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Kateryna
Kateryna is a story of a maiden whose love is betrayed by a Muscovite or ‘Moskal’ – an epithet that was often used as a pejorative for Russian soldiers or Russians generally. The poem was written by Taras Shevchenko, one of Ukraine’s greatest poets. He is what Goethe is to Germany, William Shakespeare is to England, and what Alexander Pushkin is to Russia.
Nicolas Tolmachev has created some provocative illustrations for Kateryna.
About the author Taras Shevchenko: One of the key figures in Ukrainian history, Taras Shevchenko was a leading figure in 1800s Eastern Europe. His work spans writing, art & folklore, and is now available in illustrated, English editions.
About the illustrator Nicolas Tolmachev: Nicholas was born in Brovary, a small town near Kyiv. He taught himself how to draw and at age 20 he won a study grant for the National School of Fine Arts in France, Paris’ most prestigious fine arts school. After gaining fame in Paris, Nicholas came back to Ukraine.
Nicolas Tolmachev has created some provocative illustrations for Kateryna.
About the author Taras Shevchenko: One of the key figures in Ukrainian history, Taras Shevchenko was a leading figure in 1800s Eastern Europe. His work spans writing, art & folklore, and is now available in illustrated, English editions.
About the illustrator Nicolas Tolmachev: Nicholas was born in Brovary, a small town near Kyiv. He taught himself how to draw and at age 20 he won a study grant for the National School of Fine Arts in France, Paris’ most prestigious fine arts school. After gaining fame in Paris, Nicholas came back to Ukraine.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1840
About the author
Taras Shevchenko
191 books127 followersSee also:
Тарас Шевченко (Ukrainian)
Taras Shevchenko was a prominent Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature. Shevchenko is also known for many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.
He was a member of the Sts Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood and an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Shevchenko has had a unique place in Ukrainian cultural history and in world literature. Through his writings he laid the foundations for the creation of a fully functional modern Ukrainian literature. His poetry contributed greatly to the growth of Ukrainian national consciousness, and his influence on various facets of Ukrainian intellectual, literary, and national life is still felt to this day.
[https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/... Shevchenko National Prize]
Тарас Шевченко (Ukrainian)
Taras Shevchenko was a prominent Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature. Shevchenko is also known for many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.
He was a member of the Sts Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood and an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Shevchenko has had a unique place in Ukrainian cultural history and in world literature. Through his writings he laid the foundations for the creation of a fully functional modern Ukrainian literature. His poetry contributed greatly to the growth of Ukrainian national consciousness, and his influence on various facets of Ukrainian intellectual, literary, and national life is still felt to this day.
[https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/... Shevchenko National Prize]
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 12, 2023
”On earth there is fortune –
On whom does it smile?
On earth there is freedom –
On whom does it shine?
On earth there are people –
All silver and gold.”
On whom does it smile?
On earth there is freedom –
On whom does it shine?
On earth there are people –
All silver and gold.”
September 17, 2020
A beautifully designed book of Ukrainian’s most famous poet, Taras Shevchenko, and the heartbreaking poem-story ‘Kateryna’.
The drawings are gorgeous and surrealistic to illustrate the true tragedy of the seduced female at the hands of a ‘Muscovite’ or Russian soldier.
The poetry is lovely and rhythmic and concludes in terrible tragedy that elevates the story with other tragic women such as Shakespeare ‘Ophelia’.
This is a solid rendition and well defined piece and I’d highly recommend getting a copy.
The drawings are gorgeous and surrealistic to illustrate the true tragedy of the seduced female at the hands of a ‘Muscovite’ or Russian soldier.
The poetry is lovely and rhythmic and concludes in terrible tragedy that elevates the story with other tragic women such as Shakespeare ‘Ophelia’.
This is a solid rendition and well defined piece and I’d highly recommend getting a copy.
June 12, 2019
"Не питайте, чорнобриві, Бо люде не знають; Кого бог кара на світі, То й вони карають..."
Прекрасне видання, якісні ілюстрації та переклад. Моя проблема з "Катериною" тільки з сюжетом. Ніколи не розуміла дій головної героїні та не співчувала їй. Абсолютно аморфна істота. Шевченко поетично описує історію дівчини, як "стрибає у ліжко" до москалика, отримує погану славу, народжує, її цураються батьки, вона шукає свого "коханого", він морозиться від неї та сина, вона відмовляється від дитини та топиться. Ну і нафіг таких персонажів.
