The Solomiya Pavlychko Publishing House "Osnovy" has published a collection of articles "Private Shevchenko" about the poet's everyday life. The book was prepared at the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the NAS of Ukraine (compiler and scientific editor – deputy director for scientific work of this Institute, head of the Shevchenko Studies Department, corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine Oleksandr Boron) based on research for the "Shevchenko Encyclopedia".
The researchers focused on anthropometric data, the evolution of health status, psycho-emotional type, as well as microhistorical aspects of Taras Shevchenko's existence. In particular, they analyzed in detail the material and living conditions of his residence, financial status, wardrobe, gastronomic preferences, and the specifics of interpersonal relationships (including gender aspects and attitude towards children).
Among the authors of the publication are well-known scholars such as corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Segeda from the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine ("Appearance and Anthropological Features of T. Shevchenko"), Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Mariya Moklytsia from Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University ("Taras Shevchenko. Psychological Type"), Candidate of Medical Sciences Ihor Martsinkovskyi from the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding ("And on top of everything, he had to fall ill..."), independent researcher Nadiya Orlova ("Oh, children! Children! Children! Holy God's grace!", "I had just stopped at a hotel..."), Nadiya Naumova from the Museum of the Historical Center of Kyiv ("Money chills the soul...", "He cared very little about his clothes..."), writer and literary critic Stanislav Rep’yakh ("Women in the life of Taras Shevchenko", co-authored with Nadiya Naumova), Yulia Yermolenko from the National Museum of Taras Shevchenko "House on Priorka" ("Taras Shevchenko's Culinary Tastes"), Nataliya Orobchenko from the National Museum of Taras Shevchenko ("Residences and places of stay of Taras Shevchenko", co-authored with Yulia Yermolenko), the aforementioned corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine Oleksandr Boron from the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the NAS of Ukraine ("'We remembered the old days and went... to dine.' Shevchenko's visits to taverns and restaurants in the last years of his life", "Eating establishments in the story 'The Artist'"), and Tetyana Petryk from the National Museum of Taras Shevchenko ("Personal belongings of Taras Shevchenko").
Readers will learn many little-known details about Shevchenko, and if they wish to deepen their knowledge – additional literature is provided in most of the materials of this collection.
Bibliographic description of the publication:
Private Shevchenko: the poet's everyday life: collection of articles; compiled and scientifically edited by O. Boron. Kyiv: "Osnovy" Publishing House; Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature, 2026. 288 pages.
According to information from the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the NAS of Ukraine
