Marko Vovchok

Maria always wanted to be independent and self-sufficient. However, in the mid-XIX century, professional development for a woman was a challenging task. Therefore, she took on a pseudonym in the form of a man's name, Marko Vovchok. It is believed to have been invented by another prominent Ukrainian writer Panteleymon Kulish. The pseudonym consists of a name Marko, taken from her husband's surname Markovych and her wolf-like (vovk in Ukrainian), withdrawn personality.

The basis of Marko Vovchok's works is built on Ukrainian folklore, which fascinated Mariia Vilinska. Another key theme she was passionate about in her literature was her democratic position toward serfs and the plight of women. She held progressive views on the issues of serfdom and its deep injustice. As a strong-willed woman herself, she addressed the issue of the unequal position of women in society and its often tragic consequences. Some of her works were also autobiographical. 

Apart from writing her own works, Mariia Vilinska completed numerous translations from French to Russian. For instance, these include 15 novels by the French writer Jules Verne. The translations were done in the period of Marko Vovchok's life in Europe in cooperation with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel. He also helped the writer translate her works into French and publish them in France, including Marusia, one of her most successful stories.

Marko Vovchok is regarded as one of the iconic figures of Ukrainian literature, along with her counterparts Lesya Ukrainka, Olha Kobylyanska, and others. Her famous tales and stories such as Instytutka, Try Doli (Three Fates), and Marusia make up a valuable part of Ukrainian classics. The latter one, Marusia, was also widely successful in France, being one of the most popular children's books.