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This book is addressed to two readers.
First: to the Lover of Poetry, who seeks to utilize its emotion—as a diversion or a companion, as an outward expression or a candid mirror. Of course poetry can be savored without an intensive search for its historical and philosophical roots. And with no loss! The elements of the poetic word can buoy on their waves a great army of readers seeking pleasure in the music of verse, or in verbal crystallization of the most exquisite experiences. Such readers will delight to find this book a veritable cornucopia. The author and reader together will recite from heart the lines of Ivanov and Bryusov, will once again turn over the pages of Mandelshtam’s Stone, and find Blok set in juxtaposition with the French poets Claudel, Régnier, and Schwab. And of course, there will be appearances from Bely, Balmont, and Khlebnikov.
But, the second reader! This reader will discover that through a line of Symbolist verse shines Plato and Plotinus, Nietzsche, Solovyov, Bergson—and not only that! Finding that the self-same line cannot be understood without Severyanin, Bryusov, and Balmont, the reader is struck by the fact that among the true Symbolists sit Khlebnikov and Pasternak. Finally, within the pages live Aristotle and Simplicius, Kandt and Hegel—and how could it be any other way? Is it possible to dispense with the broad historical panorama within which such a powerful aesthetic movement as Symbolism gathered force? The interest in this movement has never run dry for a single, simple reason: The Epoch of Symbolism encompasses all Eras…