Commentary on T. G. Shevchenko's "Kobzar". Poetry 1837–1847. Volume 1
Unlike ordinary notes, Ivakin provides a "real commentary": he explains each historical figure, the contemporary political events that Shevchenko alluded to, and deciphers complex metaphors. It is for this work that the author has received high recognition among scholars.

This is a thorough scientific study in which Yuri Ivakin explains each of Shevchenko's works, revealing the historical context, real prototypes of characters, the meaning of obsolete words, and the history of writing poetry. The second volume covers the most difficult and fruitful period of the Kobzar's work - from 1847 to 1861. This includes commentary on the works of the exile period (the cycle "In the Casemate", "Orenburg" and "Novopetrovskaya" slave muse) and poems of the last years of life after his return (for example, "Maria", "Isaiah. Chapter 35", "It happens, in captivity I sometimes remember...").