- Hardcover: 751 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins (16 Sep 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0002150840
- ISBN-13: 978-0002150842
- Product Dimensions: 24 x 16.4 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,277,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
For the English-speaking reader, it's hard to comprehend the massive esteem in which Pushkin is held in his native Russia. While lip service is paid to his literary greatness on these shores, he is probably better known as the source of opera libretti (such as Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin) than for his actual writings, which is a great shame. TJ Binyon's remarkable Pushkin: A Biography should, hopefully, do something to redress the balance.
This is a model of its kind: a biography that carefully and assiduously marshals the facts about its fascinating protagonist, but refuses to push the reader into easy judgments. It is a celebration of a remarkable man. From Pushkin's early days as a combative anti-establishment rebel to the heights of his fame and success, Binyon relates (in elegant and balanced prose) the crucial events that formed the writer's genius. The colourful era of Russia in the 19th century is, of course, brought to life with evocative detail (Binyon is a Russian specialist, and his authority in this field knows few peers).
But the book is as much a biography of an era as it is of its charismatic subject. Pushkin's violent death was enshrouded in controversy (rather like that of Tchaikovsky, who famously set Pushkin's texts to music), and the cocktail of sex, jealousy and madness that precipitated his death from a bullet wound to the genitals is handled with trenchant skill. The final effect of all great biographies of writers should be to send the reader back to the work, and within the first few chapters of Binyon's sweeping and fastidious study, that is exactly the effect created here. --Barry Forshaw
Review
‘Only a biographer of the first rank could show how the poet’s brilliant spirit was extinguished, not just by a regime, but by elements in that regime that to some extent reflected his own personality. That is true tragedy, and that is Russia.’ George Walden, Sunday Telegraph
‘A weighty biography in every sense, Binyon’s book is poignant, brisk and at times downright funny: the best possible tribute to the changeable and elusively fascinating character of its subject.’ Catriona Kelly, Guardian
’A grippingly entertaining and magnificently authoritative account of the poet’s life, which is, almost unbelievably, the first to appear in any language since 1937.’ Alan Marshall, Daily Telegraph
‘In T.J Binyon [Pushkin] has finally found the biographer he deserves. Here in all its splendour is his rebellious, flamboyant personality and his world of tenuous finance, imperial balls and sexual adventure… Pushkin remains immortal and he certainly lives again in this book.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday
‘Binyon’s Life gives a marvellously clear sense of the man Pushkin might have been to meet: alternately belligerent and sweet, physically small. On the matter of Pushkin’s politics, Binyon is excellent.’ Ian Thomson, Independent on Sunday
‘Scrupulously researched, lucidly and ojectively written, with an admirable lightness of touch and a good dose of dry humour’. (Economist)
‘Readable, perceptive and witty… a valuable achievement.’ Jonathan Sumption, Spectator
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I knew almost nothing of Pushkin before reading this book. Binyon does a fine job of taking us through his life. His judgements are balanced, his prose measured but readable and the story, though taken rather slowly at first, builds up into the moving climax of Pushkin's untimely death. Binyon's research is impeccable- he tells us just enough about the other characters in the story without overwhelming the reader with trivia. There were times when I wished he had stood back from his subject and allowed his own personal reactions to Pushkin more scope. (Binyon is too intelligent and perceptive for these not to have been of interest.) It is also difficult for non-Russian readers to understand quite why Pushkin appealed and appeals so strongly to the Russian soul and Binyon might have explored this further. However, I cannot award a book I have so enjoyed anything less than five stars.
Format:Paperback
A fascinating and exhaustively researched study of Pushkin, the strange contradictions in this man who could be so contradictary in all his attitudes, towards his heritary, politics, Europe and his relationships with women.
He comes across as a mass of contradictions, snobbish about his ancient linage but proud of his descent from an African slave, both radical and reactionary in his politics (and extremely reactionary in his attitude towards women) given to falling madly in love with some women, abusive in his treatment of others.
I was a bit disappointed in the lack of detail concerning his wife Natayla and their domestic situation. We hear very little about her opinions, friends, or even what she was doing in his last agonising hours, except for the fact that she was overwhelmed with distress and at one point, fed him cherry conserve. I was pleased that the author doesn't take a blaming attitude twoards her over the fatal duel with D'Anthes - when men want to fight over a woman, nothing will stop them.
I loved the poem celebrating Pushkin's sexual love of his innocent bride but thought that some of the others came across rather uninspired translations. Of course, it is easy enough to criticise what must have been an immense task.
He comes across as a mass of contradictions, snobbish about his ancient linage but proud of his descent from an African slave, both radical and reactionary in his politics (and extremely reactionary in his attitude towards women) given to falling madly in love with some women, abusive in his treatment of others.
I was a bit disappointed in the lack of detail concerning his wife Natayla and their domestic situation. We hear very little about her opinions, friends, or even what she was doing in his last agonising hours, except for the fact that she was overwhelmed with distress and at one point, fed him cherry conserve. I was pleased that the author doesn't take a blaming attitude twoards her over the fatal duel with D'Anthes - when men want to fight over a woman, nothing will stop them.
I loved the poem celebrating Pushkin's sexual love of his innocent bride but thought that some of the others came across rather uninspired translations. Of course, it is easy enough to criticise what must have been an immense task.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had saved this book with a few others for the summer holiday but ended up only reading this one. Great read but not a page turner as it is detailed beyond the norm. Should appeal to non poetry readers like myself. Best history book i have read this year and am tempted to buy onegin.
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