History of Silver Age Russian Literature (1890-1920) (Complete Four Volumes)

Author: Gu Yu, Wang Yamin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The Silver Age Literary History published by the Heritage Publishing House of the Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2001 is undoubtedly one of the most systematic and authoritative works to date. It is a highly documented and insightful read that must be read by university students, literary researchers, and readers who are interested in Russian literature. This book rigorously examines the relationship between traditional Russian literature and modernism during the Silver Age, highlighting the differences between Russian symbolism and futurism and other literary schools and the West. It objectively evaluates the achievements, strengths, and weaknesses of both native and immigrant writers, neither overlooking their ideological opposition nor failing to notice the complementary nature of their works in terms of intellectual content and artistic techniques. Additionally, it provides in-depth discussions on the relationship between Silver Age literature and philosophy, literature and other arts, particularly the differences between realism and new realism, offering fresh perspectives. Furthermore, the book dedicates special chapters to introduce writers, in addition to the well-known ones, such as Avrichenko, Tef, Chorniy, Arzhabeshov, and Verbytskaya, among others, which are highly enlightening. Some of the literary schools and writers of the Silver Age had a short lifespan, and the era itself was not long-lasting. However, the sheer number of brilliant writers and timeless works that emerged during this brief period in Russian history is unprecedented.