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Amazon.co.uk Review
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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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
• T.J. Binyon is one of Britain’s most respected critics and authorities on Russian literature, and this ‘stupendous biography is the crown of a life’s work… the best biography I have read, not just this year but in decades.’ (A.N. Wilson, Daily Mail)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine biography.,
By Charles Freeman (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Pushkin (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.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sad but addictive reading,
This review is from: Pushkin (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.
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not wonderful if you are interested in Pushkin's writing,
This review is from: Pushkin (Paperback)
If you want to know how much money Pushkin owed and to whom on any given day of his life, who he slept with the night before and the Byzantine intracies of his social circle, then this is an outstandingly researched book. But if you are interested in literature and why he wrote what he wrote, then I would not advise this book. (It's not like Ellmann's biography of Joyce, for example). That's why I only give it three stars. I haven't gone back to my complete works of Pushkin with new insights and interests...If that's what you want this book for, then reconsider before reading (and be warned, it's not easy to get through - those social networks are very complicated).
On a personal level I would like to have had the quotations of his poetry in the original Russian, - I'll accept that is probably a minority requirement (even though someone interested enough in Pushkin to read a book like this might well know Russian), but I've not penalised him for this in my rating. But many thanks for one piece of information. Pushkin once met the mayor of Sarapul where I have many friends and where I go from time to time. I was delighted to tell my friends that Pushkin once met their mayor - something they didn't know (Sarapul is in the Urals, near Yezhevsk if you're interested...).
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