BOOK NOTE: A new translation of the Franko classic "Lys Mykyta" (06/27/04)

BOOK NOTE: A new translation of the Franko classic "Lys Mykyta"

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - A new version of the Ivan Franko classic "Lys Mykyta" has been published in the English language thanks to the efforts of a Montreal attorney who spent several summers teaching English to students in Ukraine.

Roman Karpishka calls his "Fox Mykyta," which is presented as a free translation in verse, "a labor of love." He credits his students in Ukraine with inspiring him to rediscover the 1896 classic, which he described "similar to 'Aesop's Fables'" and as a work that depicts human relationships via the animal kingdom.

The new "Fox Mykyta" was released in 2002 by Papuha Publishers in Lviv and is now available in North America. Notably, the book contains illustrations by the renowned Edward Kozak ("Eko"), whose illustrations of "Lys Mykyta" date back to the 1940s.

Mr. Karpishka taught English as a second language as part of the Ukrainian National Association's Teaching English in Ukraine program in 1995 and 1996 in Zalischyky, and in 1997, 1998 and 1999 in Mykolayiv.

It was during his stint in 1998 that he gave additional assignments to his class of seven "wiz kids," he recalled, and the students suggested using "Lys Mykyta" for their translation project. The students succeeded in translating most of the work's first song (the book is composed of 12 chapters, which Franko called songs).

Mr. Karpishka translated the rest of the Franko work, using the same pattern of rhyme and rhythm as the original. He said that he translated "not word for word, but idea for idea."

Next he succeeded in getting the rights to use Eko's famous drawings of "Lys Mykyta" from the late artist's son. They appear in the book in a colorized version, but several of the original sepia plates also are included.

Mr. Karpishka explained that "Franko is not as widely known as Shevchenko, for example," and he wanted to make Franko known to the world, as well as to "provide a positive spin on Ukraine." To that end, "Fox Mykyta" contains a biography of Franko, plus his explanation of the famous fox's origin in a chapter called "Who was Fox Mykyta?"

"He was a genius, super-productive. He continued to write even after the authorities deformed his hands," the translator said of Franko. "We have an obligation to pass this on to our kids. And this has to be done in a modern context."

The new book comes with a PC-compatible CD of "Fox Mykyta" narrated by Mr. Karpishka and accompanied by well-known music.

The 168-page hardbound book is available for $29.95 (or $37.95 Canadian), plus postage, C.O.D., by writing to: Fox Mykyta, 12 Elaine Court, Latham, NY 12110. For information, readers may e-mail karpishka@yahoo.com.

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