Description
"Evgeny Boratynsky and the
Russian Golden Age" is the first metrical and rhymed translation of
nearly all the lyrics by Evgeny Boratynsky (1800-1844), one of the
greatest poets of the Golden Age of Russian poetry. Also included is the
translation of two narrative poems ("Banqueting" and "Eda") and the
most characteristic passages from "The Gypsy" and "The Ball." Each work
is followed by a full annotation, in which, in addition to the
background necessary for the understanding of the work, one finds an
analysis of its form. In many cases, the poems on similar themes by
Pushkin, Lermontov, Tyutchev Yazykov and some later poets are included.
In its entirety, the commentary provides a glimpse into Boratynsky's
literary epoch, his ties with his environment (Russian, French and
German), and the influence he exercised on later poets. A special
feature of "Evgeny Boratynsky and the Russian Golden Age" is the
translator's strict adherence to the form of the original. In all cases,
Anatoly Liberman attempts to reproduce not only the rhyming and the
metrical scheme of the poems but also the sound effects and some of the
special features of Boratynsky's vocabulary, while remaining as close to
the poet's wording as possible. The few previous attempts to present
Boratynsky's mastery to the English-speaking world were less ambitious
and considerably more limited in scope. A long introduction provides the
expected biographical information and acquaints the reader with the
poetic climate of the Golden Age and with the history of translating
Boratynsky into English.
About the Author
Anatoly Liberman is
professor of Germanic philology at the University of Minnesota, USA. He
has published over 650 works, including 15 books, of which he is the
author or editor.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements and a Few
Editorial Remarks; 1. Introduction; 2. Poems; Part One; 3. Embarrassed
to Be Merry; Part Two; 4. My Gift Is Faint; Part Three; 5. Poetry's
Mysterious Grief; 6. Commentary; Titles and the First Lines in English
Transliteration; The First Lines in Russian; The Principal Themes and
Motifs of Boratynsky's Poetry; Name Index; Subject Index.