Boryslav in Flames
Ivan Franko (1856-1916) was an author, poet, journalist, literary critic and political activist in his native Galicia, a man of many parts and many talents. Born to a village blacksmith, he was brought up in lowly circumstances, and soon identified himself with the poor and downtrodden. His novel Boryslav in Flames was serialised in the literary and political journal Svit (The World) in 1880. The journal folded the following year and the novel remained unfinished, but was finally published in 1922. Galicia was primarily an agricultural area, but the town of Boryslav was one of the few places that had industrialised, with oil mining and the extraction of mineral wax.
The story unfolds against the rise of a burgeoning labour movement. Benedio is a mason’s assistant who rails against the harsh experience of the workers and their lack of rights. Determined to fight for justice he becomes a labour organiser, fighting for fair pay, decent working conditions and support for sick or injured workers. He establishes a workers’ fund and organises a strike. In this conflict between labour and capital, his two main opponents are the Jewish mine owners Herman Goldkramer and Leon Hammerschlag, whose main concern is, inevitably, profit. A romance between their offspring adds another layer to the narrative.
Although unfinished, it is a well-plotted and well-paced novel, with vivid descriptions, authentic characterisation, if somewhat broad brush, but not lacking in subtlety and nuance. Benedio is a sympathetic and relatable character with his belief in collective strength and mutual assistance, and genuine compassion for the plight of the workers. I found the book entertaining, enjoyable and informative, opening another window into the eternal conflict between man and master.
