Us Four Plus Four: Eight Russian Poets Conversing

While Us Four Plus Four is an expansive collection of poetry from eight of Russia’s most well-known and influential poets, its arrangement as a conversation is what distinguishes it from those that precede it. The literary value of each poem is evident in its own right, but by reading these poems as a conversation, we are better able to appreciate the significance of these poets in both a social and historical context. Don Mager’s translations maintain the distinctive nature of each poet’s voice, injecting the poems with the appropriate energy, chaos, remorse or respect. His attention to detail and passion for accuracy are apparent in both his scholastic research and in the creativity of his translations; he weaves a chronological tale of the love, pain, and loss felt by the poets and effectively depicts the arduous era in which they lived. From the insight of Akhmatova to the boyishness of Mandel’shtam and the despair of Blok, Mager’s efforts have resulted in a comprehensive yet unintimidating anthology of early- to mid-twentiethcentury Russian poetry. Accessible to an audience unfamiliar with these poets, Us Four Plus Four is informative without being pretentious. It entertains without compromising its contribution to the academic and literary worlds. Mager’s collection takes one conversation and begins hundreds more. Poets included: Alexander Block Sergei Esenin Vladimir Maiakovskii Osip Mandel’shtam Marina Tsvetaeva Igor’ Severianin Boris Pasternak Ana Akhmatova