The book, in the form of essays-stories, depicts the life and work of individual personalities who played a significant role in the formation and development of Ukrainian thought, culture, and art. Using colorful means of the artistic word, the author depicts many little-known facts from the lives of outstanding Ukrainian artists, who made a bright contribution to the flourishing of Ukrainian and world culture. The book will be valuable for a narrow circle of specialists and a wide range of readers. It will also be of help to writers, cultural experts, and art critics, as well as to all those who are interested in studying the history of Ukraine based on the examples of the lives and creative achievements of its notable personalities.