VERSATILITY OF J. WYNDHAM’S OEUVRE

Abstract

The article deals with polyvalent nature of artistic narrative of a famous English science fiction writer John Wyndham. This research pursues the goal of providing a systematic and analytical overview of the creative heritage of the author, which involves an emphasis on the periodization of his writing activity. The last decades are marked by isolated, but important scientific and popular scientific works, which were written both by compatriots of the writer and by foreign researchers and highlight various literary aspects of Windham's literary activity. At the same time, the analysis of Wyndham's work is practically not implemented in modern Ukrainian English studies. Moreover, one of the artist's main novels appeared in a Ukrainian translation only a few years ago, without a foreword or an afterword. In this study, an attempt was made to create a holistic view of the evolution of Wyndham's work, which reached its peak in the 1950s − a period that can be called "golden" in connection with the extraordinary productivity and, which does not happen so often, the synchronous popularity of Wells’s disciple. J. Wyndham's novels continue to attract attention of both readers and critics, both filmmakers and viewers, both voiceover artists and audiobook listeners, both translators and publishers. Such long-lasting interest is explained by the multimodality of the narrative, the originality of the plot, the versatility of the thematic complexes, as well as the writer's empathy for people and being burdened by the permanent dynamics of transformative social processes. The problem-thematic clusters represented in Windham's work are consistent with the modern age, which is filled with controversial phenomena, trends and alarming eschatological predictions. The apocalyptic spirit is as relevant to the modern world as it is to other eras whose apparent integration suffers from the threat of destabilization. Despite its immanent macabreness, Wyndham's apocalyptic-dystopian discourse is imbued with faith, hope and love – eternal values that fill existence with meaning and inspire achievement.