Birds, Beasts and a World Made New
Guillaume Apollinaire and Velimir Khlebnikov (1908-22)
2024
First Published
4.38
Average Rating
272
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“Wonderful . . . and full of life. This is a book for discovery, for pleasure and delight.” – George Szirtes, author of The Photographer at SixteenA revelatory volume of 2 of the 20th century’s great poetic innovators, Guillaume Apollinaire and Velimir Khlebnikov, in vibrant new translations by Robert ChandlerOffering a fresh angle on two of the most innovative poets of the 20th century, and grouping poems by theme, celebrated translator and poet Robert Chandler finds surprising connections between Apollinaire and Khlebnikov, from their interest in animal poems and bestiaries to their distinctive approaches to war poetry.Although Apollinaire and Khlebnikov never met, their restless innovations in poetic form shared much in common. Both pushed poetry to its limit, and their experiments proved fertile for generations of poets to come. Khlebnikov became associated with Futurism, though his inventiveness with language moved him far beyond it, while Apollinaire influenced a dizzying array of avant-garde movements, including Surrealism, Dadaism and Cubism.Chandler offers a stimulating selection from both poets’ work in beautifully vivid new translations. Showcasing these poets’ exhilarating capacity for innovation as well as their more direct, heartfelt verse, this work offers a surprising journey into the world of two great Modernist poets.Part of the Pushkin Press Classics outstanding classic storytelling from around the world, in a stylishly original series design. From newly rediscovered gems to fresh translations of the world’s greatest authors, this series includes such authors as Stefan Zweig, Hermann Hesse, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Gaito Gazdanov.
Avg Rating
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goodreads
Authors
Guillaume Apollinaire
Author · 41 books
Wilhelm Albert Włodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki, known as Guillaume Apollinaire, was a French poet, writer, and art critic born in Italy to a Polish mother. Among the foremost poets of the early 20th century, he is credited with coining the word surrealism and writing one of the earliest works described as surrealist, the play Les Mamelles de Tirésias (1917, later used as the basis for an opera in 1947).
