Author Description
Acmeism is chiefly known through the three leading Russian poets--Nikolai Gumilev, Ann Akhmatova, and Osip Mandel'shtam--each of whom are discussed here, along with less well-known Acmeists, in the first extensive study in English of the movement. Doherty's fascinating study shows how earlytwentieth-century Acmeism developed into a specific way of thinking about poetry and the Russian literary tradition, and how this thinking evolved out of poetry criticism as practiced in the main Acmeist forum, Tsekh Poetov (The Poets' Guild). The book maps out a general history of the movement, andaddresses the relationship between Acmeism and Russian Symbolism, examining in detail the theoretical and critical principles of the Acmeists. Particular attention is paid to the importance of intertextuality in Acmeist poetic practice.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the theoretical foundations and historical evolution of the Acmeist movement within early twentieth-century Russian poetry. Justin Doherty, a lecturer in Russian, utilizes a rigorous academic framework to analyze how the Poets' Guild (Tsekh Poetov) shaped the aesthetic and critical principles of the era. By examining the works of Nikolai Gumilev, Anna Akhmatova, and Osip Mandel'shtam, the author argues that Acmeism functioned as a distinct intellectual response to the prevailing influence of Russian Symbolism.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive historical overview of the Acmeist movement and its primary forum, Tsekh Poetov.
- Detailed analysis of the theoretical and critical principles defining the Acmeist aesthetic.
- Comparative study of the relationship between Acmeism and Russian Symbolism.
- Examination of intertextuality as a core component of Acmeist poetic practice.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and academic reviewers highlight this work as a foundational, well-documented study for those researching early twentieth-century Russian literature. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a primary resource for understanding the intellectual history of the movement.
Page Count:
328
Publication Date:
1995-06-29
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198158882
ISBN-13:
9780198158882
History
Poetry
Academic
Russian
Literary Criticism
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