Hryhoriy Kvitka-Osnovyanenko (1778 to 1843) is considered by many to be the father of Ukrainian prose. Born to a prominent Ukrainian family just outside Kharkiv, he became a tireless cultural activist for his people, helped found the Kharkiv Theatre in 1812 and served as its first director. His prose works, among them the sentimental Marusya and the comic The Witch of Konotop, and his plays, among them Matchmaking at Honcharivka, earn him a place in the pantheon of nineteenth century Ukrainian writers.