Review by Choice Review
Apukhtin (1841-93) was a gifted poet, for some "a poet of genius" with the potential of a "future Pushkin," who was his literary idol. Although he enjoyed a brief period of literary fame, the shift to radical politics and civic literature late in the century frightened him and curtailed his literary activity. He developed a close and fruitful relationship with the eminent composer Peter Tchaikovsky, who gave musical expression to some of his poetry. In his later years, Apukhtin began to write prose, represented here in an excellent translation of three works. They demonstrate Apukhtin's keen observation of the manners, morals, and idiosyncrasies of the privileged classes from an autobiographical perspective. After the death of his mother, Apukhtin suffered from deep psychological problems, especially solitude, melancholy, and despair, and seems to have turned to food as a kind of antidote. His voracious appetite led to acute obesity, which ultimately caused his death. Taylor provides an excellent introduction to the principal features of Apukhtin's poetry, his early education, his friendships and his relationship with Tchaikovsky. The numerous French phrases should have been translated in the text. Graduate and research collections. V. D. Barooshian Wells College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
