In 1937 the Soviet Union sponsored a huge celebration on the centenary of Pushkin's death, marking the turn toward a renewed Russian nationalism that would become full-blown a few years later.This is the first study of this major cultural event, and examines Soviet representations of Pushkin's legacy in prose, poetry, drama, theater, painting, sculpture, film, the educational system and in the political realm.

Jonathan Brooks Platt is assistant professor of Slavic languages and literatures at the University of Pittsburgh.