Only now we begin to discover the
younger Tsvetaeva as a writer, artist and
philosopher. Not less gifted, than Marina, Anastasia shared the bitter fate of
Russian People, who were catch by Stalin’s regime. 22 years of her Life were
spent on prison stages, jails and settlements. She never changed her beliefs/
She nrver served and flattered the government. Like a
lonely and great mountain peak, Anastasia resisted the terrible cataclysm of
the XX century, retaining her Fairytale Castle. Its doors are now open for you!
SWALLOW’S NEST.
A Tail of Our Meeting. 1991.
THE PHENOMENON OF
TSVETAEV’S FAMILY
On September 5, the Dormation
of Holy Mother of God, it has been 26 years since her departure. Anastasia Tsvetaeva was a great Daughter of Russia, Era’s witness and
an amazing woman. September 27 marks the 125-th Anniversary of her birth. Who
does not know Asya, the sister and friend of Marina Tsvetaeva? Asya is known and
loved by everyone who knows Literature, Poetry, and Art. Considering that not
only writers and poets find themselves to be «admirers» but also students, art
historians, critics, editors, philologists, publicists, translators and
screenwriters, teachers, artists, TV and Theater workers, directors, and journalists .. For Russia, the experts of Poetry and
Literary classics are not uncommon at all as we know in all professions and in
all walks of life.
So we naturally assume that Asya Tsvetaeva is widely known
and extremely popular, both in Russia and abroad. Unfortunately, this is far
from the case. The reason is not only the sister's eclipse of the glory and not
just the Stalinism under which wheels Anastasia’s fate fell. Rather, it is
connected with the phenomenon of the Tsvetaev’s
family: with unusualness and a unique degree of giftedness of all its representatives.
This phenomenon is perhaps unique in world’s culture and in the history of
Russia. All of them do rise above the world of people, like people from another
galaxy and stand isolated and apart - even from each other, and understanding
each of them requires not only rare abilities but also inspiration.
The Phenomenon of the Tsvetaev family: just like the aliens from other galaxies
and higher worlds.
Their faces are illuminated by the light of the Mystery, one for all.
Father, Ivan Vladimirovich Tsvetaev (1847 /†1913), a famous
scientist-researcher of Ancient Culture, professor at Moscow State University,
founder and first director of the Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor
Alexander III. The son of a clergyman, he gave his life to the cause of the
Enlightenment of the Russian People. And in the next generations of this
family, the tradition of Christian asceticism is preserved: fidelity to the
high duty, full dedication and flaming ..
The word «FIERY» is the single key to
the identity of everyone in the family. Maria Alexandrovna, the mother of Marina and Asi, born Maine (1869 /†1906), was
a sublimely romantic and at the same time strong-willed courageous woman. Her
appearance and manners were distinguished by true aristocracy; this matte pearl
complexion and external restraint of the Tsvetaev’s
sisters (and new generations of the family) are of course inherited from their
mother. A gifted pianist and a student of Rubinstein himself she gave concerts
and was known among connoisseurs of music. In her life, Maria Alexandrovna always strove for the highest goals, boldly
took the most impossibly creative lines. This fearlessness was inherited by her
daughters.
Well educated, the mother of Marina and
Asya perfectly knew languages, History, world Culture, especially she loved and appreciated German Poetry.
She began to prepare her daughters early for the ministry of Music. This
required not only talents and enormous industriousness, but also will,
discipline, and courage. The mother was able to equally lay these qualities in
girls, and although she passed away in early age, the main facets of the
character of these «giantesses of the Spirit» turned out to be fundamental, and
saving and firmly formed. Mother had forever stayed in the memory as the
goddess, the tuning fork of their souls, which sang in unison.
Master and Legend of Russian Music
Anton Rubinstein
Their eldest step sister, from Ivan Vladimirovich’s
previous marriage was Valery (1883 /†1966) – the choreographer,
also a fine connoisseur of Art, she had lived a life in the name of the Russian
Ballet, educating the younger generation of its high examples. Brother Andrei (1890 /†1933), a lawyer and an expert
in the field of Art, was also passionate about Literature Music and Poetry. His
daughter Inna Andreyevna (1931 /†1985), agronomist by trade,
was an expert and researcher of Russian and Foreign Literature. She had
encyclopedic knowledge as well as acting charm. She was excellent in poetry
declamation. Marina
and Asya, their children and grandchildren, their
husbands – this whole
powerful branch of Tsvetaev’s Family tree, is replete
with the wonderful fruits of Education, Knowledge, all kind of Talents,
creativities’ success – the divine uniqueness of each person.
