Joseph Brodsky: A Literary Life

How did a boy from war-torn Leningrad, who later found himself locked in a filthy Soviet-era prison train, wind up as both a Nobel laureate and America's Poet Laureate, as well, before finally ending life in the cemetery of the centuries-old St. Michael's in Venice. That life spanned only 55 years and yet Joseph Brodsky accomplished so much in his tumultuous half century on the planet.Brodsky's poetry is not easy for most Americans to enjoy. As Lev Loseff points out in his terrific new literary biography of the poet, some of his most potent verses reflect on experiences such as riding as a convict in that filthy Soviet prison train. That's not exactly a theme you'll find rappers taking viral on YouTube today.But, as Loseff also demonstrates, there remains a powerful, relevant message in Brodsky's life interwoven with his poetry and prose: At his best, Brodsky proved that a stateless pilgrim--wandering between countries, between languages, between religious traditions--can build a new life, word by word, relationship by relationship, year by year.I knew Brodsky myself. Having studied poetry under Brodsky for a year shortly after his arrival in the United States in the early 1970s--and having followed his work across many years--I continue to be startled by how much he understood about Western, English-language literature. Then, he transformed himself into an English-language man of letters himself. (I included several vignettes of my own experiences with Brodsky in my own book of Lenten reflections, Our Lent: Things We Carry.)Among my family's favorite books by Brodsky is the somewhat obscure, Watermark, which sometimes is mistaken as a travel book about Venice. In fact, "Watermark" is Brodsky's prose tour de force about a city that he selected as a new kind of home for himself. What an audacious idea! Simply select a spot on the planet and declare it a new home! Yet, Brodsky did that and, after many years of visiting Venice, he wrote this book-length essay on his beloved city.Young adults today, facing a rapidly changing global community, would do well to learn from Brodsky's life. Lev Loseff, a longtime friend of Brodsky, has done a great job of capturing key scenes that light up connections between the poet's words, his life--and the miracle of living on this crazy planet. Even if you're initially intimidated by the Yale University Press imprint and the idea of reading a "literary" biography--don't be! This is a compelling "read" about a poet we all should celebrate.

all was good

I could almost give three stars, but perhaps I am too skeptical of today's shallow culture. This is largely excellent prose---the translator is gifted---but there are passages identical in tone to the worst of American academese.My Russian is too rusty to be able to evaluate Brodsky's poetry in the original; Russian poetry does NOT translate into English retaining any artistic similarity and anyone who is not disinterested and native-fluent in Russian has no standing to judge whether Brodsky's poetic output is of Nobel stature.Brodsky's essays in English never impressed me. He apparently had a singular teaching style and great penetration into the objective ranking of poetry in English---perhaps a better judge than many native critics, which I admit is remarkable.The main thing I took away from this book was the uncovering of how vicious the Russian intelligentsia is and has been, both at home and in emigration. Senseless polemics and animosities. For decades I have been collecting snippets of what native Russians thought of the true status of "Doctor Zhivago". Now I distrust anything I read of the matter.This book and Volkov's "Conversations with Joseph Brodsky", taken together, are probably the definitive English-language references on this controversial figure.

Excellent

Great book, fast shipment

Opera fondamentale anche per approfondire la conoscenza della ispirazione poetica di Brodskij. Meglio apprezzabile da chi ha già contezza dell’opera saggistica del poeta.

As poetry does not translate well, Brodsky's poetry in English does not give us an idea of his real poetic qualities. This biography helps to picture Brodsky as a Russian poet. As it is a literary life, we get a good backgound on the Russian culture and politics that made him what he became. The author being Russian and a friend is an added asset.