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Pushkin
and the Creative Process by Brett Cooke Pushkin and the Creative Process tests the notion that artists have a special understanding of creativity, one that allows them to manipulate their psyche to productive ends. Brett Cooke identifies the theme of creativity in the work of Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s national poet, and then demonstrates that Pushkin's insights clearly anticipate modern studies of creativity. Pushkin's grasp of the psychology of creativity may be gleaned from eyewitness accounts and from essays, letters, conversations, and his artistic writings--particularly "The Poet," "Autumn," "Conversation of a Bookseller with a Poet," "Verses Composed at Night during Insomnia," and The Egyptian Nights. Maintaining that Pushkin developed his greatest insights while writing poetry--indeed, that he had to be inspired to gain insight into the subject of inspiration--he argues that evidence exists to suggest that Pushkin did not even understand what he was writing unless he was engaged in the act of writing. As Pushkin became increasingly interested in his own struggles with his muse, Cooke says, creativity became more and more a token of valuation for his characters, which makes his failure to complete The Egyptian Nights all the more poignant. Brett Cooke, associate professor of Russian at Texas A & M University, is the author of numerous articles in publications such as Russian Language Journal, Russian Literature, Russian Literature and Psychoanalysis, and Human Nature. 1998.192 pp. 6 X 9. 12 b&w illustrations, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. ISBN 0-8130-1561-8 Cloth, $55.00s
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"The best compendium in any language of Pushkin's remarks on his adventures with the creative Muse." --
South Atlantic Review "Pushkin and the Creative Process is a book that all students of the poet should study and grapple with. It is a study, I would say, that is very consonant with our age, reflecting both what has been gained and what has been lost by the gradual institutionalization (what Jacques Derrida calls the undeniable 'impression') of the Freudian episteme--Slavic Review
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