Babette Deutsch
Encyclopedia
Babette Deutsch was an American poet
, critic
, translator
, and novel
ist.
Born in New York City
, the daughter of Michael and Melanie (Fisher) Deutsch, she matriculated from the Ethical Culture School and Barnard College
, graduating in 1917 with a B.A. She published poems in magazines such as the North American Review
and the New Republic
while she was still a student at Barnard.
In 1946, she received an honorary D. Litt. from Columbia University. On April 29, 1921, Deutsch married Avrahm Yarmolinsky
, chief of the Slavonic Division of The New York Public Library (1918–1955), also a writer and translator. They had two sons, Adam Yarmolinsky
and Michael.
She translated Pushkin's Eugene Onegin
into English and also made some of the best English versions of Boris Pasternak's poems.
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...
, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
, and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist.
Born 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...
, the daughter of Michael and Melanie (Fisher) Deutsch, she matriculated from the Ethical Culture School and Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, graduating in 1917 with a B.A. She published poems in magazines such as the North American Review
North American Review
The North American Review was the first literary magazine in the United States. Founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale and others, it was published continuously until 1940, when publication was suspended due to J. H. Smyth, who had purchased the magazine, being unmasked as a Japanese...
and the New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
while she was still a student at Barnard.
In 1946, she received an honorary D. Litt. from Columbia University. On April 29, 1921, Deutsch married Avrahm Yarmolinsky
Avrahm Yarmolinsky
Avrahm Yarmolinsky was an author, translator and the husband of Babette Deutsch.Yarmolinsky was head of the Slavonic Division of the New York Public Library for roughly three decades...
, chief of the Slavonic Division of The New York Public Library (1918–1955), also a writer and translator. They had two sons, Adam Yarmolinsky
Adam Yarmolinsky
Professor Adam Yarmolinsky , son of Babette Deutsch and Avrahm Yarmolinsky, was an American academic, educator and author, as well as a political appointee who served in numerous capacities in the Kennedy, Johnson and Carter administrations.Besides serving in the White House, he also held posts in...
and Michael.
She translated Pushkin's Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.It is a classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes . It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832...
into English and also made some of the best English versions of Boris Pasternak's poems.
Poetic Collections
- Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (1954)
- Coming of Age (1959)
- Collected Poems, 1919-1962 (1963)
Other Works
- Mask of Silenus (1933)
- Poetry in Our Time (1954)
- Poetry Handbook (1957)
As Anthologist
- Modern Russian Poetry - an Anthology - Chosen and translated by Babette Deutsch and Avrahm Yarmolinsky (1921)
External links
- Deutsch, Babette at FactMonster
- Deutsch, Babette at Geocities
- Deutsch, Babette Literary Encyclopaedia - subscription required