My Talisman: The Poetry and Life of Alexander Pushkin

by Julian Henry Lowenfeld

Genres: Poetry

734 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jonathan Fryer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin has often been poorly served in English translation, which is probably why his star does not shine so bright in British eyes as that of the novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. And yet for millions of Russians, past and present, Pushkin is the beating heart and soul of Mother Russia — brilliant, passionate, defiant and ultimately self-destructive. So it is with immense pleasure that I have read Julian Henry Lowenfeld’s book of translations of the poet’s selected verse, with a lengthy and engaging biographical introduction (Elegy Books, £22). As well as being a polyglot Mr Lowenfeld is a poet himself and the verses are thus often a poetic reworking of the original, rather than a literal translation. The rhythm and the spirit of the original is impressively preserved and the translations can be read aloud with pleasure. There is much playfulness in the poet’s oeuvre, as well as the highs and lows of love and frustration about physical limitations placed upon him by the Tsar or the authorities. At times he is a bird in a cage that chafes in waiting to be set free, while at others he dreams of Italy and Spain — a romanticised southern Europe that he could never experience in reality. The biographical essay is especially useful for locating Pushkin’s work within a particular time and space, the poet’s emotions at the time frequently illuminated with short quotations from poems. The volume is illustrated throughout with Pushkin’s own charming doodles, which reflect his often impish sense of fun, his scorn of pomposity and his semi-detachment from the beau monde around him. Altogether this is a most attractive companion for anyone who cannot access Pushkin in the original Russian but who wants to sense his genius.

[Anya Rubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best translation of Pushkin in English

[Alex]

"The night"

In silence of the late dark night, disturbed in passion sweet surrender,
My voice, to you directed, loving is, being mellow, soft and tender.

The words of poetry - they flow babbling, into song they
meld in my excited candor.
Being full of love, as passion streams the flow of my rhymes - to you from me: by you enchanted sender.

Sad candle burns near my bed - its sparks sometimes your lovely image render.
In darkness of the room I see your shining eyes - they smile to me,
revealing their splendor.
...
...
And suddenly the sounds of your voice I hear in love's magic spell of curse:
"My friend, my gentle friend, love you, I'm yours, I'm yours!"

[Bereed · Rating 3 out of 5]

The translations of the poetry were very good. When I got to the section on Eugene Onegin, I lost interest.

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What beautiful poetry