish editors and Ukrainian authors. The available epistolary materials also allowed us to identify the editors' priorities for involving specifi c authors in the work on the book, as well as the fi nancial capabilities of publishers, which was refl ected in the fees of members of the writing team. Prospects for further studies. In general, the subject matter of organizing the participation of Ukrainian scientists in an international project aimed at acquainting Swedish society with Ukraine and its people cannot be considered fully explored. The future discovery of epistolary materials related to this subject can expand our understanding of this case, verify the assumptions made and clarify some of its details. The conclusions reached by the author allow us to state that the intended cooperation between the well-known Ukrainian specialists in various human sciences and not least famous Swedish scientists, editors and publishers who initiated a unique educational project during the World War, took place. And this was the fi rst presentation of Ukraine in Sweden not as part of the Russian Empire, but as an independent and self-sustainable people with its own territory, history, culture, belles-lettres and modern political life, which for a short time from 1918 to 1920 achieved its independence. Based on the content of the letters preserved and published today, it can be argued that the beginning of the collaboration between Alfred Jensen (editor of the mentioned project) and Stepan Rudnytsky (one of its authors) dates back to January 1918. The book was published in 1921. In addition to Stepan Rudnytsky, Volodymyr Hnatyuk, Vasyl Paneiko and some others took part in preparing the book for publication. Mykhailo Hrushevsky's participation in the project does not seem to be conclusive.