On the borderland of the two epochs stands the most renowned of Little Russian poets, Taras Grigorievitch Shevtchenko (1814-1861).

He was the contemporary of Koltzoff and Byelinsky, rather than of Nekrasoff; nevertheless, he may be regarded as a representative of the latter's epoch, in virtue of the contents and the spirit of his poetry.
His history is both interesting and remarkable.

He was the son of a serf, in the government of Kieff.

When he was eight years old his mother died, and his father married again.

His stepmother favored her own children, and to constant quarrels between the two broods, incessant altercation between the parents was added.