Books: Rakehell Genius

PUSHKIN—Ernest J. Simmons—Harvard University Press ($4).

Russian Reds and Whites cannot live together in amity, but one parti-colored dead man they proudly own in common. Last week, on the hundredth anniversary of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin's death, for once both Reds and Whites sang together like so many harmonious morning stars. Arid for once, the burden of their song was praise: praise for Pushkin, Russia's No. 1 poet. To most U. S. readers, Pushkin is still only a funny name. Much of his poetry has been translated, but most of it reads like doggerel.* To...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!