Marina Tsvetaeva - To Die in Yelabuga

Marina Tsvetaeva was a Russian poet who lived a tumultuous and passionate life, involving several men, including Rilke and Pasternak. She experienced poverty, the death of her daughters, and the death of her husband, who was executed by the Soviet state. Rejected by official poets and the wealthy Russian diaspora, she returned to her country and hanged herself in an attic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2023
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

Marina Tsvetaeva's life was a turbulent and remarkable journey that intertwined with the tumultuous era of Russian history. She emerged as a prominent Russian poet, captivating hearts with her profound words and captivating personality. Her life was a tapestry of intense emotions, encompassing passionate relationships with various men, including the renowned Rilke, who chose another woman over her, and Pasternak, who married someone else but remained devoted to her until her tragic end.

Marina Tsvetaeva faced numerous hardships throughout her life. She endured the devastating consequences of poverty during the grueling Russian civil war, witnessing the suffering of her young daughters as they succumbed to hunger in an orphanage. The loss of her husband, a courageous fighter against the Communist regime, who was executed by the Soviet state, added another layer of pain and sorrow to her already burdened existence.

Rejected by the official poets of her time and the wealthy Russian diaspora in France, Marina Tsvetaeva found solace in her homeland. She returned to Russia, determined to end her wandering life and find closure. In a final act of despair, she hanged herself from a rope in an attic, where she could glimpse the field where she had once dug for potatoes, abandoned by local farmers.

Marina Tsvetaeva's life is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. She became a poet-martyr of the Stalinist era, buried in an unmarked plot in the cemetery of Yelabuga. However, her legacy continues to live on, as celebrated Lebanese author Vénus Khoury-Ghata brings her to life in this poetic biographical novel. Through Khoury-Ghata's skillful storytelling, Tsvetaeva's remarkable journey is brought to vivid life, resonating with readers worldwide.

Dimension: 9 x 6 x 1 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803090634