Taras Shevchenko

Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko"). At that time serfs' patronymic names were not identified in documents (for example, see the text of a "free-to-go" document from 22 April 1838: ""). During Shevchenko's lifetime in Ukrainian texts two variants were used: "" (see the letter of Hryhory Kvitka-Osnovyanenko from [http://izbornyk.org.ua/shevchenko/lystydo01.htm 23 October 1840]: "") and "" (the letter of same author from [http://izbornyk.org.ua/shevchenko/lystydo01.htm#r1842 29 April 1842]: ""). In Russian it is accepted to write «Тарас Григорьевич Шевченко», in Ukrainian—«Тарас Григорович Шевченко», in other languages—transliterating from the Ukrainian name, for example "''Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko''.}} (; ; 9 March 1814 – 10 March 1861) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, folklorist, and ethnographer. He wrote poetry in Ukrainian and prose (nine novellas, a diary, and his autobiography) in Russian.

Born to a poor family of serfs during the period of Russian rule over Ukraine, in his youth Shevchenko demonstrated a talent for art, which allowed him to become a fellow of the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg. After his return to Ukraine, he joined the emerging national movement. Exiled to Central Asia due to his association with the Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Shevchenko continued to create art and poetry despite prohibitions, and his figure attained fame among the liberal-minded circles of the Russian Empire. Freed from exile after the onset of liberal reforms of Alexander II, Shevchenko was prohibited from settling in Ukraine and died in Saint Petersburg.

His literary heritage, in particular the poetry collection ''Kobzar'', is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and to some degree also of the modern Ukrainian language. The significance of Shevchenko's creative genius for the Ukrainian and wider Slavic culture has led some to compare his figure to that of Robert Burns. Provided by Wikipedia