When Stu at Winstonsdad’s Blog mentioned he’d like to host an Archipelago Books reading fortnight from 9th-23rd May, I was reminded that I do have one of the publisher’s books on the TBR, and thought now would be a good time to pull it off the stacks. I think the reading fortnight is not going ahead, but nevertheless I thought I would share my thoughts about the book anyway. It’s a collection of verse by one of my favourite Russian poets, Marina Tsvetaeva, and it’s called “Moscow in the Plague Year”, translated by Christopher Whyte.
Tsvetaeva is a long-time favourite, and I although most of my reading of her poetry was pre-blog, I found “Letters: Summer 1926” which collected together letters between her, Pasternak and Rilke particularly moving. “Plague…” is a very special volume, however, representing as it does the first English translation of verses she wrote during the years of the Russian Revolution subsequent famine. Tsvetaeva was stranded in the city for most of that period with her two young daughters, as her husband was away fighting against the Reds, and she endured unimaginable privations and tragedies. Despite that, verse continued to pour from her pen and the collection of those writings makes stirring, often emotional, reading.
The poems are sometimes fragments, sometimes longer sequences, but all uniquely Tsvetaeva. Despite the horrors of daily living, which seep into the poems, she can write about love, attraction, the heartache of loss, her children, rings, dancing and the past. It’s worth remembering that Tsvetaeva was born into a rich, upper class family – as the afterword stages, she and her sister could have been ladies-in-waiting at court – so to go from that kind of background to scraping out an existence and trying not to starve in a freezing cold attic is a shock to the system. Despite that, and the tragic loss of one of her children, she survived and went on to continue living and working until 1941.
Dying, I’ll regret the gypsy songs.
Dying, I’ll regret my […] rings,
cigarette smoke, sleeplessness, a flock
of weightless verses underneath my hand.
“Moscow…” makes wonderful reading, although I have a couple of caveats; I would for a start have appreciated some notation. Despite my knowledge of Tsvetaeva and the period, for some of the poems I felt I needed a little more context. Although a note at the end indicates that the poems were pulled from a number of sources to produce this volume of works from the period in question, I would have liked a little more bibliographical information, particularly on which verses had been previously published, which were the ones left in manuscript at her death and so on. I sensed a little uneveness in the collection and I did wonder if this was the mix of published and unfinished works.
These are minor issues, though, as the main thing is to have more of Tsvetaeva’s work available in English. Deeply personal, often lyrical and fanciful, and full of wonderful imagery, the poems of Marina Tsvetaeva are stunning and memorable. I’m so glad that I was nudged into reading this book right now, and I’m reminded that I have an unread Virago collection of her prose lurking somewhere in the stacks – must see if I can pull it out soon… 😉
Lisa Hill
May 23, 2022 @ 08:34:40
I only know Tsvetaeva from others writing about her. but I still fee as if I know her work.. I think you’ve also read Moscow in the 1930s, a novel from the archives, by Natalia Gromova, translated by Christopher Culver? That was such a beautiful homage.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 11:36:22
She’s definitely worth exploring, and there’s actually quite a lot of her work. And yes – I did love Moscow in the 1930s – such an interesting book!
Margot Kinberg
May 23, 2022 @ 12:15:31
It sounds like a great introduction to her poetry! And she had such an interesting perspective, too, given the times. Intriguing!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 15:57:15
She did – it’s a fascinating book!
MarinaSofia
May 23, 2022 @ 12:29:25
I also have her diaries written during this period and think the two volumes together would probably work well. Quite eye-opening – although some Russian friends called her too ‘whinging’.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 15:56:59
I think they would. I have some of her prose but I’m not sure if diaries are included – will need to check!
Rigavitch
May 23, 2022 @ 13:20:05
Wonderful to be reminded of this great woman who I played in a play at drama school! I would never have heard of her otherwise. I’m off to find a copy. Thank you!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 15:55:52
How wonderful! Hope you enjoy this! 😀
Rigavitch
Jan 18, 2023 @ 23:25:24
I have myself a copy and it’s marvellous!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 19, 2023 @ 08:32:41
Wonderful! 😊
madamebibilophile
May 23, 2022 @ 18:00:24
This does sound so powerful. I can’t imagine living through such horrors, and she still found the strength to be creative too. I imagine writing helped, I hope it did. She sounds remarkable.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 19:45:49
It’s a striking read, and what she went through would have broken anyone. i think her writing was essential to her and I must have helped her cope with the horrors. She was indeed a remarkable woman.
heavenali
May 23, 2022 @ 18:58:55
This sounds excellent, she lived through such extraordinary, turbulent times, and she clearly brings that to her poetry. These Archipelago editions always look so smart.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 19:45:01
She did indeed – I think our times are difficult then remember what people went through at times in the 20th century and realise it’s not quite so bad for us. And yes – the Archipelago books really are lovely!
JacquiWine
May 23, 2022 @ 19:00:44
These poems sound so very affecting, Karen. Probably too powerful for me read if I’m being honest as I often struggle with this type of poetry if the emotions are palpable and intense. That said, she’s definitely a writer that interests me, so I’ll keep her in mind.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 19:44:16
It really is very moving, Jacqui and she is *very* intense – nothing is under the surface with Tsvetaeva. It might be that her prose would be more in your line, though that’s pretty intense at times too!
cirtnecce
May 23, 2022 @ 19:16:06
What a great review Karen! I have not read any works of Tsvetaeva though I have read everything with Pasternek stamp. I will look her up! Thank You for the introduction 😁
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 23, 2022 @ 19:43:08
Thank you! 😊 I definitely recommend the book of her and Pasternak and Rilke’s letters if you haven’t read it!
Julé Cunningham
May 24, 2022 @ 01:09:15
This is a book that is also on my endless TBR list. Two of my prized books are ‘Tsvetaeva: A Pictorial Biography’ in Russian and English with a matching book of poetry issued by the now sadly defunct Ardis. It’s too bad that Archipelago didn’t include a bit more context though.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 24, 2022 @ 10:05:16
Ah the endless TBRs. As for the Pictorial Biography that sounds marvellous – I may have to have a look for it, but I imagine it will cost and arm and a leg nowadays. And yes – I think perhaps Archipelago assumed the book would be for die-hard Tsvetaeva fans – but even with my knowledge of her and the period I felt I needed a little more support.
Liz Dexter
May 27, 2022 @ 11:41:57
That does sound good, with slight reservations. What a lovely cover image, too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 27, 2022 @ 14:33:00
It’s a beautiful book and a fascinating read – I just needed a little more, personally!
1streading
May 28, 2022 @ 19:35:42
These sound interesting but I can see why you thought some notes would enhance the reading experience. Strange question but does it tell you anything about the translator? I had a lecturer of that name who was also a Gaelic poet.
kaggsysbookishramblings
May 28, 2022 @ 19:49:25
Yes, definitely could have done with a little notation, but very beautiful poetry.
As for Christopher Whyte, the back flap of the book says “a multilingual writer and translator. he has published five collections of poetry in Scottish Gaelic and four novels in English…” – so I guess it may well be the same one! 😀