Dmytro Keshelia – Ukrainian prose writer, playwright, screenwriter and Honoured Journalist of Ukraine, author of the novel Rodaky along with many short stories and plays. Born in 1951 in Zakarpattia, he graduated in philology from Uzhhorod University. His prose blends local colour, humour and philosophy, and has been translated into several languages.
🌳 Grew up in a large rural family, inspiring the vivid images of Rodaky. 🎙 Spent many years working in radio and TV, producing cultural programmes. 📖 Debuted with short stories but gained fame for his family saga. 🏅 Won major Ukrainian literary prizes. 🌍 His works were translated into English, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak and Czech. 🖋 His style is often called “laughter through tears” – humour mixed with tragedy. 🏔 Plots often rooted in Zakarpattia legends and everyday life. 👨👩👧 Central theme is the fate of ordinary peasant families in turbulent times. 🎭 Authored plays staged in regional theatres. 😮 His novel was read abroad as “a Ukrainian village saga”. 😄 Once joked he could compile an encyclopedia of Zakarpattia jokes, but “no one would edit it because everyone would just laugh”.