Ivan Bunin lived in Oryol from 1889 to 1892. It was at this time that he began to professionally study literature and published his poems, short stories and essays not only in the issues of the newspaper ‘Oryol Vestnik’, where he worked as a correspondent, but also in many metropolitan magazines. In ‘Autobiographical Notes’, the classic wrote: ‘While working in “Oryol Vestnik” I wrote in fits and starts, publishing in “Severnyi Vestnik”, “Nabliudatel” and illustrated magazines and published the first book of poetry, purely youthful, too intimate’.
It was in Oryol that Bunin’s first book was published – “The poems of 1887-1891”. The collection was published as an appendix to “Oryol Vestnik”. The writer dedicated the book to “dear brother and respected friend” Yuly Bunin, and chose Afanasy Fet’s poem ‘No, don’t wait for a passionate song…’ as an epigraph.
For the collection, Bunin selected the best of what he wrote in five years. However, literary scholars note that the poems from this collection cannot be called perfect in terms of versification.
Romantic motives are strong in Bunin’s poems of the Oryol period. The lyrical hero is dissatisfied with life among the ‘vulgar crowd’, seeks to serve lofty ideals, longs for happiness and love. And in landscape lyrics, for the first time, the theme of the beauty of Russian nature is prominent, which will become one of the key themes in Bunin’s mature poetry.
The book was well received by critics. The majority of reviewers noted that Bunin is “a poet predominantly elegiac, and he sings all the anguish on the strings of his artless and modest lyre”. The “Sever” magazine wrote: “Mr. Bunin is no longer a novice in literature. His name is often found in our time-based publications, therefore, something can be demanded from him both by critics and readers. The small book, which contains only 39 poems, fully gives an idea of his talent, so Mr. Bunin is undoubtedly a gifted poet. This is a poet of nature, quiet village life, shady alleys, fragrant meadows… The songs breathe bright autumn days, fragrant spring, hot summer…I. Bunin is on the right path; the source from which his inspiration is replenished is inexhaustible and, with the author”s undoubted talent, can lead to huge results”.
It was in Oryol that Bunin’s first book was published – “The poems of 1887-1891”. The collection was published as an appendix to “Oryol Vestnik”. The writer dedicated the book to “dear brother and respected friend” Yuly Bunin, and chose Afanasy Fet’s poem ‘No, don’t wait for a passionate song…’ as an epigraph.
For the collection, Bunin selected the best of what he wrote in five years. However, literary scholars note that the poems from this collection cannot be called perfect in terms of versification.
Romantic motives are strong in Bunin’s poems of the Oryol period. The lyrical hero is dissatisfied with life among the ‘vulgar crowd’, seeks to serve lofty ideals, longs for happiness and love. And in landscape lyrics, for the first time, the theme of the beauty of Russian nature is prominent, which will become one of the key themes in Bunin’s mature poetry.
The book was well received by critics. The majority of reviewers noted that Bunin is “a poet predominantly elegiac, and he sings all the anguish on the strings of his artless and modest lyre”. The “Sever” magazine wrote: “Mr. Bunin is no longer a novice in literature. His name is often found in our time-based publications, therefore, something can be demanded from him both by critics and readers. The small book, which contains only 39 poems, fully gives an idea of his talent, so Mr. Bunin is undoubtedly a gifted poet. This is a poet of nature, quiet village life, shady alleys, fragrant meadows… The songs breathe bright autumn days, fragrant spring, hot summer…I. Bunin is on the right path; the source from which his inspiration is replenished is inexhaustible and, with the author”s undoubted talent, can lead to huge results”.
