Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Poetry, Russian Literature, Futurism, Modernist Literature.

Book Review:
''V. Mayakovsky 2: Longer Poems'' is a powerful entry point into the volcanic world of one of modern poetry's most forceful voices. Vladimir Mayakovsky, the iconic poet of the Russian Revolution, didn't just write poems; he launched verbal assaults on the old world. This collection showcases his longer, more sustained works, where his trademark energy—compared by Pablo Neruda in the blurb to a ''builder's sledge-hammer''—is given full reign.

Reading Mayakovsky is an experience. His lines are bold, rhythmic, and visually striking, often arranged in his famous ''ladder'' format to control pace and emphasis. The poems grapple with love, revolution, art's purpose, and the struggle to build a new society. While firmly rooted in the Soviet context, his themes of passion, disillusionment, and grand ambition are universal. This volume, likely translated with care, captures the raw power and innovative spirit that made Mayakovsky a giant. Essential for students of poetry, Russian history, or anyone who believes in the power of words to shake the world.