The Symphonies

Andrei Bely is best known for his modernist masterpiece Petersburg, which exemplifies how modern writers sought to evoke the fragmentation of language, narrative, and consciousness. This book presents his four Symphonies, which capture the banality of life, the intimacy of love, and the enchantment of art. They are quintessential works of modernist innovation, influenced by Russian Symbolism, and depict the drabness of daily life with distinct irony and satire. Jonathan Stones translation of the Symphonies features some of the most captivating and beguiling writing of Russia's Silver Age.

Format: Hardback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2021
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Andrei Bely is renowned for his exceptional work, Petersburg, which stands as a paradigmatic representation of the modernist movement's endeavor to capture the fragmented nature of language, narrative, and consciousness. During the early 20th century, Bely embarked on his artistic journey, commencing with a series of texts he referred to as "symphonies," which were experimental works that explored genre and sound, employing a style that seamlessly transitioned between prosaic, poetic, and musical elements. This remarkable book presents Bely's four Symphonies, including "Dramatic Symphony," "Northern Symphony," "The Return," and "Goblet of Blizzards." These fantastical stories are remarkable in their ability to capture the banality of everyday life, the depth of love, and the enchantment of art.

The Symphonies are considered quintessential masterpieces of modernist innovation, as Bely crafted a rich mythology and developed a distinctive aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from Russian Symbolism, Bely believed that the role of modern artists was to infuse seemingly ordinary details with profound cosmic significance. The Symphonies vividly depict the monotony of everyday existence with a distinct irony and satire, only to transcend the confines of turn-of-the-century Moscow into the realm of infinite and eternal possibilities. They create worlds that bear a resemblance to our own but also reveal hints of artifice and magic, alluding to mystical truths and the complete transformation of life. Through Jonathan Stones meticulous translation of the Symphonies, readers are treated to some of the most captivating and beguiling writing of Russia's Silver Age.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231199087