Articles, essays and publications about Taras Shevchenko and his works

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"Bukvar pivdennorusky" is the last Shevchenko's book but it borrows a special place among of his wheen lifetime publications. This book composed of the best samples of folklore and partly of his own works for teaching children how to read and write Ukrainian language in Sunday schools. "Bukvar" was released a relatively large circulation (10 thousand copies) of the author means. Moreover, the money from the sale of this book put in to the needs of country and Sunday schools. This fact confirms that Shevchenko paid great attention to the education problems. However, this book was the cheapest among similar publications and was available to the general public. Shevchenko was selling it for the price of 3 coints.

 

The Taras Shevchenko Museum is located in Shevchenko’s beloved Kyiv in a mansion formerly owned by a wealthy sugar magnate. This juxtaposition of housing the most comprehensive collection of artifacts, paintings and memorabilia from Shevchenko’s life, surrounded by such opulence is ironic and poignant. For Ukrainians, Shevchenko is the premiere national hero.  Son of a serf, at once a novelist and a painter, a poet and a prisoner, Shevchenko was a celebrity and political figure, who finally returned home to the area near the town of Kaniv, to be buried after his death. To a new generation of Ukrainians, those born after the Soviet era, raised with a unique identity, and who came of age in the era of EuroMaidan, Shevchenko’s dream of Ukrainian freedom resonates with renewed vigor. The museum provides an opportunity for foreigners and natives alike to make his acquaintance and to draw lessons from his writings on the past and future of Ukraine.

 

Upon learning of the English-language publication of “The Complete Kobzar” by Peter Fedynsky, one could reasonably ask: do we really need another English language translation of Shevchenko’s poems? The answer is a resounding yes! For two reasons. The first is that this is the first English translation of the “Kobzar” in its entirety. The second reason is articulated by Prof. Michael M. Naydan in his introduction (“A Kobzar for a New Millennium”) to the book: “to convey the poet’s verse in a modern English idiom that could be easily understood by readers of today.”

 

Taras Shevchenko actually is Ukraine’s most illustrious poet and the best-known Ukrainian poet abroad. There are numerous monuments to him in different countries all around the world. His poetry collection ‘Kobzar’ is probably the most translated Ukrainian text, some poems, such as "Testament", have been translated into more than 60 languages.

That's why many of recognized and famous people shared their thoughts about Taras Shevchenko.

 

On February 12 (old style) 1840 the Russian censor in St Petersburg, Petr Korsakov (1790 - 1844) gave permission to publish a small book of poetry by an unknown Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko.

 

World literature has some great names which have become symbols of the nations to which they belong. To understand the greatness of Taras Shevchenko and his significance for the Ukrainian nation, one must understand the epoch which preceded the poet's appearance.

 

"Greatness of Taras Shevchenko", by Yar Slavutych.
Title page of the book

 

 

Excursion into the Past. Old newspaper article from the "Ukrainian Weekly" archive about how the work and the spirit of Taras Shevchenko had been shockingly misrepresented in typical USSR pseudohistorical film.

 

Споріднені публікації, за тегами:     Taras Shevchenko