Прекрасне видання, якісні ілюстрації та переклад. Моя проблема з "Катериною" тільки з сюжетом. Ніколи не розуміла дій головної героїні та не співчувала їй. Абсолютно аморфна істота. Шевченко поетично описує історію дівчини, як "стрибає у ліжко" до москалика, отримує погану славу, народжує, її цураються батьки, вона шукає свого "коханого", він морозиться від неї та сина, вона відмовляється від дитини та топиться. Ну і нафіг таких персонажів.
April 15, 2023
“One person's iailed, another slain,
Himself destroys a third...
And all for what? Nobody knows.
The world is large and wide,
Yet some are homeless and alone,
And can't a shelter find.
Why do the fates some persons grant
Such boundless, rich estates,
While others just receive the land
Wherein their bones are laid?
Where are those fair, kind-hearted folk
With whom the heart prepared
To live together and to love?
Alas, they've disappeared!”
Kateryna is a pokrytka, a 'covered woman’, who has not defended her chastity and has had a child out of wedlock. Pokrytki were traditionally shunned, having their braids cut off and having to wear a kerchief to cover their hair. The theme of the pokrytka runs through Shevchenko's work, as it is heavily symbolic of the way that Ukraine ('Ukraina' is a feminine noun in the Ukrainian language) was used and abused by the moskali, or Muscovites. Russian soldiers were billeted in villages across Ukraine as the Russian Empire sought to expand its western frontiers, and as such stories such as Kateryna's were all too common.
Himself destroys a third...
And all for what? Nobody knows.
The world is large and wide,
Yet some are homeless and alone,
And can't a shelter find.
Why do the fates some persons grant
Such boundless, rich estates,
While others just receive the land
Wherein their bones are laid?
Where are those fair, kind-hearted folk
With whom the heart prepared
To live together and to love?
Alas, they've disappeared!”
Kateryna is a pokrytka, a 'covered woman’, who has not defended her chastity and has had a child out of wedlock. Pokrytki were traditionally shunned, having their braids cut off and having to wear a kerchief to cover their hair. The theme of the pokrytka runs through Shevchenko's work, as it is heavily symbolic of the way that Ukraine ('Ukraina' is a feminine noun in the Ukrainian language) was used and abused by the moskali, or Muscovites. Russian soldiers were billeted in villages across Ukraine as the Russian Empire sought to expand its western frontiers, and as such stories such as Kateryna's were all too common.
March 10, 2025
Я дуже сподіваюсь, що колись ця дурка з засуджуванням чогось шо правильно або ні суспільством пропаде. Особливо «а що скажуть люди». Взагалі ніяк не виправдовую Катерину, але батьки на то і батьки, щоб підтримати.
December 19, 2020
Перше, що хочеться зробити - це осудити Катерину. Але мої претензії більше до батьків Катерини, які її просто вигнали з ганьбою. (Думав написати, що вони її так погано виховали, але потім подумав, що донька гарно вихована.) Та як би там не було, ви ж батьки, рідна кров, а бояться що скажуть сусіди. Історія життя ж Катерини зовсім не нова, легко уявити її в наш час: молода дівчина (не думаю що їй більше 18), хочеться веселитись, гуляти, закохується в військового, кохаються, у неї народжується дитина, потім постродова депресія, нічого стабільного, булінг зі сторони однолітків, недостатня підтримка від батьків, вигнання, жебракування, холод. Я дивуюсь, чому вона ще так довго протягнула. Постродова депресія зараз виникає приблизно у 10% жінок, і це в часи, де є лікарі, державні консультації, та, сподіваюся, не такі забобонні батьки і родичі. А в ті часи?
Тому я не вірю в драматизм матері і батька і повністю їх звинувачую в тому що сталося.
Хоча я розумію, який був час, тому моя ціль була не зганьбити батьків, а захистити Катерину від осуду сучасників.
Тому я не вірю в драматизм матері і батька і повністю їх звинувачую в тому що сталося.
Хоча я розумію, який був час, тому моя ціль була не зганьбити батьків, а захистити Катерину від осуду сучасників.
