Diana Lewis Burgin
Encyclopedia
Diana Lewis Burgin, is an author, and Professor of Russian at the University of Massachusetts
; she received her B.A. in Russian from Swarthmore College
, her M.A. & Ph.D. from Harvard University
's Slavic Languages and Literatures Department. She has been teaching Russian at University of Massachusetts, Boston since 1975.
She is the daughter of Richard Burgin
, and Ruth Posselt
who married on July 3, 1940. She had published a narrative poem "Richard Burgin: A Life in Verse" (Slavica Pub, 1989; ISBN 0893571962) describing her father's biography.
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
; she received her B.A. in Russian from Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
, her M.A. & Ph.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Slavic Languages and Literatures Department. She has been teaching Russian at University of Massachusetts, Boston since 1975.
She is the daughter of Richard Burgin
Richard Burgin
For the American writer, see Richard Burgin Richard Burgin was a Polish-American violinist, best known as associate conductor and the concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra .-Early life:...
, and Ruth Posselt
Ruth Posselt
Ruth Pierce Posselt was an American violinist and educator.-Studies and Performances:...
who married on July 3, 1940. She had published a narrative poem "Richard Burgin: A Life in Verse" (Slavica Pub, 1989; ISBN 0893571962) describing her father's biography.
Works
- "After the Ball is Over: Sofia Parnok Creative Relationship with Marina Tsvetaeva", Russia Review, Vol. 4, 1988
- "Sofia Parnok and the Writing of a Lesbian Poets Life", Slavic Review, 51/2, 1992, pp. 214–231
Citations
- The Twentieth-century Russian Novel, David C. Gillespie, page 148
- A plot of her own, Sona Stephan Hoisington, page 144
- Pushkin and the genres of madness, Gary Rosenshield, page 209
Reviews
Parnok comes across as a melodramatic, needy person whose tormented yearnings and unconventional sexuality produced a provocative if insubstantial body of work. Though Burgin's thoughts about translation make for interesting reading, her assumption that Parnok's poems are autobiographical remains woefully unexamined. Still, her efforts to meld the poet's works and passions will awaken sympathy for this neglected lesbian artist while never quite justifying the series editor's claim that Parnok was "brilliant."