Reading Between the Institutions, Reading Between the Genres, Reading Between the Lines: Jeffrey Brooks’ The Firebird and the Fox

Abstract Jeffrey Brooks’ new book, The Firebird and the Fox , draws on an unsurpassed knowledge of Russian literature culture all levels, from folk popular to canonical avant-garde. It divides “age genius” (1855–1953) into three periods: emancipation arts (1850–1889), politics (1890–1916), Bolshevik Revolution (1917–1950), each with its own configurations high construction creative artists, media, readers. But core themes overarch periods exceptionally broad range phenomena book discusses: freedom order, boundaries, art reality. Throughout Brooks analyzes crossovers intersections between cultural institutions, genres – especially for Soviet period lines. His categories are at times sociological, historical, literary. implies a theory production that gives unusual weight agency artists. In conclusion readings works does not analyze (Dostoevsky’s Demons Bely’s Petersburg Eisenstein’s Alexander Nevsky ) illustrate productivity humane approach artistic culture.