Yevtushenko Yevgeny

Yevtushenko Yevgeny (July 18, 1933, Zima Station, Irkutsk Oblast – April 01, 2017, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US) – Russian poet, publicist, and public figure.

He studied at the M. Gorky Literature Institute (1951–54). He began publishing poems in 1949. His first collection of poems, Scouts of the Future, appeared in 1952. He is the author of poetry collections such as The Highway of Enthusiasts (1956), The Promise (1957), Tenderness (1962), The White Snow is Falling (1969), Intimate Lyrics (1973), The Window Overlooking White Trees (2007), My Footballiada (1969–2009), and others.

Primarily a lyrical poet, Yevtushenko was also active in publicist writing. He wrote poems, among which particularly notable are The Bratsk Hydroelectric Station (1965) and Kazan University (1970). His work was deeply inspired by the life and problems of contemporary society, with strong civic themes.

In 1982, he published the autobiographical novel Where Wild Berries Are, which later served as the basis for a feature film directed by Yevtushenko himself. His travels to different countries enriched his creativity. Since 1991, Yevtushenko lived and worked in the United States.

From early on, Yevtushenko’s creative work was closely linked to Georgia and Georgian poets. He translated into Russian works by I. Chavchavadze, A. Tsereteli, Vazha-Pshavela, and also his contemporary Georgian poets. In Tbilisi, two collections of his poems dedicated to Georgia were published: The Bow and the Lyre (1959) and Heavy on the Earth (1979, Merani Publishing House). The latter volume also included his translations of Georgian poets such as G. Abashidze, I. Abashidze, R. Amashukeli, A. Kalandadze, K. Kalandze, G. Leonidze, M. Machavariani, K. Nadiradze, I. Noneshvili, S. Chikovani, T. Chiladze, O. Chiladze, and others.

Yevtushenko’s poetic works have also been translated into Georgian.

Literary works: Собр. соч. в 3-х томаx, М., 1983; Стихотворения и поэмы в 3-х тт. Предисл. Ч. Айтматова, М., 1987; Зеленая калитка. Стихотворения, поэмы, переводы, проза. Вступ. статья Г. Гвердцители, Тб., 1990; [წიგნებში]: სიბრძნე სიყვარულისა (საბჭოთა პოეტების ლექსები), თბ., 1963; შთაგონება (თანამედროვე ახალგაზრდა რუსი პოეტების ლექსების კრებული), თბ., 1964; გზაჭრილი. პოემა, თბ., 1976; როცა ორმოცი წლისაა კაცი, თბ., 1979; ორი ქალაქი, თბ., 1985.

Literature: Л а в л и н с к и й  Л., „Сороколетье – Строгая пора“. О лирике Евгения Евтушенко, «Дружба народов», 1971, №8.