The Complete Pushkin: Book Launch and Reading

The Complete Pushkin: Book Launch and Reading

A book launch and reading from the first volume of Alma Classics’s new complete edition of Pushkin’s lyrics and shorter poetry – well over 700 verses – with Pushkin’s original Russian (or occasionally French) texts and English translations on facing pages. The collection is to appear in four successive volumes over the next few years.

Volume 1 of the four volume set has now been published.  It contains 137 verses written by Pushkin between the ages of 9 and 18, mostly during his formative years at the progressive Imperial Lycée, newly established by Tsar Alexander I at his main summer residence in Tsarskoye Selo outside St Petersburg.  Many of the poems are unknown to the English-reading world, except among Russian scholars.  Most of them already display Pushkin’s characteristic wit, and many show a level of artistry, technique and maturity astonishing for a teenager.

The experienced British Pushkinist Roger Clarke, who has already edited and translated many of Pushkin’s major works for Alma Classics, is the editor of this series and one of the translators.

Roger will give a brief introduction to the project and to Volume 1 in particular; readings of selected poems will follow in both Russian and English, the Russian originals being read by two outstanding readers of Russian verse, Tatiana Schofield and Alla Gelich.

There will be time for questions and discussion, as well as for informal conversation among lovers of Pushkin and those wishing to learn more about him.  Copies of the new volume and of Alma Classics’ other Pushkin titles will also be available for purchase.

The event is sponsored jointly by the Pushkin Club and Alma Classics.