Four of Us: Russian Silver Age Poetry Collection
This dual-language poetry anthology brings together four giants of Russian literature: Boris Pasternak, Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelstam, and Marina Tsvetaeva. Each poet represents a distinct temperament and voice that together define the Russian Silver Age poetic tradition.
About the Collection
The anthology features 10 carefully selected poems from each of the four poets, translated into English by Andrey Kneller. The dual-language format allows readers to experience the original Russian text alongside English translations, making it valuable for both literature students and poetry enthusiasts.
As Joseph Brodsky observed: "The fact of the matter is that everything that happens in culture ultimately comes down to this, to the four famous temperaments: melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic, and choleric. That's what I think. It seems to me that our Big Four can also be divided by according to these temperaments, inasmuch as all of them are actually very distinctly represented in the group. Tsvetaeva is unquestionably the choleric author. Pasternak is sanguine. Mandelstam is melancholic. And Akhmatova is phlegmatic. Together they cover the whole poetic universe."
The Four Poets
Boris Pasternak - The sanguine voice whose work spans early modernism through Soviet-era literature, best known internationally for Doctor Zhivago.
Anna Akhmatova - The phlegmatic master whose concise, emotionally restrained verse became a defining voice of 20th century Russian poetry.
Osip Mandelstam - The melancholic poet whose work exemplifies the Acmeist movement and whose life ended tragically in Stalin's camps.
Marina Tsvetaeva - The choleric force whose passionate, rhythmically complex poetry pushed the boundaries of Russian verse.
Ideal For
This paperback anthology serves literature students studying comparative literature, Russian poetry enthusiasts, and readers interested in 20th century Soviet literature. The dual-language format makes it particularly useful for those learning Russian or studying translation.
Product Details
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform in January 2015, this poetry collection offers an accessible entry point into Russian Silver Age literature. The anthology format allows readers to compare and contrast the four distinct poetic voices that shaped modern Russian poetry.
