Vladimir Vysotsky (January 25, 1938 - July 25, 1980) was a poet, singer, and actor whose work had an immeasurable and lasting effect on Russian culture. His songs explored a vast variety of topics, ranging from comedy to social and political commentary. With the impressive poetical quality of his lyrics, he quickly outgrew the label of "a bard." In the time when many poets and performers were under heavy scrutiny and censorship by the government, Vysotsky dared to speak his mind and due to his immense popularity with the Soviet people, he was left largely ignored by the authorities. Vysotsky...

Alexander Pushkin (June 6, 1799 - February 10, 1837), is widely considered to be Russia's greatest writer. He is credited with enhancing the Russian lexicon and introducing a language that, while bridging Romanticism with Realism, would become a foundation for Russian modern literature. His poetry, marked by innovative rhymes and rhythms, while, at the same time, maintaining natural tone and diction, has a very unique and distinct sound that is drastically different from anything written before him. His novel in verse, Eugene Onegin, has been recognized all over the world and translated into...

Anna Akhmatova (June 23, 1889 - March 5, 1966) is considered by many to be one of the greatest Russian poets of the Silver Age. Although true fame and recognition did not come until her later, "Evening," her first poetry collection, had caught the attention of many prominent literary critics of the time and helped to solidify her career as a writer. One of the forefront leaders of the Acmeism movement, which focused on rigorous form and directness of words, she was a master of conveying raw emotion in her portrayals of everyday situations. Her works range from short lyric love poetry to...

Osip Mandelstam (January 15, 1891 - December 27, 1938) was a Russian poet and essayist, and a founding member of Acmeist school of Russian poetry. He is considered by many to be one of the most significant Russian poets of the twentieth century, along with Anna Akhmatova, Boris Pasternak, and Marina Tsvetaeva. Heavily censored and persecuted by the Soviet authorities for counter-revolutionary activities, he spent most of his later years in exile, until his death in Siberia. Presented in this dual-language selection are many of Osip Mandelstam's most beloved poems, carefully translated by...