Alexander Mezhirov
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Alexander Petrovich Mezhirov (; 26 September 1923,
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
– 22 May 2009,
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
) was a Soviet and Russian poet, translator and critic. Mezhirov was among what has been called a "middle generation" of
Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
poets that ignored themes of communist "world revolution" and instead focused on Soviet and Russian patriotism. Many of them specialized in patriotic lyrics, particularly its military aspects.G. S. Smith, "Russian Poetry Since 1945", in Cornwell, Neil, editor, ''Routledge Companion to Russian Literature'', p 200, Routledge, 2001, , retrieved via amazon.com on May 27, 2009; the book identifies G. S. Smith as "professor of Russian at the University of Oxford" According to G. S. Smith, Mezhirov and a number of other "middle generation" poets "were genuine poets whose testimony, however well-laundered, to the tribulations of their times will endure at least as long as their generation." Some of Mezhirov's lyrical poems based on his wartime experience belong with the best Russian poetical works created in the Soviet 1950s-1960s.


Life

Born in Moscow, he was the son of an educated Jewish couple — his father a lawyer, his mother a German-language teacher, and one of his grandfathers was a rabbi. Drafted as a private in July 1941, he fought in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
before a serious injury led to his demobilization in 1943 as a lieutenant. That same year, he joined the Communist Party; after the war he attended the Literary Institute, graduating in 1948. He translated poetry from Georgian and
Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe ** Lithuanian language ** Lithuanians, a Baltic ethnic group, native to Lithuania and the immediate geographical region ** L ...
poets. "Mezhirov is a virtuosic translator, especially recognized for his renditions of Georgian and Lithuanian poetry," anthologist Maxim Shrayer has written.Shrayer, Maxim
"Aleksandr Mezhirov"
p 879, ''An Anthology of Jewish-Russian Literature: Two Centuries of Dual Identity in Prose and Poetry'', publisher: M.E. Sharpe, 2007, , retrieved via Google Books on May 27, 2009
In 1944, he married Elena Yashchenko. The couple's daughter, Zoya Velikhova, was born in 1949 and became a writer. Mezhirov was a prominent figure in the Soviet literary establishment, although his allegiances and associations were varied. At some points he was close to fellow Jewish-Russian Boris Yampolsky, Kazakh writer Olzhas Suleimenov, and Russian cultural ultranationalist and critic Vadim Kozhinov. Mezhirov associated with younger writers
Yevgeny Yevtushenko Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko (; 18 July 1933 – 1 April 2017) was a Soviet and Russian poet, novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, publisher, actor, editor, university professor, and director of several films. Biography Early lif ...
, Tatyana Glushkova (known for her nationalist views in the mid-1980s, according to Shrayer) and Evgeny Reyn, who was censored in the Soviet Union until the mid-1980s. Although Mezhirov had publicly stated that his patriotism for Russia was so intense that, unlike other Russian Jews, he could not emigrate, he suddenly left Russia for the United States in 1992, settling first in New York, then in
Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
. As of 2007, according to anthologist
Maxim D. Shrayer Maxim D. Shrayer (; born June 5, 1967, Moscow, USSR) is a bilingual Russian-American author, translator, and literary scholar, and a professor of Russian, English, and Jewish Studies at Boston College. Biography Shrayer was born and grew up in M ...
, he had not revisited Russia. In March 2009 Mezhirov published a collection of new poems, two months before his death. According to the ITAR/TASS news service, his body was to be cremated in the United States, with the ashes to be buried in Peredelkino near Moscow.Умер поэт-фронтовик Александр Межиров
(Google translation: "He died the poet-veteran Alexander Mezhirov"), May 22, 2009, ITAR/TASS news report, retrieved May 27, 2009
At one time the poet was a passionate pool player and was a friend of professional billiards players. He excelled in other games, as well.


