Captive Lion: The Life of Marina Tsvetayeva

by Elaine Feinstein

Traces the life of the Russian poet, describes the background of her times, and attempts to portray her complex personality

Genres: Biography, Poetry

289 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Elaine Feinstein was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge and has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as an editor for Cambridge University Press (1960-62), as Lecturer in English at Bishop's Stortford Training College (1963-6), as Assistant Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Essex (1967-70), and as a journalist.

She has contributed to many periodicals, including the Times Literary Supplement, and was formerly Writer in Residence for the British Council in Singapore and Tromsø, Norway.

Of Russian-Jewish ancestry, she has been influenced by Russian writers, especially Marina Tsvetayeva and Anna Akhmatova.

She is the author of a number of plays for television and radio and several biographies, including singer Bessie Smith, writer D. H. Lawrence, Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and Anna Akhmatova.

Reviews

[Ken Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating well written compelling biography of a poetess, whom Joseph Brodsky deemed to be one of the greatest of the twentieth century; a sobering insight as well into another sad period of Russian history.

[Chantal Honore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography in English (along with selected poems) of one of Russia's greatest poets Marina Tsaetaeva. Born of a privileged family, this book recounts her tragic life and loves to her untimely death and is a must read for anyone interested in Russian litterature.