It is impossible to imagine Poltava without I. P. Kotliarevsky (b.1769, d.1838), the pioneer of modern Ukrainian literature. This is the place he was born, lived and created his works of art. It’s Poltava where I. P. Kotliarevsky was buried. On August 30, 1903 a monument to the writer was in the city. Its authors are L. Posen, sculptor, and A. I. Shirshov, architect. Funds raised by lots of admirers of Kotliarevsky’s talent to build the monument came from all the parts of Ukraine and Russia. Many famous writers of Ukraine including Lesia Ukrainka, M. M. Kotsiubynsky, Panas Myrny, M. P. Starytsky, V. S. Stefanyk etc attended the celebrations on occasion of the unveiling the monument.

The bronze bust of the writer is erected on a high granite pedestal, the bronze high relieves about “Aeneid”, “Muscovite Sorcerer” and “Natalka Poltavka” are located below. On the front side of the monument, there are words from “Natalka Poltavka” as follows:

Де згода в сімействі,
Де мир і тишина,
Щасливі там люді,
Блаженна сторона.

(There are happy people
And blessed country
Where concord in family is,
Where peace and silence is.)

The back side of the pedestal has the following lines from a poem “To eternal memory of Kotliarevsky” by Taras Shevchenko:

Слава сонцем засіяла,
Не вмре Кобзар,
Бо навіки
Його привітала.

(The glory has shone as the sun.
The Kobza-player won’t die
Because it’s welcomed
Him for ever)