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Introduction
| Anna Akhmatova captured the spirit and imagination
of Russia for more than half a century. She contributed to the modern day
mythos of St. Petersburg by her writing and personality over the different
milestone events of 20th century Russian history, from the fall of the
empire to the Revolution, the civil war, the world wars and the heyday
of communism.
I would like to lead you through a journey retracing the steps in Anna Akhmatova’s life. This journey shall introduce us to the places where Anna Akhmatova lived or close connections with. Several of these places have a great significance to her writing and role as the voice of Russia’s conscience through many tough times. One of the most important places in her life is of course the imperial summer resort of Tsarskoe Selo, close to St Petersburg. We shall also briefly explore other places in Anna Akhmatova’s life – such as where she was born, life abroad, and where she was finally buried. |
Odessa and Kiev - Ukraine
Take
a virtual tour of Odessa by night
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Odessa is the western gate to the Ukrainian Riviera. Its picturesque
setting has earned the city the title “pearl of the Black Sea.”
Founded over 200 years ago by Catherine the Great, Odessa is connected
to other ports in Romania, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Turkey,
Anna Akhmatova was born here in 1889 before her family moved shortly afterwards to Tsarskoe Selo, near St. Petersburg. Poet Alexander Pushkin worked in Odessa as a civil servant under the strict and intolerant Count Vorontsov. |
| The city is famous for its fine Odessa Opera House, designed and executed
between 1884 and 1887 by two Viennese architects.
The Odessa Opera House is said to be second only to the Vienna Opera House. It resembles both the Vienna Opera House and the Dresden Court Theatre. Tchaikovsky, Rubenstein and Rimsky-Korsakov are some of the great musicians who have conducted at this magnificent Opera House. |
Link to picture source - Odessaweb |
from Odessaweb |
from the Odessaweb site. |
Fundukleyevskaya street in Kiev, where Akhmatova completed her gymnasium.
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Kiev Dating back more 1,500 years, the capital city of Ukraine, Kiev is described in chronicles as “the mother of Russian Cities.” The City lying abreast the Dnieper River not far from Chernobyl is home to over 2 million people, and host to numerous research institutes, industry and cultural facilities. Anna Akhmatova completed her Gymnasium education and studied law in Kiev, before marrying her first husband, the poet Gumilev. They got married at the Nikolayevsky church in Kiev.(see picture to the left) |
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Among Kiev’s most renowned architectural treasures is St. Sophia ‘s Cathedral (Sofisky Sobor) which has now become a museum. Prince Yaroslav the Wise dedicated the cathedral in 1037 after battle victory against the invading eastern tribe of Pechenegs. Link to more pictures of Kiev from the
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The Stray Dog Cafe
| While in St. Petersburg, she associated and lead group
of progressive poets known as the acmeists. Many poets as well as other
artists, mostly avant garde, met at the Stray Dog Café which became
a focal point of St. Petersburg's cultural players.
Here she often read poems she had composed but could not publish to associates and had them memorized and so kept her creativity alive. There was a guest book at The Stray Dog in which all patrons signed, so on a typical day, Akhmatova would write in a verse from a new poem while another artist might pen in a cartoon or other caricature. |
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Akhmatova links
Akhmatova, Anna (Anna Gorenko) a page from Norway, by Johan Schimanski.Akhmatova Links Page by Jill T. Dybka.
Anna Akhmatova from Odessaweb. Includes a bibliography.
Anna Akhmatova (and more Russian artworks) by George Mitrevshky, Auburn University.