Eugene Dubnov (born Zalman Dubvov, , ; 2 November 1949 – 5 August 2019) was a Jewish-born Russian and English poet, novelist and memoirist.

Life and career

Eugene Dubnov was born on 2 November 1949, in

Tallinn, Estonia Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...

(then a part of the former

USSR 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 ...

). His mother tongue was Russian, and he spoke English fluently since his childhood spent in

Riga, Latvia Riga ( ) is the capital, primate, and largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga metropolitan area, which stretches beyond the city lim ...

(then a part of the former

). He studied at the

Moscow State University Moscow State University (MSU), officially M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University,. is a public university, public research university in Moscow, Russia. The university includes 15 research institutes, 43 faculties, more than 300 departments, a ...

, at the

Bar-Ilan University Bar-Ilan University (BIU, , ''Universitat Bar-Ilan'') is a public research university in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is Israel's second-largest academic university institution. It has 20,000 ...

, Israel, and at the

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...

where from he was graduated (psychology and English Literature). He then worked on his

PhD thesis A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...

in the

(

Russian Literature Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia, its Russian diaspora, émigrés, and to Russian language, Russian-language literature. Major contributors to Russian literature, as well as English for instance, are authors of different e ...

and

English Literature English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...

) but did not bring it to a close. In 1971, Eugene Dubnov repatriated to Israel, served in the

Israeli army The Israeli Ground Forces () are the Army, ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The commander is the GOC Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding with the rank of major general, the ''Mazi'', subordinate to the Chief of the Gen ...

and settled in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

where he had been living and teaching English to the day of his death, with a break for education in United Kingdom in middle 1970s. Dubnov was a holder of the Israeli Presidential Merit Scholarship in 1972, 1974, and 1999. He also was a scholar of the Tel Aviv Literature and Art Foundation in 1975 and 2001.Евгений (Юджин) Дубнов, авторы журнала ''Заметки по еврейской старине''
/ref>сайт Евгения Дубнова (narod.ru)
/ref>сайт Евгения Дубнова (co.uk)
/ref>Справочник Союза русскоязычных писателей Израиля, стр. 81–83 Изд. Федерации союзов писателей Израиля, 1990, Тель-Авив

Publications

Eugene Dubnov published his poems and short stories in Russian magazines,

almanac An almanac (also spelled almanack and almanach) is a regularly published listing of a set of current information about one or multiple subjects. It includes information like weather forecasting, weather forecasts, farmers' sowing, planting dates ...

s and newspapers in Israel, Europe and worldwide; among them, in ''

Kontinent ''Kontinent'' was an émigré dissident journal which focused on the politics of the Soviet Union and its satellites. Founded in 1974 by writer Vladimir Maximov,Tatyana ShvetsovaAfter word to the epoch of Nikita Khrushchev PAUL GRAY. THE SEVEN D ...

'' (Paris), '' La pensée russe'' (Paris), ''22'' (Tel Aviv), ''Novy Zhournal'' (The New Review, New York), (Sagittarius, New Jersey), ''Novoe russkoe slovo'' (New Russian Word, New York),

Vozrojdénie ''Vozrojdénie'' (, 'Renaissance') was a Russian language daily newspaper published from Paris, France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territ ...

(The Renaissance, Paris), ''Vremya i my'' (We and Our Time, US), Grani (Frankfurt am Main), etc. 1982 Dubnov in Pushkin Club poster

He also published his original and translated poems, novels and memoirs in numerous English language issues all over the world, among them, in ''

The Times Literary Supplement ''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp. History The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication ...

'', ''The Canadian Journal of Poetry and Critical Writings'', ''

Poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

'' (Chicago), ''

Chicago Review ''Chicago Review'' is a student-run literary magazine founded in 1946 and published quarterly in the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago. The magazine features contemporary poetry, fiction, and criticism, often publishing works in tr ...

'', ''

Yale Literary Magazine The ''Yale Literary Magazine'', founded in 1836, is a student literary magazine that publishes poetry, fiction, and visual art by Yale University, Yale undergraduate education, undergraduates twice per year, academic year. Notable alumni feature ...

'', ''

Poetry London ''Poetry London'' is a literary periodical based in London. Published three times a year, it features poems, reviews, and other articles. Profile Adopting the title of an earlier bimonthly publication which ran from 1939 to 1951, ''Poetry London' ...

'', ''

The London Magazine ''The London Magazine'' is the title of six different publications that have appeared in succession since 1732. All six have focused on the arts, literature and poetry. A number of Nobel Laureates, including Annie Ernaux, Albert Camus, Doris Les ...

'', ''

North American Review The ''North American Review'' (''NAR'') was the first literary magazine in the United States. It was founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale (journalist), Nathan Hale and others. It was published continuously until 1940, after which i ...

'', ''

Poetry Ireland Review ''Poetry Ireland Review'' is a journal of Irish poetry published three times a year by Poetry Ireland, the national Irish poetry organisation. ''Poetry Ireland Review'' publishes the work of both emerging and established Irish and internation ...

'', ''

New England Review The ''New England Review'' is an American quarterly literary magazine published by Middlebury College Middlebury College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, ...

'', ''

Oxford Poetry ''Oxford Poetry'' is a literary magazine based in Oxford, England. It is currently edited by Luke Allan. The magazine is published by Partus Press. Founded in 1910 by Basil Blackwell, its editors have included Dorothy L. Sayers, Aldous Huxle ...

