The Memory Keeper of Kyiv (106)

Due to a lack of adequate records, death toll numbers have varied widely through the years. While we’ll never be able to fully calculate the losses, studies in 2018 estimate 3.9 million Ukrainians died in the Holodomor.

In a stark reminder of the effectiveness of Stalin’s anti-Ukrainian policies, Ukraine lost 12.9 percent of its population. Over 1 million people died in the Kyiv oblast alone. While Katya’s village of Sonyashnyky is fictional, the raion of Tetivv, where I placed her village, is real. This district of the Kyiv oblast had a death rate of 50 percent. At the height of the famine, roughly 28,000 Ukrainians were dying each day, and 30 percent of those were children. Desperate people resorted to eating tree bark, leaves, grass, weeds, grains flushed out from vermin burrows, worms, tadpoles, baby birds, rotting livestock carcasses, crows, cats, dogs, and corn cobs.

Despite these horrifying numbers—which do not reflect the hundreds of thousands deported during dekulakization or the decimation of Ukrainian religious, cultural, and political leaders—the existence of the famine was simply refuted. Walter Duranty, a New York Times journalist, won the Pulitzer Prize for his articles downplaying the rising hunger and lauding the success of collectivization. When the 1937 census showed a significant decrease in the population, Stalin arrested and executed many of the census bureau workers, then ordered a new census with falsified numbers showing a population surplus. Collectivization was declared a success and, in need of Stalin’s support against the threat of Hitler, world leaders ignored the truth of the Holodomor. Any Ukrainians who dared to speak out were arrested, and the realities of the famine were left to be carried on in oral histories and hidden away in journals buried in walls or yards.

I can barely touch on the full scope of the Holodomor in this author’s note, but I encourage you to look further into it because, as you know, history repeats itself. Two books I highly recommend to start with are Anne Applebaum’s Red Famine and Miron Dolot’s Execution by Hunger. For a list of the books and resources I used in my research, including virtual museum visits, survivor accounts, recent research on the statistics of this terror–famine, and links to organizations dedicated to keeping the memory of the Holodomor victims alive, please visit erinlitteken.com.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS



I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped and encouraged me on this journey. My agent, Lindsay Guzzardo of Martin Literary Management, whose guidance and excitement for this book helped this dream come true. My editor, Tara Loder, whose keen insight and passion made this novel so much stronger. The Boldwood Books team, the support you’ve shown me has been phenomenal. Jeni Chappelle, when I was about to give up, your editorial advice and kind words gave me hope. Early readers Lisa Herron, C.H. Williams, Susannah Wiley, and Jen Johnson gave me encouragement and suggestions. Andrea Green, our constant messaging kept me sane through the publication process. The online writing community–in particular the #HFChitChat group and the #MomsWritersClub–has made all the difference for me in what is often a solitary career. The scholars and historians working to untangle the web of buried facts about the Holodomor–your work is so important.

My great uncle, who taught me so much about our history and Ukraine, I’m beyond grateful for our connection. My grandpa and family story teller, who I lost the day before I signed this book deal. My dad, who shares my love of all things history. My grandma and partner in genealogy research. My mom, who walked every step of this process with me, never once doubted I’d get here, and reminded me of that whenever I needed to hear it. Kurt, my calm in the storm and staunchest advocate. Calla and Owen, my inspiration and hope. I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you all.

And, to my Bobby, who taught me how to speak my first Ukrainian words and made the best nalysnyky (or blintzes, as she sometimes called them). The bond I shared with you shaped me in so many ways, and I miss you every day. When I need to be strong in my life, I look to your example.