Safe Conduct: An Early Autobiography & Other Works

Pasternak, Boris

Published by Elek Books, 1959

About this Item

London. 1959. Elek Books. 1st British Edition. Very Good in Internally Water-Stained Dustjacket. Translated from the Russian by Alec Brown & Lydia Pasternak-Slater. 304 pages. hardcover. keywords: Europe Russia Literature Translated Poetry Autobiography World Literature. DESCRIPTION - The 1958 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Boris Pasternak not only for DR. ZHIVAGO but for the important contributions he has made to modern lyric poetry and the great Russian epic tradition'. In this volume are presented most of the prose works which preceded DR. ZHIVAGO, together with a selection of Pasternak's poetry, most of which has not hitherto been published in English. The four exquisitely-written short stories which begin this book are all imbued with the highly personal impressionism which distinguishes Pasternak's work, but they are at the same time completely different in subject and treatment. In particular, the sympathetic observation of a child's mind shown in the delicate charm of ZHENIA'S CHILDHOOD contrasts with the stylish, cynical ingenuity displayed in IL TRATTO DI APELLE. Pasternak's intoxication with the use of words, already apparent in the short stories, is even more evident in his poetry. In this volume are included his great epic poem 1905' and a number of short lyrics. His highly-charged poetic style, which stems from Donne and the French symbolists, exploits to the full chance associations of words wherever these can be harnessed to his meaning. For, while seeming at first to be merely playing with words, he is in fact one of the greatest masters of condensed logical statement. In SAFE CONDUCT, Pasternak describes the process by which he became a poet. The development of his genius is brilliantly shown against the rich background of Russian culture in the early years of this century. As a child he knew men such as Scriabin and Rilke, and their influence, together with that of his father, the painter Leonid Pasternak, helped to foster his love of beauty in all its forms. In Alec Brown, the well-known Slavonic scholar, who, a poem himself, fully understands and profoundly sympathizes with Pasternak's artistic and personal aims. inventory #7911 Very Good in Internally Water-Stained Dustjacket.

Seller Inventory # z7911

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Safe Conduct: An Early Autobiography & Other Works
• Publisher: Elek Books
• Publication Date: 1959
• Binding: hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Dust Jacket Condition: Poor