Over the Christmas week we’re doing things a little differently. Today is the first part of a special two part podcast on the life and works of Ukrainian poet, writer and artist, Taras Shevchenko.Shevchenko’s life is a fascinating story. Born in serfdom in 1814, he died in 1861 in St Petersburg. His life is one of incredible creativity, artistic talent and gives us a fascinating glimpse back into 19th century Ukrainian history at a time when the Russian Empire was in its heyday. Understanding him, his life and his impact on Ukrainian culture, should help us better contemporary modern Ukraine and that is what this two part podcast will try and do. Contributors:David Knowles (Host). @DJKnowles22 on Twitter.Lyubov Tarashchuk (Researcher at the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Kyiv).Email: podcasts@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.