Carcanet Press - Alexander Blok: a Life

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Alexandr Blok (1880-1921), one of Russia's greatest modern poets, lived through a period in which a staid and traditional world was being destroyed and a new, often alarming utopia was being projected. A member of the intelligentsia and of the Russian landed aristocracy, Blok changed from being a detached observer of revolution into a committed servant of the Russian people. His early poetic mysticism gave way to the historical vision of his most famous poem, The Twelve.

This account of his life and of his art, written originally in French by the exiled novelist and autobiographer Nina Berberova, evokes the troubled world of the Russian intelligentsia, their illusions and their disarray in the face of revolution. Blok's complicated emotional life, his passion for his art, and his public stature are all conveyed here with
economy, elegance and deep understanding.

Nina Berberova

Nina Berberova was born in St Petersburg in 1901, and in 1921 was the first mourner to bring flowers to Blok on his death. In 1922 she left Russia with the poet Khodasevich, living first in Berlin and then in Paris. In 1950 she departed for New York, worked as a ... read more

Robyn Marsack

Robyn Marsack began her long association with Carcanet Press by editing the first edition of Edmund Blunden’s Selected Poems in 1982, and worked as a publishers’ editor until she became Director of the Scottish Poetry Library 2000–2016. She was a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Glasgow 2016–2018. ... read more

Praise for Robyn Marsack 'Readers will be drawn to this book for the poets' letters, but what really dominates is the personality of Schmidt; at the end we are left with a prevailing sense of his editorial vision and an appreciation of his influence and accomplishment in the world of contemporary poetry publishing and criticism... Fifty Fifty is full of energy and play, and not a few crossed swords.'

Kevin Gardner, Wild Court

'A window into the award-winning world of Carcanet'
Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph
'In celebration of the Manchester-based press' 50th anniversary, a fascinating collection of letters... tracing the eventful history of this small, ambitious and excellent press.'
The Bookseller

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Alexander Blok: a Life Nina Berberova Translated by Robyn Marsack Imprint: Carcanet Poetry Publisher: Carcanet Press Available as: Description Author Reviews Alexandr Blok (1880-1921), one of Russia's greatest modern poets, lived through a period in which a staid and traditional world was being destroyed and a new, often alarming utopia was being projected. A member of the intelligentsia and of the Russian landed aristocracy, Blok changed from being a detached observer of revolution into a committed servant of the Russian people. His early poetic mysticism gave way to the historical vision of his most famous poem, The Twelve. This account of his life and of his art, written originally in French by the exiled novelist and autobiographer Nina Berberova, evokes the troubled world of the Russian intelligentsia, their illusions and their disarray in the face of revolution. Blok's complicated emotional life, his passion for his art, and his public stature are all conveyed here with economy, elegance and deep understanding. Nina Berberova Nina Berberova was born in St Petersburg in 1901, and in 1921 was the first mourner to bring flowers to Blok on his death. In 1922 she left Russia with the poet Khodasevich, living first in Berlin and then in Paris. In 1950 she departed for New York, worked as a ... read more Robyn Marsack Robyn Marsack began her long association with Carcanet Press by editing the first edition of Edmund Blunden’s Selected Poems in 1982, and worked as a publishers’ editor until she became Director of the Scottish Poetry Library 2000–2016. She was a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the University of Glasgow 2016–2018. ... read more Praise for Robyn Marsack 'Readers will be drawn to this book for the poets' letters, but what really dominates is the personality of Schmidt; at the end we are left with a prevailing sense of his editorial vision and an appreciation of his influence and accomplishment in the world of contemporary poetry publishing and criticism... Fifty Fifty is full of energy and play, and not a few crossed swords.' Kevin Gardner, Wild Court 'A window into the award-winning world of Carcanet' Tristram Fane Saunders, The Telegraph 'In celebration of the Manchester-based press' 50th anniversary, a fascinating collection of letters... tracing the eventful history of this small, ambitious and excellent press.' *The Bookseller*	Share this... Quick Links Carcanet Poetry Carcanet Classics Carcanet Fiction Carcanet Film Lives and Letters PN Review Video Carcanet Celebrates 50 Years! The Carcanet Blog We've Moved! read more Books of the Year read more One Little Room: Peter McDonald read more Collected Poems: Mimi Khalvati read more Invisible Dog: Fabio Morbito, translated by Richard Gwyn read more Dante's Purgatorio: Philip Terry read more
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Alexander Blok: a Life

Nina Berberova

Translated by Robyn Marsack