2003 - The Winner
Pushkin: A biography
ALEXANDER SERGEEVICH PUSHKIN (1799-1837) is Russia's greatest
poet - a tragic genius who is revered by Russians as their
Shakespeare and Mozart rolled into one.
Born in Moscow, literary prodigy Pushkin was expelled from
St. Petersburg at the age of twenty as a result of his satirical
writings. He remained in internal exile, under the supervision
of the Emperor, for the next seven years. Throughout
his life he continued to excite official disapproval for
his political and religious beliefs - and many love affairs.
With his wild passions for gambling and women, Pushkin's
brief life was as turbulent and dramatic as anything in his
work. In 1828 he married society beauty, Natalya Goncharova,
who then captivated the heart of a French cavalry officer.
Enraged by this, Pushkin engaged in a duel with him, and
died at the age of 37, defending his honour.
Pushkin is one of literature's most romantic and intriguing
figures and his life and writings have inspired and influenced
generations of devotees. This important and long-awaited
biography by a leading Russian scholar is the first full
length and authoritative account of Pushkin’s life
and times since 1937. It is the most detailed
account of the poet's life and times yet published. Binyon
tells us his story with perfectly-judged pace, elegant wit,
exacting scholarship and deep compassion.
After reading Modern Languages at Oxford, T.J.Binyon, aged
63, spent some time in the Soviet Union and taught at Leeds
University before returning to Oxford, where he lectures
on Russian literature. He is Senior Research Fellow at Wadham
College, Oxford. T. J. Binyon is also the author of two crime
novels and is currently working on a biography of Lermantov.
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