Uralsky, M. Zinaida Gippius. The Warrior Maiden of Russian symbolism. 1869–1920

Abstract

The review discusses a biography of Zinaida Gippius that covers the events of her life from 1869 to the 1920s. The author chooses to dwell on her role as the ‘Warrior Maiden of Russian symbolism,’ consequently omitting the last 25 years of her life from the study. Mark Uralsky utilizes an extensive range of documents to show Zinaida Gippius’s significance as a poet, literary critic, philosopher, and activist in the shaping of Russian symbolism and the so-called ‘new religious consciousness.’ The book particularly explores the psychophysical aspects of her personality that largely predetermined her often scandalous public appearances. The sheer wealth of information in combination with a frequent lack of in-depth analysis creates a superficial impression, which is reinforced by the book’s many repetitions. It would be satisfying to see more in-depth research and more skill and scholarship in exploring the extensive material garnered from various sources, as well as more convergence between biography and poetics. At the same time, the collected material and bibliography will be useful for subsequent research of the topic.