A Book of Russian Verse

by Cecil Maurice Bowra (Editor)

The aim of this book is to give a representative selection of short Russian poems in translation as faithful and as readable as can be found. In most cases, the versions follow not only the sense but the metres of the originals. The selection begins with Pushkin because with him Russian poetry written after that date belongs to a different world and demands separate treatment.

127 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1971

About the author

Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra was an English classical scholar and academic, known for his wit. He was Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, from 1938 to 1970, and served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1951 to 1954.

Reviews

[Victoria Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handful of interesting poetry, some of it memorable, some not...
Recurring themes throughout: death, the brevity of life, the nightingale, memory, youth and innocence (usually spoiled), escapism etc.
Some were pastoral, describing parts of Russia like the Steppe, the Volga etc. I liked the poems about countryside and the elements/ storms/ clouds/ sky.
The soul was also a recurring motif, perhaps as metaphor for the poet - some poets were very sure of themselves, talking about how they would be remembered for a long time to come...
I read the whole anthology in one go, so I must have liked it I guess!