The literature of Ukraine has a 1000-year history. Of great importance for the growth of literature was the establishment in Lviv of the first printing press by Ivan Fedorov in 1574.

In the late 1700's, Ivan Kotliarevsky wrote the famous epic poem "Eneida".

Full of Ukrainian folk witticisms, realistic portraits and aphoristic characters, it was hugely successful. Kotliarevsky had an ear for idiomatic language, and an eye for details.

The appearance of Taras Shevchenko's Kobzar (1840) ushered in an epoch of romanticism and national consciousness. Taras Shevchenko reflected the hopes and aspirations of the nation in the best folk poetic tradition.

Realism flourished in the nineteenth century. Nechui-Levytsky and P. Myrny were masters of realistic prose. The end of the nineteenth century produced literary giants such as Ivan Franko and Lesia Ukrainka, who with their fighting spirit spurred Ukrainians on in their struggle for self-realization. At the close of the century, modernism took the place of realism. Kotsiubynsky had impressionistic style of writing, illustrates the transition from realism to the exploration of the psyche.

The twentieth century began with Renaisseance in literature (1920's). Many literary groups and organizations formed; new, young writers' works were published; fresh magazines appeared. Some prominent names from this period: Mykola Kulish, Khvylyovy, Zerov, Sosura. By the 1930's the great terror began with its purges show trials and repressions. Most of the writers were either killed or driven to suicide. It is estimated that over 250 writers perished during this period. Those who survived (Sosura, Tychyna, Rylsky) were forced to renounce their former work and to write on themes suitable for the Communist Party. Despite the violent deaths of so many writers, Ukrainian literature gave the world such well-known names as Honchar and a writer and a film director Dovzhenko.

A group of writers from the 1960's known as the Shestydesiatnyky (The Sixtiers) took advantage of a political thaw initiated by Khrushev after the death of Stalin, and revitalized Ukrainian literature. Prominent among these are: Kostenko, Symonenko, Tiutiunnyk, Pavlychko, Drach, Dziuba, Stus, Svitlichny, Shevchuk.

Today, Ukrainian literature is continuing to develop.


Translation from Ukrainian of Shevchenko's poem

Trasnlation from Ukrainian	Original
The Testament Dig my grave and raise my barrow By the Dnieper-side In Ukraina, my own land, A fair land and wide. I will lie and watch the cornfields, Listen through the years To the river voices roaring, Roaring in my ears. When I hear the call Of the racing flood, Loud with hated blood, I will leave them all, Fields and hills; and force my way Right up to the Throne Where God sits alone; Clasp His feet and pray... But till that day What is God to me? Bury me, be done with me, Rise and break your chain, Water your new liberty With blood for rain. Then, in the mighty family Of all men that are free, May be sometimes, very softly You will speak of me? Translated by Voynich E. in London, 1911	Çàïîâ³ò ßê óìðó, òî ïîõîâàéòå Ìåíå íà ìîãèë³, Ñåðåä ñòåïó øèðîêîãî, Íà Âêðà¿í³ ìèë³é, Ùîá ëàíè øèðîêîïîë³, ² Äí³ïðî, ³ êðó÷³ Áóëî âèäíî, áóëî ÷óòè, ßê ðåâå ðåâó÷èé. ßê ïîíåñå ç Óêðà¿íè Ó ñèíºº ìîðå Êðîâ âîðîæó... îòîéä³ ÿ ² ëàíè, ³ ãîðè — Âñå ïîêèíó ³ ïîëèíó Äî ñàìîãî Áîãà Ìîëèòèñÿ... à äî òîãî ß íå çíàþ Áîãà. Ïîõîâàéòå òà âñòàâàéòå, Êàéäàíè ïîðâ³òå ² âðàæîþ çëîþ êðîâ'þ Âîëþ îêðîï³òå. ² ìåíå â ñåì'¿ âåëèê³é,  ñåì'¿ âîëüí³é, íîâ³é, Íå çàáóäüòå ïîì'ÿíóòè Íåçëèì òèõèì ñëîâîì. 25 ãðóäíÿ 1845 â Ïåðåÿñëàâ³