The great age of Russian philosophy spans the century between 1830 and 1930 - from the famous Slavophile-Westernizer controversy of the 1830s and 1840s, through the 'Silver Age' of Russian culture at the beginning of the twentieth century, to the formation of a Russian 'philosophical emigration' in the wake of the Russian Revolution. This volume is a major history and interpretation of Russian philosophy in this period. Eighteen chapters (plus a substantial introduction and afterword) discuss Russian philosophy's main figures, schools and controversies, while simultaneously pursuing a common central theme: the development of a distinctive Russian tradition of philosophical humanism focused on the defence of human dignity. As this volume shows, the century-long debate over the meaning and grounds of human dignity, freedom and the just society involved thinkers of all backgrounds and positions, transcending easy classification as 'religious' or 'secular'. The debate still resonates strongly today.

A serious and detailed study of modern Russian poetry aimed at readers with little or no Russian.

The questing, experimenting, and overstepping of stylistic, moral, and narrowly rational boundaries that characterized Russian modernist writing were frowned upon during most of the seven decades of Soviet rule. Only since the late 1980s have readers had easy access to the literature, memoirs, and critical writings of the immediately pre-Soviet period.

Based in part on archival materials, Russian Poet/Soviet Jew examines the short and brilliant career of Eduard Bagritskii (1895-1934), a major Russian poet of Jewish origin. Shrayer provides a short biography, an examination of the problems of Jewish identity and Jewish self-hatred, and interviews with contemporary leaders of Russian ultra-nationalism to explore Bagritskii's Russian/Jewish dual identity. The book also includes the first English-language translations of Bagritskii's major works, along with rare archival photographs documenting the trajectory of his life and career.

“Discover some curiosities and some genuinely fascinating, powerfully resonant works” in this Book Riot 50 Must-Reads of Slavic Literature selection (Kirkus Reviews). A constant thread woven throughout the history of Russian literature is that of fantasy and an escape from the bounds of realism. Worlds Apart is the first single-volume anthology that explores this fascinating and dominant theme of Russian literature—from its origins in the provincial folk tale, through its emergence in the Romantic period in the tales of Pushkin, Lermontov, and Turgenev, to its contemporary incarnation under the clouds of authoritarianism, revolution, mechanization, and modernization—with all-new translations of the key literary masterpieces that reveal the depth and ingenuity of the Russian imagination as it evolved over a period of tumultuous political, social, and technological upheaval. Alexander Levitsky, perhaps the world’s foremost expert on this genre, has selected and provided engaging and informative introductions to the selections that simultaneously represent the works of Russia’s best authors and reveal the dominant themes of her history. The authors range from familiar figures—Pushkin, Lermontov, Turgenev, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, and Bely—to writers practically unknown outside the Slavic world such as Derzhavin, Bulgarin, Kuprin, and Pilniak. Worlds Apart is an awe-provoking anthology with a compelling appeal both to the fantasy enthusiast and anyone with an abiding interest in Russian history and culture.

"A sweeping, intricate description of Russian cultural history, spanning the pre-Romanov era through six centuries to the reign of Joseph Stalin. Flowing with ease through time and topic — from art to music, literature, philosophy, mythology and more — the book provides readers with an alluring portrayal of Russia’s proud heritage. Its impressive scope and lasting insights have made it a foundational text in Russian studies. In fact, it was this book, more than any other, that captured my imagination and propelled me toward the study of Russia and the Soviet Union." --Condoleezza Rice, The New York Times "A rich and readable introduction to the whole sweep of Russian cultural and intellectual history from Kievan times to the post-Khruschev era." - Library Journal Includes Illustrations, references, index.