Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky
Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky was a prominent Russian poet born in 1884, who gained recognition early in his career with his debut poetry collection, *Yur*, published in 1907. This initial work established his literary reputation, and although he authored nine additional volumes of poetry and various other writings, none achieved the same acclaim as his first book. Gorodetsky was a key figure in St. Petersburg's literary scene and co-founded both the Acmeist movement and the Poets' Guild, advocating for a return to concrete imagery in poetry in contrast to the mystical tendencies of the Symbolists. His poetry frequently drew inspiration from Slavic mythology and folklore, engaging with themes related to pre-Christian deities. Following the Russian Revolution, his work initially embraced revolutionary themes, but he later distanced himself from political engagement. Despite surviving the Great Purge, Gorodetsky's legacy is complicated by his public disavowal of his friend Nikolai Gumilev, a move that likely contributed to his survival. He lived until 1967, leaving behind a complex literary and political legacy.
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Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky
Poet
- Born: 1884
- Died: 1967
Biography
Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky was born in 1884, and began writing while still a young man. His first book of poetry, Yur, published in 1907, appeared on the literary scene with such a splash that his reputation was instantly secured. Although he would publish nine more volumes of poetry over the course of his career, along with various other works, none of them would ever equal the stature of that first opus.
While a student in the department of history and philology at St. Petersburg University, he was already well enough known in the city’s literary circles to become one of the cofounders of the Acmeist movement and the Poets’ Guild. He regularly drew upon Slavic mythology and folklore as inspiration for his poetry, and several of his works made explicit reference to various gods and goddesses of the pre-Christian Slavs. His manifesto against what he regarded as the mystical excesses of the more extreme Symbolist poets such as Vyacheslav Ivanov was sharp and incisive, and centered on the need to return poetry to the real world of concrete things and experiences.
After the Russian Revolution, Gorodetsky wrote some poems that reflected positively upon revolutionary ideals, but as that early spirit of enthusiasm waned, he distanced himself from politics. Although he survived the Purges, Gorodetsky has been widely condemned, particularly in the West, for his public repudiation of his old friend Nikolai Gumilev, which was probably important in securing that survival. Gorodetsky died of natural causes in 1967.