Eternal memory Monuments and Memorials of the Holodomor

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In Eternal Memory: Monuments and Memorials of the Holodomor, Wiktoria Kudela-Świątek examines “places of memory” linked to the Great Famine of 1932–33 in Ukraine, featuring photographs that showcase the uniqueness and common themes of various monuments. The author explores the history, aesthetics, and symbolism of diverse commemorative spaces, including museums, plaques, and sites associated with Holodomor victims, such as previously unmarked mass graves. The book reveals the meanings communities have attached to these sites and how commemorative practices have evolved and been shared between Ukraine and its diaspora. Kudela-Świątek employs the concept of “places of memory” to analyze the memorialization of the Holodomor through monuments. For over fifty years, Soviet authorities denied recognition of the Holodomor, leading the Ukrainian diaspora to commemorate it. This study intricately weaves together the forms of commemoration and the relationships among numerous monuments in Ukraine and abroad, contributing significantly to the understanding of Holodomor remembrance. Richly illustrated, this work is a valuable addition to the scholarly literature on the subject. Wiktoria Kudela-Świątek is an assistant professor at the Institute of History and Archival Studies at the Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland, and has authored several works on the topic.