Vladimir Vysotsky (January 25, 1938 - July 25, 1980) was a poet, singer, and actor whose work had an immeasurable and lasting effect on Russian culture. His songs explored a vast variety of topics, ranging from comedy to social and political commentary. With the impressive poetical quality of his lyrics, he quickly outgrew the label of "a bard." In the time when many poets and performers were under heavy scrutiny and censorship by the government, Vysotsky dared to speak his mind and due to his immense popularity with the Soviet people, he was left largely ignored by the authorities. Vysotsky died of a heart attack on July 25, 1980, though many speculate that alcohol and drug use may have also contributed to his early death. In the short span of twenty years, Vysotsky had produced nearly 2000 songs and poems. To this day, he remains an icon for the Russian people and has had a deep influence on the Russian musicians of today. This dual-language collection of his work strives to give a glimpse into the creative mind of Russia's greatest singer.

Alexander Pushkin (June 6, 1799 - February 10, 1837), is widely considered to be Russia's greatest writer. He is credited with enhancing the Russian lexicon and introducing a language that, while bridging Romanticism with Realism, would become a foundation for Russian modern literature. His poetry, marked by innovative rhymes and rhythms, while, at the same time, maintaining natural tone and diction, has a very unique and distinct sound that is drastically different from anything written before him. His novel in verse, Eugene Onegin, has been recognized all over the world and translated into 86 languages, including at least 42 translations into English. This small, dual-language collection is an assortment of some of his best known poetry with some of the lesser known works.

Anna Akhmatova (June 23, 1889 - March 5, 1966) is considered by many to be one of the greatest Russian poets of the Silver Age. One of the forefront leaders of the Acmeism movement, which focused on rigorous form and directness of words, she was a master of conveying raw emotion in her portrayals of everyday situations. Her works range from short lyric love poetry to longer, more complex cycles, such as Requiem, a tragic depiction of the Stalinist terror. During the time of heavy censorship and persecution, her poetry gave voice to the Russian people. To this day, she remains one of Russia's most beloved poets and has left a lasting impression on generations of poets that came after her. Rosary, published in 1914, is Akhmatova's second book, and one of her most popular collections. After its publication, Akhmatova became a household name and further established her place among the greatest Russian poets.

Anna Akhmatova (June 23, 1889 - March 5, 1966) is considered by many to be one of the greatest Russian poets of the Silver Age. Although true fame and recognition did not come until her later, Evening, her first poetry collection, had caught the attention of many prominent literary critics of the time and helped to solidify her career as a writer. One of the forefront leaders of the Acmeism movement, which focused on rigorous form and directness of words, she was a master of conveying raw emotion in her portrayals of everyday situations. Her works range from short lyric love poetry to longer, more complex cycles, such as Requiem, a tragic depiction of the Stalinist terror. During the time of heavy censorship and persecution, her poetry gave voice to the Russian people. To this day, she remains one of Russia's most beloved poets and has left a lasting impression on generations of poets that came after her.

Alexander Blok (November 28, 1880 - August 7, 1921) was a major poet of the Russian Symbolism movement. His early poetry was dominated by the theme of searching for his ideal beauty. Sound, rhythm, color and repetition played a crucial part in setting the mood and conveying emotions in his writing. With subsequent collections, the focus shifted to depicting human psychology. His writing became more ironic and pessimistic, as he struggled to balance his quest for an ideal with his disenchantment in everyday life. In the later stages of his career, he wrote predominately about political themes and the changes that were happening in Russia. To this day, he is considered by many to be the most important Russian poet since Alexander Pushkin, and his work would have a lasting influence on the likes of Anna Akhmatova, Boris Pasternak and Marina Tsvetaeva, among other prominent poets of the Silver Age. This dual-language collection of his poetry seeks to represent the continuum of Alexander Blok's growth as a poet, with particular attention paid to the rhythm and melody of his writing.

While known primarily for his translations from Russian, Andrey Kneller has also written a great deal of his own poetry. He was born and grew up in Moscow, Russia. In 1993, when he was ten, his family immigrated to United States. He has been writing and translating poetry since the age of fourteen. His work has appeared in a number of literary magazines and journals, including National Forum, Gentle Reader, Unlikely Stories, and the Hypertexts. This book is a complete collection of his poetry from 1999 to the present day.

Anna Akhmatova (June 23, 1889 - March 5, 1966) is considered by many to be one of the greatest Russian poets of the Silver Age. Her works range from short lyric love poetry to longer, more complex cycles, such as Requiem, a tragic depiction of the Stalinist terror. One of the forefront leaders of the Acmeism movement, which focused on rigorous form and directness of words, she was a master of conveying raw emotion in her portrayals of everyday situations. During the time of heavy censorship and persecution, her poetry gave voice and hope to the Russian people. In this dual-language selection of Anna Akhmatova's poetry, Andrey Kneller's translations capture not only the general message, but also strive to preserve the beautiful lyrical quality of the originals.

One of the greatest poets of the Silver Age, Boris Pasternak (February 10, 1890 - May 30, 1960) became known in the west after he was awarded the 1958 Nobel Laureate in Literature and was forced by the Russian authorities to decline the prize. This scandal won him a large audience in the west and his novel, Dr. Zhivago became an instant success. However, contrary to popular belief, Boris Pasternak has never actively rebelled against the Soviet regime. His poetry has always reflected his inner self and was not dictated by the atmosphere of the epoch. In Russia, where the novel, Dr, Zhivago, had been banned until the late 1980's, Boris Pasternak was primarily known for his work as a poet. Boris Pasternak, whose first true love was music, brings a unique sense of melody to his poetry. Barely a whisper, one almost needs to overhear the subtle song in his words. It is this quality of his poetry that sets him apart from his contemporaries and makes his work moving and unforgettable. Nearly all of the poems from Dr. Zhivago (with the exceptions of "Wedding," "Star of Nativity," and "The Miracle," which proved to be too difficult to translate adequately) are included in this dual-language edition, as well as some other poetry written throughout his life. Great emphasis has been placed on retaining the musical quality of the work, without sacrificing the content.