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This is the most important work by Russia's most significant twentieth-century interpreter of medieval culture. It delivers far more than its title promises. Likhachev's book is not just an erudite analysis of a somewhat obscure (to anglophone readers) literature. Indeed, Likhachev's innovation lay partly in his insistence on bringing literary approaches to the study of a broad range of cultural practices-verbal, representational, architectural-which had not normally been associated with 'literariness' at all. The result is a broad, subtle, and engaging vision of pre-Modern Russian culture as culture (rather than merely as devotional practice, which is how it tends to have been regarded). Part of Likhachev's aim was to bring the study of Russia's cultural past into productive dialogue with the study of other medieval cultures. His insights and methods have much that should interest and intrigue a wider audience. -- Simon Franklin, Clare College, Cambridge

The present translation is the first of this seminal work, which forms ... a comprehensive analysis of the classification, problems, and complexities of the literature attributed to early Rus and pre-modern Russia...[The book] provides clear and in-depth consideration of the complexity of early Slavonic literary genres and their formation...The Poetics of Early Russian Literature remains an invaluable resource for those interested in Russian history and literature and comparative medieval literature...This study promotes a line of questioning that will be useful to students and scholars of Slavonic and broader medieval literature alike. Modern Language Review This is the most important work by Russia's most significant twentieth-century interpreter of medieval culture. It delivers far more than its title promises. Likhachev's book is not just an erudite analysis of a somewhat obscure (to anglophone readers) literature. Indeed, Likhachev's innovation lay partly in his insistence on bringing literary approaches to the study of a broad range of cultural practices-verbal, representational, architectural-which had not normally been associated with 'literariness' at all. The result is a broad, subtle, and engaging vision of pre-Modern Russian culture as culture (rather than merely as devotional practice, which is how it tends to have been regarded). Part of Likhachev's aim was to bring the study of Russia's cultural past into productive dialogue with the study of other medieval cultures. His insights and methods have much that should interest and intrigue a wider audience. -- Simon Franklin, Clare College, Cambridge

The present translation is the first of this seminal work, which forms . . . a comprehensive analysis of the classification, problems, and complexities of the literature attributed to early Rus and pre-modern Russia. . . .[The book] provides clear and in-depth consideration of the complexity of early Slavonic literary genres and their formation. . . .The Poetics of Early Russian Literature remains an invaluable resource for those interested in Russian history and literature and comparative medieval literature. . . .This study promotes a line of questioning that will be useful to students and scholars of Slavonic and broader medieval literature alike. * Modern Language Review * It is important to praise Christopher M. Arden-Close's translation, which reads very easily and maintains a balance between conversational and academic styles. . . .This work constitutes an invaluable resource to Russian studies students but will also be fascinating for any educated reader with a particular interest in medieval literature. * Slavic Review * This is the most important work by Russia's most significant twentieth-century interpreter of medieval culture. It delivers far more than its title promises. Likhachev's book is not just an erudite analysis of a somewhat obscure (to anglophone readers) literature. Indeed, Likhachev's innovation lay partly in his insistence on bringing literary approaches to the study of a broad range of cultural practices-verbal, representational, architectural-which had not normally been associated with `literariness' at all. The result is a broad, subtle, and engaging vision of pre-Modern Russian culture as culture (rather than merely as devotional practice, which is how it tends to have been regarded). Part of Likhachev's aim was to bring the study of Russia's cultural past into productive dialogue with the study of other medieval cultures. His insights and methods have much that should interest and intrigue a wider audience. -- Simon Franklin, Clare College, Cambridge

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Dmitry Sergeevich Likhachev was professor at Leningrad State University. Christopher Arden-Close received his doctoral degree in applied linguistics from Southampton University. He taught English language and literature for many years in Asian universities and has published articles on the teaching of English and Science in international journals. Milena Rozhdestvenskaya is professor in the Department of Philology at St. Petersburg State University.

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