From the Bible to Shakespeare

This is the first comprehensive study of the language program of the prominent Ukrainian writer and ideologue Pantelejmon Kuliš (1819-1897) whose translations of the Bible and Shakespeare proved most innovative in the formation of literary and the national self-identification of Ukrainians. The author looks at Kuliš's translations from the perspective of cultural and ethnic studies presenting literary Ukrainian as a process of negotiation among literary traditions religions (rites) political movements and personalities.<p> This book may be used in university courses on the history of Slavic languages and literatures contemporary theories of nation-building and national identity as well as language contact and (historical) sociolinguistics. The discussion of language policy in the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary can be included in regular university courses on Slavic civilizations history of Central and Eastern Europe (Russia Poland and Ukraine).