Kotliarevsky Ivan
A rare person would keep back his smile while reading famous epic poem Eneyida. The Ukrainian culture, sorrows and gladness, humor and world view of those who have lived on Poltava’s land are reflected in it.
Ivan Kotliarevsky was born in Poltava in August, 29, 1769 at the family of a state official. For the first he was studying at a deacon-house and since 1780 at the Poltavskaya seminary.
In 1789 Ivan Kotliarevsky has entered at chancellery, but he didn’t like this job. In 1793 he has left his service. He
decided to be a teacher and used to work as a tutor in landowner’s families.
He was traveling a lot that’s why he could learn national Ukrainian language and life very well.
Kotlarevsky took part in national merrymakings; he was listening national speech, writing down songs, words, national ceremonies, legends: lately he used this information in his pieces and everyone was surprised reading it as it was something amazing and didn’t look like an ordinary stories.
About 1794 Ivan Kotlarevsky started his literary work. His Eneyida (1798-1842) based on classical Vergilius' version had a great success. In this poem author recreated all parts of the Ukrainian society at the second part of the XVIII century.
National coloration gave great popularity to Eneyida among Kotlarevsky’s contemporaries.
At the beginning of 1796 Kotlarevsky has entered military service in Northern Equestrian Chasseurs Regiment, lodged in Poltava. In 1806 Russian Turkish War has begun. Kotlarevsky’s regiment was send to the theatre of war. Ivan took part in siege of Ismail and Bender. After the company was over Kotliarevsky served till 1808. He got a retirement in a high rank and came back in Poltava.
In 1810 Kotilarevsky got in Poltava vacant post as a supervisor in the House of Education for Poor Nobles. In 1817 Kotlarevsky took an active participation in organization Poltava’s theatre. For this theatre he wrote two plays which are a comic opera called Natalka-Poltavka and a comedy the Moskal-Sorcerer.
Kotliarevsky belonged to the high society. He visited Masonic Lodge founded in 1818. He was interested in publishing a hand-written magazine called “The Poltava’s Fly” where were shown all people’s vices and stupidity.
Kotlarevsky was the soul if company, he was respected by men and loved by women for his affability and hospitality.
In Poltava Kotliarevsky had lived in a honor till old age. He was rare to go out of Poltava after 1810. He died in Poltava in November 10, 1838.
In 1903 in Poltava were set up a monument for Kotlarevsky, and in 1952 in Poltava was open Kotliarevsky’s literary-memorial museum and guests of Poltava can visit it even now.
