Igor Severyanin

Igor Severyanin, born on May fourth, eighteen eighty-seven, in St. Petersburg, emerged as a prominent figure in the Russian literary scene, leading the Ego-Futurists. His lineage included connections to notable literary figures such as Nikolai Karamzin and Afanasy Fet, through his mother. In nineteen oh four, he relocated to Harbin with his father, but soon returned to St. Petersburg, where he began publishing his poetry at his own expense.

By nineteen thirteen, Severyanin had made a significant impact on the literary world, as noted by D.S. Mirsky, who remarked on the poet's bold declaration of rights in verse. That year, he released his collection, The Cup of Thunder, which featured a preface by Fyodor Sologub. His self-introduction in one of his celebrated poems, declaring himself a genius, captivated audiences and established him as a cult figure, particularly in the provinces of Imperial Russia.

Severyanin's work was characterized by vibrant themes, such as 'ice cream of lilacs' and 'pineapples in champagne,' designed to dazzle the bourgeois audience with a spectacle of color and glamour. He embraced modernity, expressing admiration for dirigibles and automobiles, and often shocked his contemporaries with his admiration for Oscar Wilde and his own megalomania. During one gathering, he was humorously dubbed 'the king of poets,' although some critics were less than impressed with his style.

Following the Russian Revolution of nineteen seventeen, Severyanin was among the first poets to leave Russia, settling in Estonia in nineteen eighteen. Despite attempts to return, various obstacles, including the civil war and his marriage to Felissa Kruut, hindered his efforts. After the Soviet occupation of Estonia in nineteen forty, he continued his literary pursuits until his death from a heart attack in German-occupied Tallinn in nineteen forty-one. He was laid to rest in the Alexander Nevsky cemetery in Tallinn.