Abstract

There has been given the modern interpretation of literary dialogue between the Ukrainian writer Mykola Kulish and the Russian writer Myhailo Bulhakov which was started almost a century ago but it wasn’t grasped in full even until today. However this interpretation has been very vital and the processes occurring in the aspect of social consciousness in modern Ukraine vividly confi rm it. Having analyzed the peculiarities of composition, plot and characters in ”Pathetic Sonata” by M. Kulish and «The White Guard” («Days of the Turbiny’s”) by M. Bulhakov, we come to the conclusion that this peculiar literary duel had for an object to displace the guidelines mainly in ideological aspect. It was also noted by the contemporaries: there appeared a great dispute in artistic circles, there is even a shorthand record of the meeting of Stalin and the Ukrainian writers which testifi es it. But the disputes concerning the subjects raised in these writings are still raging in our days. So, obviously, it is too early to announce the winners of the literary duel.