November 18, 2022
Время чтения: 27 минут
История о Екатерине, что влюбилась в московского солдата и родила сына Ивана от него. Увы, но даже сейчас осталась проблема, что мужчины уходят не только после рождения ребенка, но и после того как узнали, что их девушка беременна. Читается легко. Шевченко как всегда прекрасно пишет и не снижает планку, но поэма сильно не впечатлила. Будь это повесть или роман переделан на подростковую аудиторию, то было бы интереснее и более цепляло, но, увы, классику не переписать, не изменить и нужно лишь только принимать такой, какая она есть. В целом, советую.
Хотя её поступок был ужасен. Самоубийство не выход и уже, наверное, все устали повторять это везде и каждому. Так проблемы не решают.
До встречи на Луне..
История о Екатерине, что влюбилась в московского солдата и родила сына Ивана от него. Увы, но даже сейчас осталась проблема, что мужчины уходят не только после рождения ребенка, но и после того как узнали, что их девушка беременна. Читается легко. Шевченко как всегда прекрасно пишет и не снижает планку, но поэма сильно не впечатлила. Будь это повесть или роман переделан на подростковую аудиторию, то было бы интереснее и более цепляло, но, увы, классику не переписать, не изменить и нужно лишь только принимать такой, какая она есть. В целом, советую.
Хотя её поступок был ужасен. Самоубийство не выход и уже, наверное, все устали повторять это везде и каждому. Так проблемы не решают.
До встречи на Луне..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2026
Osnovy Publishing have produced a second edition, dated 2025, which uses Vera Rich's translation into English of Taras Shevchenko's Kateryna, and that's what I have.
The illustrations by Mykola Tolmachev are stunning and the main reason to pick up the poem in this really eye-catching book. He uses a lot of symbolism in his watercolours here which mirror what Shevchenko's words are doing. The design of the book is to allow the art plenty of space to sit alongside the poem.
Kateryna is a dark poem which combines themes of imperialism with abuse and betrayal, and I'd certainly recommend reading it whether with superlative art wrapping around it or without.
The illustrations by Mykola Tolmachev are stunning and the main reason to pick up the poem in this really eye-catching book. He uses a lot of symbolism in his watercolours here which mirror what Shevchenko's words are doing. The design of the book is to allow the art plenty of space to sit alongside the poem.
Kateryna is a dark poem which combines themes of imperialism with abuse and betrayal, and I'd certainly recommend reading it whether with superlative art wrapping around it or without.
December 25, 2023
Найбільш серцерозривна поема, яку я коли-небудь читала. Складно переоцінити той обремок творчості, на який вона надихнула наш народ. Кобзар міг би нами пишатися, ми все ще переосмислюємо Катерину та сваримося на цю тему.
November 6, 2022
such a beautiful, beautiful book.
December 18, 2024
Usually, I put my most recent review on the bottom, but I am putting it on top this time. Honestly, last time I read this, I was slightly delusional, as I am with most ofmy 5 stars, but it was kinda crazy this time. I still feel like this is a great poem and it tells a cool story, but I am starting to question the message more and more, mostly because this is like Nationalism 5000. Anyway, if you are looking for a short *checks notes* scratch that, if you are looking for a long ass poem - this one is pretty good and it tells a pretty interesting story as for it's run time.
Previous, highly delusional review:
When you are confused about your present and future, you should look back to your past. Shevchenko is seen as one of the fathers of Ukraine, it made sense to look to him when planning the trip to Ukraine.
I would have read and analysed this poem in Ukraine. I would have done it barely thinking, because of the workload, but I would, if I stayed.
This poem is about the painful life of a Ukrainian woman in 19th century when she falls in love with a Russian. It works well as what it is. It works well as a warning of the real enemy. But then you remember the current society, so far from the pain of 19th century. So close to the current pain. It hurts. And if something hurts you in a way, that makes you stay, that something is good.
Previous, highly delusional review:
When you are confused about your present and future, you should look back to your past. Shevchenko is seen as one of the fathers of Ukraine, it made sense to look to him when planning the trip to Ukraine.
I would have read and analysed this poem in Ukraine. I would have done it barely thinking, because of the workload, but I would, if I stayed.
This poem is about the painful life of a Ukrainian woman in 19th century when she falls in love with a Russian. It works well as what it is. It works well as a warning of the real enemy. But then you remember the current society, so far from the pain of 19th century. So close to the current pain. It hurts. And if something hurts you in a way, that makes you stay, that something is good.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews