Gumilev Without Gloss

This book collects memories that reveal the multifaceted image of one of the brightest poets of the Silver Age, Nikolai Gumilev (1886–1921). Numerous testimonies from contemporaries — friends, acquaintances, fellow writers — are gathered in thematic blocks dedicated to different facets of the poet's personality: his literary pursuits, travels, romantic and friendly relationships, life principles, and spiritual quests. A wide range of evaluations — from admiration to indignation — paints a portrait of a living, contradictory person, allowing a glimpse into the personality and creativity of the Russian "conquistador" beyond the literary myth. The book will be a valuable discovery for fans of Gumilev's work, as well as for anyone interested in the Silver Age and the lives of its heroes.