Russian Ark, yes. American Ark? Unlikely.
The great Russian film, Russian Ark, is a deep meditation on the treasures of culture and the tragedies of history. Will there be an American Ark 100 years from now?
Who has burned cannot be set on fire.
Yesenin’s poetic celebration of rural life was itself far removed from Yesenin’s real life.
Poet and Citizen. Struggle and Song
A new Russian writer I discovered this morning is Nikolai Nekrasov (1821-78)…
culture / history / literature
New Acquisitions in the Burning Archive
Over the last few weeks I have collected a fair swag of Russian world history and literature.
Pushkin and the Trauma of the Flood
The Russians of today show no sign of pulling down the great statue of Peter the Great that overlooks the Neva. Nor do they show any signs of cancelling Pushkin.
Strange Freedom
From this traumatised, divided old Russian Soviet poet, we learn about our own strange freedom.
The Seminar and the Last Night
Shvarts has become for me an important poet.