In Odesa, a new book «Kursaky, or The Place That Isn’t on the Map» (Kyiv, 2024), written by Yevhen Volokin and Albert Yezarov, was presented
The presentation took place at the Odesa National Scientific Library. The book, with a circulation of 300 copies, contains unique illustrations.
One of the features is that some of the photographs belong to the journalist from «Dumska» Alexander Himanov. This edition is dedicated to the little-known Odesa microdistrict of Kursaky, which is now part of the Hadiachivskyi district of Odesa.
Usually, researchers focus on more well-known parts of the city, but the authors decided to study and tell about this interesting and unique district.
Albert Yezarov, a judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and a resident of Kursaky, says that he and his family are very pleased with the book
They believe that it not only conveys the history, but also the features and atmosphere of the microdistrict. For example, the book mentions wild persimmons, which are a legacy of the attempts by Soviet botanists to grow subtropical crops in this region.
The book also describes the typical houses of the microdistrict, which have been replaced by modern nine-story buildings. The «Finnish» houses, filled with glass wool between wooden walls, added a special charm to the district, although attempts to use moss instead of glass wool were unsuccessful.
The publication presents Kursaky as a place with a rich history and a unique character, different from the classic tourist routes of Odesa.