'', ''

Mid-American Review ''Mid-American Review'' (''MAR'') is an international literary journal dedicated to publishing contemporary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and translations. Founded in 1981, ''MAR'' is a publication of the Department of English and the College of A ...

'', ''New Wales Reader'', ''Canadian Literature'', ''The Massachusetts Review'' , ''Poetry New Zealand'', ''Mississippi Review'', ''Westerly'', ''Chapman'', ''Mediterranean Poetry'', '' St. Petersburg Review'', ''

The Jerusalem Post ''The Jerusalem Post'' is an English language, English-language Israeli broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, Israel, founded in 1932 during the Mandate for Palestine, British Mandate of Mandatory Palestine, Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''Th ...

'', ''Grain'', and others.

Books

* Е. Дубнов. ''Рыжие монеты'' ("The Auburn Coins"), poems, (Goldfinch Press, London, 1978), * Е. Дубнов. ''Небом и землею'' ("By Heaven and Earth"), poems, Amber Press, London, 1984).
Eugene Dubnov. ''Thousand-Year Minutes'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2013).

Eugene Dubnov. ''Never Out of Reach'' (memoirs) (Clemson University Press, USA, 2015 and Liverpool University Press, UK, 2015).

Eugene Dubnov. ''Beyond the Boundaries'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2016).

Quotes

"Rich in texture, poignant, subtle, and beautifully made, the poems of Eugene Dubnov are long overdue for a collection in English." —
X.J. Kennedy X. J. Kennedy (born Joseph Charles Kennedy on August 21, 1929, in Dover, New Jersey) is an American poet, translator, anthologist, editor, and author of children's literature and textbooks on English literature and poetry. He was long known as ...
. In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Never Out of Reach'' (memoirs) (Clemson University Press, USA, 2015 and Liverpool University Press, UK, 2015).

"Eugene Dubnov’s poetry is remarkable for its tight structure and dense, complex texture." — W.D. Snodgrass In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Never Out of Reach'' (memoirs) (Clemson University Press, USA, 2015 and Liverpool University Press, UK, 2015).

"Over thirty years ago, when Eugene Dubnov was mulling over a doctoral thesis on Mandelstam, I first read his poetry and was astonished that such a genuine talent was subordinating itself to analyzing others' talents. But a Russian poet in post-Soviet space or exile has few of the paths to recognition available to an earlier generation — being imprisoned, shot or deported. This volume (''Beyond the Boundaries'') has Dubnov at his best, and with each poem beautifully mirrored in English, too. It is still clear that he is an heir to Mandelstam (and to Joseph Brodsky, as well), but his is an original voice, moulding the Russian language with finesse and sensitivity." — Donald Rayfield, Professor Emeritus, University of London. In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Beyond the Boundaries'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2016)).

"The poems of Eugene Dubnov are poignant, subtle, and beautifully made. At home in several cultures, Dubnov is a true original." —
X.J. Kennedy X. J. Kennedy (born Joseph Charles Kennedy on August 21, 1929, in Dover, New Jersey) is an American poet, translator, anthologist, editor, and author of children's literature and textbooks on English literature and poetry. He was long known as ...
. In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Beyond the Boundaries'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2016)).

"A real gift." — Prof. John Bayley, Oxford. In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Beyond the Boundaries'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2016)).

"To the religious believers, to artists or merely to sensitive readers with a profound feeling for nature, these daring poems of faith will confirm Eugene Dubnov's importance as a poet in exalted tradition of Dante, Blake, George Herbert, Father Hopkins and W. B. Yeats."—
Anne Stevenson Anne Katharine Stevenson (January 3, 1933 – September 14, 2020) was an American-British poet and writer and recipient of a Lannan Literary Award. Life Stevenson was the first daughter of Louise Destler Stevenson and philosopher Charles Ste ...
. In: Eugene Dubnov. ''Beyond the Boundaries'' (Shoestring Press, UK, 2016)).

Literature

* Lea Vladimirova. "…All kind of thirsts I’ve quenched by my word…" (on Eugene Dubnov poetry collection 'By Heaven and Earth', 1984). Novyi Zhurnal / The New Review No. 183, 1991, New York, pp. 389–396 (in Russian). *
Chris Newman. Eugene Dubnov poems 1979–90. With German transl. by Gisela Gronemeyer & C. Newman. MusikTexte. Edition Musiktexte. 1993.

''Stand'', Winter 2017/2018)Stephen Pimenoff. Review.

Yuri Kolker. In memoriam Eugene Dubnov (1949–2019). ''Masterskaya'' 24.09.2019 (in Russian)
* Lea Grinberg-Dubnov (Ed.) "The Voice of my Life..." In memory of Eugene Dubnov. Articles about the work of E. Dubnov. Memories of friends. Prose and poetry". Aleteya Publishing House, Saint Petersburg, 2021, 570 p.(in Russian)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubnov, Eugene 1949 births 2019 deaths 20th-century English poets 20th-century Russian poets 20th-century English novelists 20th-century Russian short story writers 20th-century Israeli poets 20th-century Israeli novelists Russian Jews Russian male poets Denaturalized citizens of the Soviet Union 21st-century Russian poets 21st-century English poets 20th-century Russian translators 21st-century Russian translators Translators from English Russian emigrants to the United Kingdom English people of Russian-Jewish descent Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom English Jews 21st-century English translators ''Strelets''