Alexei Tsvetkov
Encyclopedia
Alexei Petrovich Tsvetkov (also spelled as Aleksei Cvetkov; ; born in Stanyslaviv
, Ukraine
on February 2, 1947) is a Russian poet
and essayist. Not to be confused with Alexei Vyacheslavovich Tsvetkov (:ru:Цветков, Алексей Вячеславович), a younger journalist, an editor of Limonka
newspaper.
and briefly studied chemistry at the Odessa University
, then history (1965–1968) and journalism (1971–1974) at the Moscow State University
. Together with Sergey Gandlevsky, Bakhyt Kenjeev
, and Alexander Soprovsky he founded the unofficial group of poets Moscow Time
. In 1975 he was arrested and deported from Moscow and in the same year emigrated to the United States. He edited the emigre newspaper Russkaya Zhizn (San Francisco ,1976–77). Then he entered the University of Michigan
graduate school and in 1983 was awarded a PhD
degree. Tsvetkov taught Russian language and literature at Dickinson College
, Pennsylvania
, then worked as an international broadcaster at the Voice of America
radio station. From 1989 until 2007 he worked in the same capacity at the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, first in Munich
, later in Prague
. Currently he is a freelance writer
based in New York City
.
soldier (only the adolescence is covered) reflects Tsvetkov's idea of the Roman civilization as one of the summits in the history of the humanity. Alexei Tsvetkov has been considered one of the finest poets of his generation by such critics as A. Skvortsov, A. Lehrman, G. Smith, A. Zorin and poets Andrey Voznesensky
, Sergey Gandlevsky, and Mikhail Aizenberg.
In 2004, after a 17 year break, Tsvetkov turned back to poetry and within a year and a half prepared a new book of poetry.
Alexei Tsvetkov also writes and publishes poetry and essays in English.
In 2007 he was awarded Andrei Bely
prize for poetry.
In Russian:
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk is a historic city located in the western Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, municipality....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
on February 2, 1947) is a Russian poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and essayist. Not to be confused with Alexei Vyacheslavovich Tsvetkov (:ru:Цветков, Алексей Вячеславович), a younger journalist, an editor of Limonka
Limonka (newspaper)
Limonka is a Moscow-based newspaper. Limonka is the official organ of the National Bolshevik Party. Limonka was founded by Eduard Limonov and it was first published in 1994. The name is a play of words on Limonov and is idiomatic Russian for grenade...
newspaper.
Biography
Alexei Tsvetkov grew up in ZaporizhiaZaporizhia
Zaporizhia or Zaporozhye [formerly Alexandrovsk ] is a city in southeastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is the administrative center of the Zaporizhia Oblast...
and briefly studied chemistry at the Odessa University
Odessa University
The I. I. Mechnikov Odessa National University , located in Odessa, Ukraine, is one of the country's major universities. It was founded in 1865, by an edict of Czar Alexander II of Russia, reorganizing the Richelieu Lyceum of Odessa into the new Imperial Novorossiya University. In the Soviet...
, then history (1965–1968) and journalism (1971–1974) at the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. Together with Sergey Gandlevsky, Bakhyt Kenjeev
Bakhyt Kenjeev
Bakhyt Shkurullaevich Kenjeev is a Russian poet.-Life:In 1953 his parents moved to Moscow. He graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in chemistry...
, and Alexander Soprovsky he founded the unofficial group of poets Moscow Time
Moscow Time
Moscow Time is the time zone for the city of Moscow, Russia and most of western Russia, including Saint Petersburg. It is the second westernmost of the nine time zones of Russia. Moscow Time has been UTC+4 year-round since 27 March 2011....
. In 1975 he was arrested and deported from Moscow and in the same year emigrated to the United States. He edited the emigre newspaper Russkaya Zhizn (San Francisco ,1976–77). Then he entered the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
graduate school and in 1983 was awarded a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree. Tsvetkov taught Russian language and literature at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, then worked as an international broadcaster at the Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
radio station. From 1989 until 2007 he worked in the same capacity at the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, first in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, later in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Currently he is a freelance writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Creative output
In the late 80s he stopped writing poetry and turned to prose. The unfinished novel Just a Voice, an autobiography of a fictitious RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
soldier (only the adolescence is covered) reflects Tsvetkov's idea of the Roman civilization as one of the summits in the history of the humanity. Alexei Tsvetkov has been considered one of the finest poets of his generation by such critics as A. Skvortsov, A. Lehrman, G. Smith, A. Zorin and poets Andrey Voznesensky
Andrey Voznesensky
Andrei Andreyevich Voznesensky was a Soviet and Russian poet and writer who had been referred to by Robert Lowell as "one of the greatest living poets in any language." He was one of the "Children of the '60s," a new wave of iconic Russian intellectuals led by the Khrushchev Thaw.Voznesensky was...
, Sergey Gandlevsky, and Mikhail Aizenberg.
In 2004, after a 17 year break, Tsvetkov turned back to poetry and within a year and a half prepared a new book of poetry.
Alexei Tsvetkov also writes and publishes poetry and essays in English.
In 2007 he was awarded Andrei Bely
Andrei Bely
Andrei Bely was the pseudonym of Boris Nikolaevich Bugaev , a Russian novelist, poet, theorist, and literary critic. His novel Petersburg was regarded by Vladimir Nabokov as one of the four greatest novels of the 20th century.-Biography:...
prize for poetry.
Published works
- Sbornik p'es dlia zhizni solo (Collection of Pieces for Life Solo), Ann Arbor: Ardis, 1978.
- Sostoianie sna (Dream State), Ann Arbor: Ardis, 1981.
- Edem (Eden), Ann Arbor: Ardis, 1985.
- Stikhotvoreniia (Poems), St. Petersburg: Pushkinskii fond, 1996.
- Divno molvit'. Sobranie stikhotvorenii (Wonderful to Utter), St. Petersburg: Pushkinskii fond, 2001.
- Prosto golos (Just a Voice), Nezavisimaya GazetaNezavisimaya GazetaNezavisimaya Gazeta is a Russian daily newspaper. Published since December 21, 1990.Information ranging from a wide variety of sources, such as reporters, political scientists, historians, art historians, as well as critics are published in the newspaper...
, Moscow, 2002. - Bestiarii (Bestiary), Ekaterinburg: Evdokiia, 2004.
- Shekspir otdykhaet (Shakespeare at Rest), St. Petersburg: Pushkinskii fond, 2006.
- Imena liubvi (Names of Love), Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo, 2007.
- Edem i drugoe (Eden, and More), Moscow: OGI, 2007.
- Atlanticheskii dnevnik (The Atlantic Diary), Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo, 2007.
- Rovnyi veter (The Even Wind), Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo, 2008.
- Skazka na noch (Bedtime Story), Moscow: Novoe izdatel'stvo, 2010.
- Detektor smysla (Sense Detector), Moscow: ARGO-RISK; Knizhnoe obozrenie, 2010.
Other sources
- Lowe, David. Russian Writings Since 1953. A Critical History. Ungar, NY, 1987.
- Панн, Л. Нескучный сад. – Hermitage Publishers, 1998.
- Смит, Дж. Взгляд извне. Статьи о русской поэзии и поэтике. М.: Языки славянской культуры, 2002.
External links
In English:- Personal English poetry blog
- Leaving Prague in Poetry magazine
- Two early poems by Alexei Tsvetkov English translations by Alex Cigale
In Russian: