Five UWho is Serhiy Zhadan? Helen Mirren reads his poem Take Only What Is Most Important at Ukraine war vigilrainian authors to read
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- 13 Mar 2023
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Zhadan has written countless poems and books based on his hometown in Ukraine.
To mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on the night of Thursday, February 23, hundreds of people gathered in central London.
Some groups gathered around the US and Ukraine embassies, while others, including Dame Helen Mirren, joined the vigil held at Trafalgar Square.
With tears in her eyes, Mirren recited a touching poem; Serhiy Zhadan’s Take Only What Is Most Important.
Here’s a look at who the poet is and his powerful poem.
Who is Serhiy Zhadan?
Serhiy Zhadan, 48, is a Ukrainian poet, novelist, and social activist from the Luhansk Oblast province’s city of Starobilsk in Ukraine.
Aftemr copleting his studies, he started working on his poetry, which focused on his homeland and those in Luhansk Oblast.
Over the years, Zhadan published 12 poetry books and seven novels, winning numerous literary awards. His book Voroshilovgrad, which told the story of a young man in Luhansk, even became award-winning movie The Wild Fields.
In 2016, his book Mesopotamia won the Award of the President of Ukraine as the Ukrainian Book of the Year.
The creative has also collaborated with theatre companies and musicians, adapting his work for the stage and producing lyrics.
He eventually released his own full-length album, Fokstroty with Yuriy Gurzhy.
As for Zhadan’s social activism, the poet has been a keen protestor of corruption and voter intimidation.
Since 2014, Zhadan has visited the front lines of the Eastern Donbas region, which was in armed conflict with Russian separatists many times, bringing humanitarian aid with his Serhiy Zhadan Charitable Foundation. Read More…
