Osip Emilievich
Mandelstam
1891-1938
Osip Mandelstam was a prominent Russian poet, novelist, translator, and literary critic, who became one of the leading figures of the Silver Age. He is known for his profound and enduring works of art. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1891. His father, Abram Emilievich, worked in the glove industry, and his mother, Emilia Fedorovna, took care of the household. In 1897, the family relocated to St. Petersburg, where Osip attended the prestigious Tenishev College. From a young age, Mandelstam showed an interest in literature, languages, and music, which shaped his future career. After graduating from college in 1908, he travelled to Europe to further his studies. He attended lectures at the Sorbonne and studied philosophy and literature at Heidelberg University. During this time, Mandelstam became interested in the works of French symbolist poets such as Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine. These works left a deep impression on his own writing. However, financial difficulties forced him to return to St. Petersburg. There, he entered the Faculty of History and Philology at St. Petersburg University, but his studies soon became less important as he became increasingly interested in poetry. Mandelstam’s first published poems appeared in 1910 in the magazine Apollo, marking his literary debut. His early work was influenced by symbolism, but he later became one of the leading figures of acmeism, a movement that sought clarity and precision in artistic expression. He became close to other prominent poets of the time, including Nikolai Gumilev and Anna Akhmatova. Together, they formed the “Workshop of Poets”, a literary circle that promoted their shared vision of poetry. In 1913, Mandelstam’s first collection of poetry, “The Stone”, was published. This not only brought him fame but also became a significant event in literary circles at the time. In 1919, Mandelstam met the artist Nadezhda Khazina, who would become his wife and loyal companion during difficult times. Throughout the early 1920s, Mandelstam continued to produce new works, including the collections “Tristia” and “The Second Book” and the re-publication of “The Stone”. These publications established him as one of the leading poets of the era. In addition to his poetry, Mandelstam also attempted his hand at prose, with works such as the autobiographical novel “Noise of Time” and “Egyptian Stamp” standing out as examples of his writing skills. A memorial bust in honour of O.E. Mandelstam has been erected in Moscow.
Address: Moscow, Zabelina St., 3, building 8
