Robert Rozhdestvensky
Encyclopedia
Robert Ivanovich Rozhdestvensky was a Soviet poet who in the broke with the Social Realism in 1950s–1960s and, along with such poets as Andrey Voznesensky
, Yevgeny Yevtushenko
, and Bella Akhmadulina, pioneered a newer, fresher, and freer poetry in the Soviet Union
.
in Altai Krai
. Following the outbreak of World War II
, with both parents in the army, he found himself in the orphanage. After graduating high school, he attended Petrozavodsk University, where he began writing poetry (the first ones were published in 1950). He quit the University in order to attend Maxim Gorky Literature Institute
, which he finished in 1956.
In the time of the Khrushchev Thaw
he worked alongside Voznesensky, Yevtushenko, and Akhmadulina. They broke with the Social Realism, and wrote emotional, lyric poems. Despite this, Rozhdestvenski was always careful not to criticize the government, and thus remained in official favor through the 60's and 70's, even being awarded the Lenin Prize
in 1979.
In October 1993, he signed the Letter of Forty-Two
.
Rozhdestvensky died on 19 August 1994 in Peredelkino
.
Andrey Voznesensky
Andrei Andreyevich Voznesensky was a Soviet and Russian poet and writer who had been referred to by Robert Lowell as "one of the greatest living poets in any language." He was one of the "Children of the '60s," a new wave of iconic Russian intellectuals led by the Khrushchev Thaw.Voznesensky was...
, Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko is a Soviet and Russian poet. He is also a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor, and a director of several films.-Early life:...
, and Bella Akhmadulina, pioneered a newer, fresher, and freer poetry in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Life
Robert Rozhdestvensky was born to a military family in the village of KosikhaKosikha
Kosikha is the name of several rural localities in Russia:*Kosikha, Kontoshinsky Selsoviet, Kosikhinsky District, Altai Krai, a junction in Kontoshinsky Selsoviet of Kosikhinsky District, Altai Krai...
in Altai Krai
Altai Krai
Altai Krai is a federal subject of Russia . It borders with, clockwise from the south, Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk and Kemerovo Oblasts, and the Altai Republic. The krai's administrative center is the city of Barnaul...
. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with both parents in the army, he found himself in the orphanage. After graduating high school, he attended Petrozavodsk University, where he began writing poetry (the first ones were published in 1950). He quit the University in order to attend Maxim Gorky Literature Institute
Maxim Gorky Literature Institute
The Maxim Gorky Literature Institute is a higher education institute in Moscow. It is located at 25 Tver Bulvar in Central Moscow.It was founded in 1933 on the initiative of Maxim Gorky, and received its current name at Gorky's death in 1936....
, which he finished in 1956.
In the time of the Khrushchev Thaw
Khrushchev Thaw
The Khrushchev Thaw refers to the period from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s, when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were partially reversed and millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulag labor camps, due to Nikita Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization and...
he worked alongside Voznesensky, Yevtushenko, and Akhmadulina. They broke with the Social Realism, and wrote emotional, lyric poems. Despite this, Rozhdestvenski was always careful not to criticize the government, and thus remained in official favor through the 60's and 70's, even being awarded the Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize
The Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
in 1979.
In October 1993, he signed the Letter of Forty-Two
Letter of Forty-Two
The Letter of Forty-Two was an open letter signed by forty-two well-known Russian literati, aimed at Russian society, the president and government, in reaction to the events of September – October 1993...
.
Rozhdestvensky died on 19 August 1994 in Peredelkino
Peredelkino
Peredelkino is a dacha complex situated just to the southwest of Moscow, Russia.-History:The settlement originated as the estate of Peredeltsy, owned by the Leontievs , then by Princes Dolgorukov and by the Samarins. After a railway passed through the village in the 19th century, it was renamed...
.
Works
- Flags of Spring (Флаги весны), 1955
- To My Contemporary (Ровеснику), 1962
- Dedication (Посвящение), 1970
- In Twenty Years (За двадцать лет), 1973
- Insomnia (Бессонница), 1991
- Alyoshka's Thoughts (Алёшкины мысли), poems for children, 1991
- Last poems of Robert Rozhdestvensky was published after his death.
External links
- Роберт Иванович Рождественский, in Russian.