Vyacheslav Ivanov: The Path of Life

It is impossible to imagine the Silver Age without Vyacheslav Ivanov, one of its best poets. In addition, V.G. Ivanov was also a philologist—a classic of world-scale; his studies on the history of ancient mythology and religion are fundamental works. As a religious thinker, Vyacheslav Ivanov considered himself a student and follower of Vladimir Solovyov with his philosophy of all-unity and universal Christianity. The last quarter of his life was spent in Italy, where he engaged in scientific and teaching activities. During the German occupation of Rome, under the roar of bombs and shells, he wrote poems that formed the cycle "Roman Diary," which became one of the greatest peaks of Russian poetry. Contrary to common beliefs, Vyacheslav Ivanov appears in the book not merely as a poet "for philologists," but as one whose verses, in Mandelstam's words, resonate with the "mighty rumble" of an impending and waiting bell of popular speech.