Anastasia, as well as her great sister,
possessed a rare gift of the Word. Since childhood, fluent in European
languages, she began literary work early. She wrote novels and essays, she was
a brilliant translator and literary critic. In addition, she perfectly painted,
seriously studied Music, the Art of singing. She was interested in all types of
Art. Anastasia literally lived and breathed creativity, until the last breath
she did not part with a pen and notebook, with her favorite books, paints,
notes.
Like Marina, Asya
from the very young years devoted her life to the serving of the Beauty. Even
at the time of her youth Asya Tsvetaeva
struck the creative elite of Russia with the paradoxes of her «Royal Thoughts»,
the novel «Smoke, Smoke, Smoke ...» (1916), critical articles and essays. The
connoisseurs of her literary talent were Maximilian Voloshin,
Osip Mandelstam, Boris Pasternak, Maxim
Gorky. Sister Marina enthusiastically noted the amazing insight and a very special
vision of the younger sister's world.
It’s time to go now, Sister!
And everything is on the way.
May God save soulful voice!
I’ll miss you!
May child-like wisdom stay the same!
As you know poems do come true. As the
poet requested God kept Anastasia and all her long, incredibly difficult life
until, she was 99 years of age! However, today we have to admit that as
writers, artist and intellectuals we are just starting to discover the youngest of two brilliant sisters. And there are many
reasons why. Beginning from the glory of Marina, which
shadowed the wildness of Anastasia, to the last historical drama of Russia.
The terrible 22 years of Stalin's camps and exile followed by
a regime settlements farther from Moscow was the sad fate of many
manuscripts created in prison. However, because of the regime it has never
reached the reader and this does not help either popularity or fame of the
writer.
Maestro Rubinstein was a true Hero
of Tsvetaev’s Family
But the main reason for so called «loss» of the name of this
Author for modern reader happened because Anastasia Tsvetaeva herself. As
paradoxical as it sounds, it lies in the incredible strength and originality of
her talent. It happened because of the scale of her personality, including her
non-female will utmost honesty in everything and uncompromising nature. The
person of her caliber almost always doomed to isolation from everything
accidental and temporary. He is immersed in his own world and focused on the
work of the soul. This is true creativity, which in essence is always a
co-creation of the Creator. This is a lonely aspiration upward, a complete
renunciation of the world, sacrificial burning in the Heights of the Spirit.
Therefore, as a writer, Anastasia Tsvetaeva has never been modern. She created her own
different world dragging the reader into it by the hair. Impossible,
non-maturing – in spite of any earthly circumstances and laws, the
Girl-Giantess, The Russian Alice in Wonderland who was passionately in love
with her craft, Asya Tsvetaeva
was never realistic. Especially since the Soviet realist.
Here it is, the reason for its ignorance as the Author :
the separation from the average general population’s level is indeed the gift
and degree of combustion of the Tsvetaevs. Plus a
stylistic paradox, the subtlest humor, far from being understood by the new
generation. Maximalism – in everything and always. On this path, Anastasia Ivanovna went too far from the literary experiments and
mass crafts of her time. She always preferred to stay true only to herself.
Those few who managed to understand
read and ponder, with due attention of the novels, animal stories, tales and
memoirs of the writer, will probably agree that they never met such a style,
such a language, such a vivid imagery and simplicity, and no one. Asya presents her soul with a wave of wonderful and unique sincerity, it’s hard to breathe, from gushing gratitude and
surprise. She is amazing. The world seems beautiful, penetrated by light,
harmonious, wise. Everything around falls into place and everything is easy and
simple.
In the spirit of his work, Anastasia is
little to nothing like Marina, except for the same degree of sincerity and
burning. But we will not talk much, dear Reader. May your own discovery please
you, perhaps inspire you to something. I will add that since 1959, like
thousands of other innocent sufferers of Russia, Anastasia Ivanovna
returned from long wanderings to places of exile and settlements to her native
Moscow. Gradually, life began to improve with the family of her son Andrei Borisovich Trukhachev and with
the literary milieu, which Anastasia was deprived of for many years. Here, on
these pages I would like to share with you my personal memories of our meeting
in Moscow on March 29, 1990, which turned my whole life upside down
By LARISA GUMEROV,
from an article for The Great Washington
magazine.
1991.
The Phenomenon of Creative insights –
is the Great Mystery of the Highest Worlds
TO
EVER BLOSSOMING SISTERS –
OUR WHOLE APPRECIATION
ADMIRATION and LOVE!
LUCH 2019T