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Six lyrics from the Ruthenian of Taras Shevchenko, also The Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov from the Russian of Mikhaíl Lermontov

LibriVox recording of Six lyrics from the Ruthenian of Taras Shevchenko, also The Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov from the Russian of Mikhaíl Lermontov by Mikhail Yurevich Lermontov; Taras Shevchenko. (Translated by Ethel Lilian Voynich.) Read in English by Phil Benson Poems by two radical poets, born in the same year as subjects of the Tsarist Russian Empire, who were exiled and punished for the crime of writing poetry. Taras Shevchenko, born a serf, is celebrated as a father of poetry in the Ukrainian language (known at that time as Ruthenian), while Mikhail Lermontov, of noble birth, wrote in Russian. Both died young: Lermontov in a duel and Shevchenko of illnesses acquired during long years of enforced military service. This collection includes translations of six short lyrics written at different stages of of Shevchenko's life and Lermontov's narrative poem, The Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov. It also includes a moving biographical sketch of Taras Shevenko's childhood, his short career as a painter and poet, and his exile, eventual release and death. (Summary by Phil Benson) For further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or

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