Apr 10, 2017
Bella Akhmadulina’s 80th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
“O magic theater of a poem,” Bella Akhmadulina wrote in one of her verses. These characteristic words perfectly capture the Russian poet’s approach to her craft. Marked by dramatic imagery and an emotional delivery, her distinctive work earned her a spot among Russia’s most acclaimed literary voices of the 20th century.
Unlike many of her contemporaries, Akhmadulina’s writings focused on everyday life and relationships, rather than politics. Because of this, she faced criticism early in her career. But she persisted and was eventually admitted to the Soviet Writers’ Union, publishing her first volume of poetry, Struna (“The String”), in 1962. She went on to publish many other collections throughout her lifetime and was awarded the State Prize of the Soviet Union in 1989, as well as the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 2004.
Along with showcasing her talents in print, Akhmadulina was also famous for her theatrical readings, which drew thousands to venues across Russia. Today’s Doodle brings an animated version of this to the Google homepage, honoring the late poet on what would’ve been her 80th birthday.
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