Russian Lyrics

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 99K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Russian Lyrics by Martha Dickinson BianchiAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Apr 1, 2004

Editor's review

Russian Lyrics is an English-language anthology of Russian lyric poetry, compiled and translated by Martha Dickinson Bianchi and in the public domain as an e-book. Its value lies in opening a window for English-language readers onto the Russian lyric tradition, with selections leaning toward short, emotionally intense poems that convey the rhythm and imagery of Russian poetry in English translation. A highlight is that the compiler-translator has a background in literary writing, so the translations carry a degree of poetic shaping rather than word-for-word literalism, reading closer in texture to lyrical prose. It suits light reading as an introduction to foreign poetry, and is also well suited to short reading sessions during a commute or before bed. Note that this is not a scholarly bilingual edition: it lacks detailed notes and poet biographies, and its rendering of the meter of the Russian originals is limited. Readers seeking a systematic understanding of Russian poetry history will find this book only a starting point; those who want to experience the emotional expression of lyric poetry and the flavor of English translation will find it a small collection to dip into at leisure.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a beginning interest in Russian literature and lyric poetry
Light readers who want to encounter foreign poetry through English translation
People who need public-domain poetry material for excerpts or recitation practice
Literature lovers who enjoy short poems and read in fragmented time

Not a good fit for

Researchers of Russian poetry who need bilingual texts or detailed annotation
Readers expecting a complete historical overview of Russian poetry
Experienced readers who are particular about the language style of translated poetry

Reading tips

Read through once to get the overall tone, then choose favorite poems to read aloud repeatedly and feel the rhythm of the English translation.
Copy down images or lines that move you and compare them with Chinese translations or background on the originals.
There is no need to read in order; browse by mood or theme as short-session reading material.
When you encounter an unfamiliar poet, note the name first and look into their background after finishing the book.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a Russian-English bilingual edition?

No. This is an English-translated poetry collection aimed mainly at English-language readers and does not provide the Russian originals alongside. If you need bilingual reading, you will have to find a separate bilingual edition. The translations focus on conveying the lyric sense, with limited preservation of the original meter and sound, so they suit getting the gist and the poetic feel rather than studying prosody.

Why are there no detailed poet introductions in the book?

As a public-domain e-book, it mainly provides the poetry texts, and its editorial format is relatively simple, without a biography and notes for each poet. Readers who want to understand the poets' backgrounds can read it alongside a history of Russian literature or biographical materials, using this book as an anthology and an introduction.

Is it suitable for learning English poetry?

It can serve as supplementary material. The translations have a lyrical prose style and the sentences are not overly difficult, making them suitable for experiencing how English expresses emotion. But it is not a teaching anthology: it has no vocabulary notes or appreciation commentary. For systematic study of English poetry, pair it with a textbook that provides explanations.

How much is appropriate to read at one time?

Lyric poetry suits short reading sessions; three to five poems at a time is enough, leaving room for afterthought. It is suitable for reading on a commute, before bed, or in breaks. Rather than aiming to finish, pick a few poems and read them aloud repeatedly to feel the tone and imagery of the translation; this better captures the flavor of the collection.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Project Gutenberg Author

Project Gutenberg is not a single author but a nonprofit digital library founded by Michael Hart in 1971 and one of the world's earliest free ebook platforms. It relies on volunteers to digitize, proofread, and freely distribute public-domain works and is now operated by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Its collection contains 2,692 works, mainly religious texts, epics, and story collections, including the King James Bible and the Douay-Rheims volumes, the epic Mahabharata, a literal translation of the Arabian Nights, and Danish editions of the Old and New Testaments. Public information is limited, and its nature is closer to a public-interest compiling and dissemination body; these texts are open to the public, easy to consult and circulate, and have had a profound influence on the spread of ebooks and the preservation of public-domain resources.