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A Book of Russian Verse by Cecil Maurice Bowra

vesb12's review

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3.0

A handful of interesting poetry, some of it memorable, some not...
Recurring themes throughout: death, the brevity of life, the nightingale, memory, youth and innocence (usually spoiled), escapism etc.
Some were pastoral, describing parts of Russia like the Steppe, the Volga etc. I liked the poems about countryside and the elements/ storms/ clouds/ sky.
The soul was also a recurring motif, perhaps as metaphor for the poet - some poets were very sure of themselves, talking about how they would be remembered for a long time to come...
I read the whole anthology in one go, so I must have liked it I guess!
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