Valerii Iakovlevich Briusov
Valerii Iakovlevich Briusov (1873-1924) was a notable Russian poet, editor, and literary figure, recognized for his contributions to the Symbolist movement, despite often having complex relationships with its key proponents. Born into a prosperous family in Moscow, he developed a deep appreciation for various poetic forms and was particularly influenced by contemporary French poetry. Briusov's primary focus was on brief descriptive poems, showcasing his distinctive style that some critics argue aligns more with 19th-century traditions than with Symbolism itself.
In addition to his poetry, Briusov edited several collections and translated French verse, further enriching the literary landscape of his time. While initially maintaining a moderate political stance after the 1905 revolution, he shifted his support to the Bolshevik movement following the 1917 revolution, joining the Communist Party in 1920. He was instrumental in founding the Advanced Institute of Literary Arts, aimed at cultivating writers aligned with Bolshevik ideals. Throughout his later years, he served as a functionary in the literature section of the People's Commissariat of Education until his death in 1924. Briusov's legacy remains significant in understanding the evolution of Russian literature during a time of profound societal change.
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Valerii Iakovlevich Briusov
Poet
- Born: December 13, 1873
- Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
- Died: October 9, 1924
- Place of death: Moscow, Soviet Union (now in Russia)
Biography
Valerii Iakovlevich Briusov was born in 1873, the son of a prosperous Moscow merchant and the grandson of a serf who bought his freedom. Studious from early in his youth, Briusov developed an interest in a wide variety of poetic styles, particularly the French contemporary schools. His primary style was the brief descriptive poem, rather than longer verse forms.
In March of 1894, Briusov collaborated with a schoolmate, A. A. Lang, under the pseudonym of A. Miropolsky. In addition, he edited several collections of Symbolist poetry and a volume of translated French verse. Although his relations with several noted Symbolist poets were often prickly and he never fully accepted many of the central theses of the Symbolist movement, he frequently encouraged such members of the next generation of poets as Marina Tsvetaiva and Nikolai Gumilev. In retrospect, many of his critics consider his work to belong more to the nineteenth century poetic tradition than to the Symbolist movement.
Like Alexander Pushkin, Briusov had a fascination with world culture and an eclecticism that was too large for the firm worldview sought by the Symbolists. After the upheavals of the 1905 revolution, he maintained a moderate political position in spite of the growing radicalization of the Russian intelligentsia. However, when the Bolshevik Revolution came in 1917, he fully embraced it and became a member of the Communist Party in 1920. In 1921, he founded the Advanced Institute of Literary Arts, which was intended to produce cadres of writers who would produce art supporting the Bolshevik movement and its plans to reconstruct society in its own image. He spent the rest of his life as a functionary in the literature section of the People’s Commissariat of Education, and died in 1924.