The true significance of Vladimir Mayakovsky is determined not by the fact that in Soviet times he was declared “the best and most talented poet,” but by the fact that both during his life and after his death, his personality and work remained at the center of public attention—among the themes that form the context of modern Russian culture. The poet’s role in society, his right—or duty—to actively participate in political struggle, the revolution, love, death—all of this is vividly reflected in Mayakovsky’s poems, making them relevant to any era.
Among the many books devoted to Mayakovsky, a special place is occupied by his new biography created by the well-known poet, writer, and publicist Dmitry Bykov. Describing his hero’s life path in detail, his relationship with power, with women, with allies and opponents, the author focuses on key moments—seeing in them reflections of the main problems of the Russian intelligentsia and, more broadly, of Russian history. In this way, the book resembles Bykov’s works in the “Lives of Remarkable People” (ZhZL) series—biographies of B. Pasternak and B. Okudzhava—forming together with them a trilogy about the fates of Russian poets of the 20th century.