Critical reception

Mezhirov has a "special gift" for absorbing the voices of his contemporaries and his predecessors from the 1900s–1930s, according to Shrayer, who notes the influences in Mezhirov's writing of
Eduard Bagritsky Eduard Georgyevich Bagritsky ( rus, Эдуа́рд Гео́ргиевич Багри́цкий, p=ɨdʊˈard ɡʲɪˈorɡʲɪjɪvʲɪdʑ bɐˈɡrʲitskʲɪj, a=Eduard Gyeorgiyevich Bagriczkiy.ru.vorb.oga; February 16, 1934) was a prominent Russia ...
,
Erich Maria Remarque Erich Maria Remarque (; ; born Erich Paul Remark; 22 June 1898 – 25 September 1970) was a German novelist. His landmark novel '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1928), based on his experience in the Imperial German Army during World War ...
,
Anna Akhmatova Anna Andreyevna Gorenko rus, А́нна Андре́евна Горе́нко, p=ˈanːə ɐnˈdrʲe(j)ɪvnə ɡɐˈrʲɛnkə, a=Anna Andreyevna Gorenko.ru.oga, links=yes; , . ( – 5 March 1966), better known by the pen name Anna Akhmatova,. ...
,
Alexander Blok Alexander Alexandrovich Blok ( rus, Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Бло́к, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ ˈblok, a=Ru-Alyeksandr Alyeksandrovich Blok.oga; 7 August 1921) was a Russian lyrical poet, writer, publ ...
,
Vladislav Khodasevich Vladislav Felitsianovich Khodasevich (; 16 May (28 May) 1886 – 14 June 1939) was an influential Russian poet and literary critic who presided over the Berlin circle of Russian emigre litterateurs. Life and career Khodasevich was born in Mosco ...
,
Mikhail Kuzmin Mikhail Alekseevich Kuzmin () ( – March 1, 1936) was a Russian poet, musician and novelist, as well as a prominent contributor to the Silver Age of Russian Poetry. Biography Born into a noble family in Yaroslavl, Kuzmin grew up in St. Petersb ...
,
Vladimir Lugovskoy Vladimir Alexandrovich Lugovskoy (; July 1, 1901 Moscow - June 5, 1957 Yalta) was a constructivist poet known for writing the choir of " Arise, Russian People!" for the film Alexander Nevsky. In later years, his poetry became filled with imagery a ...
,
David Samoylov David Samuilovich Samoylov (, born Kaufman, (); 1 June 1920 — 23 February 1990) was one of the most notable representatives of the War generation of Russian poets and neo-Acmeist poetry. Biography Samoylov was born in Moscow into an assimilated ...
and
Arseny Tarkovsky Arseny Aleksandrovich Tarkovsky (; 27 May 1989) was a Soviet and Russian poet and translator. He was predeceased by his son, film director and screenwriter Andrei Tarkovsky. Biography Family Tarkovsky was born on 25 June N.S. 1907 in Yelisav ...
.


Variations in Mezhirov's name and birth year

Mezhirov has given his birth year as 1921, but a number of sources have instead given it as 1923. The poet's first name sometimes rendered "Aleksandr" or "Alexandr" in sources using the Latin alphabet.


Bibliography

Each year links to the corresponding "
ear In vertebrates, an ear is the organ that enables hearing and (in mammals) body balance using the vestibular system. In humans, the ear is described as having three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear co ...
in poetry" article. Unless otherwise sourced below, translations of the Russian-language titles of the following books were taken from Google TranslateGoogle translation page for Russian Wikipedia article on Alexander Mezhirov
retrieved May 27, 2009
and may be overly literal: *
1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country i ...
: ''Дорога далеко'' ("The Road is Far Away"), edited by
Pavel Antokolsky Pavel Grigoryevich Antokolsky ( rus, Па́вел Григо́рьевич Антоко́льский, p=ˈpavʲɪl ɡrʲɪˈɡorʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ɐntɐˈkolʲskʲɪj, a=Pavyel Grigor'yevich Antokol'skiy.ru.vorb.oga; 1 July 1896, Saint Petersburg, Ru ...
, Moscow *
1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...
: ''Kommunisty, vpered!'', "Communists, Ahead!" poem reprinted in his second collection, ''New Encounters'', and in many volumes, anthologies and samplers *
1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025 * January 2 – Luis ...
: ''Новые встречи'' ("New Encounters"), including "Communists, Ahead!" *
1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...
: ''Коммунисты, вперёд!'' ("Communists, Ahead!"), reprinted 1952 *
1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...
: ''Возвращение'' ("Return") *
1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
: ''Ветровое стекло'' ("Windshield") *
1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...
: ''Прощание со снегом'' ("Farewell to the Snow") *
1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
: ''Ладожский лёд'' ("Ice of Lake Ladoga") *
1967 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
: ''Подкова'' ("Horseshoe") *
1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...
: ''Лебяжий переулок'' ("Swan's Lane") *
1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
: ''Под старым небом'' ("Under the Old Sky") *
1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...
: ''Очертания вещей'' ("Outline of things") *
1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...
: ''Selected Works'', two volumes *
1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. ...
: ''Проза в стихах'' ("Prose in Verse") (winner of the USSR State Prize,
1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...
) *
1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...
: ''Тысяча мелочей'' ("A thousand small things") *
1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
: ''Бормотуха'' (" Bormotuha") *
1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...
: ''Стихотворения'' ("Poems") *
1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...
: ''Избранное'' ("Favorites") *
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
: ''Позёмка'' ("Drifting") *
1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...
: ''Apologii︠a︡ t︠s︡irka: kniga novykh stikhov'' ("Apologia of the Circus"), including a version of "Blizzard", St. Petersburg *
2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...
: ''Артиллерия бьёт по своим'', selected poems of recent years), Moscow: publisher: Zebra E


Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mezhirov, Alexander 1923 births 2009 deaths 20th-century Russian male writers 20th-century Russian poets 20th-century Russian translators Writers from Moscow Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Maxim Gorky Literature Institute alumni Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the USSR State Prize American people of Russian-Jewish descent Socialist realism writers Translators to Russian Russian Jews Russian literary critics Russian male poets Soviet Jews Soviet literary critics Soviet male poets Soviet male writers Soviet translators