Pushkin

Description

Born in Moscow in 1799, Sergeevich Pushkin was expelled from St Petersburg at the age of 20 as a result of his satirical writings. He remained in internal exile, under the supervision of the Emperor, for the next seven years, and throughout his life he continued to excite official disapproval for his political and religious beliefs. In 1832 he married Natalia Goncharova. Five years later he became jealous of the attentions paid to her by a French nobleman, and challenged him to a duel, in which he was fatally injured. Pushkin's life and writings have inspired generations of devotees, and his influence continues to be felt in the present day. His best-known works include "The Bronze Horseman", the blank-verse historical drama "Boris Godunov", the verse novel "Eugene Onegin" and "Queen of Spades." This biography, of one of literature's most romantic and enigmatic figures, is published to coincide with the bicentenary of his birth.

T.J. Binyon lectures in Russian literature at Wadham College, Oxford.

*'Only a biographer of the first rank could show how the poet's brilliant spirit was extinguished, not just by a regime, but by elements in that regime that to some extent reflected his own personality. That is true tragedy, and that is Russia.' George Walden, Sunday Telegraph *'A weighty biography in every sense, Binyon's book is poignant, brisk and at times downright funny: the best possible tribute to the changeable and elusively fascinating character of its subject.' Catriona Kelly, Guardian *'A grippingly entertaining and magnificently authoritative account of the poet's life, which is, almost unbelievably, the first to appear in any language since 1937.' Alan Marshall, Daily Telegraph *'In T.J Binyon [Pushkin] has finally found the biographer he deserves. Here in all its splendour is his rebellious, flamboyant personality and his world of tenuous finance, imperial balls and sexual adventure... Pushkin remains immortal and he certainly lives again in this book.' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Mail on Sunday *'Binyon's Life gives a marvellously clear sense of the man Pushkin might have been to meet: alternately belligerent and sweet, physically small. On the matter of Pushkin's politics, Binyon is excellent.' Ian Thomson, Independent on Sunday *'Scrupulously researched, lucidly and ojectively written, with an admirable lightness of touch and a good dose of dry humour'. (Economist) *'Readable, perceptive and witty... a valuable achievement.' Jonathan Sumption, Spectator