Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky

Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky , 1893-1930, Russian poet and dramatist. Mayakovsky was a leader of the futurist school in 1912, and he was later the chief poet of the revolution. His lyrics are highly original in rhythm, rhyme, and imagery. The Cloud in Trousers (1915), a poem written almost entirely in metaphors, describes the agony of unrequited love. His early play, Mystery Bouffe (1918, tr. 1933), is an allegory prophesying the victory of the revolution. After the revolution he devoted almost all his energies to propaganda verse, and during most of the 1920s he was arguably the most important figure in Soviet art. His later plays, such as the satires The Bedbug (1928, tr. 1960) and The Bathhouse (1930), were more critical, however, of the new order. Mayakovsky grew increasingly disillusioned with Soviet life and committed suicide in 1930. His Complete Plays were published in English in 1971.

Bibliography: See M. Almereyda, Night Wraps the Sky: Writings by and about Mayakovsky (2008); biography by W. Woroszylski (tr. 1971); study by E. J. Brown (1973); V. Shklovsky, Mayakovsky and his Circle (tr. 1972).

Mayakovsky, Vladimir Vladimirovich (1894–1930), Soviet poet, dramatist, painter, actor, director, and film scenarist, after whom many public institutions have been named. As a youth he was several times arrested for revolutionary activity, and in 1917 used his undoubted talents in support of the new régime. His first full-length play in verse, Mystery-Bouffe, was staged by Meyerhold in Petrograd on the first anniversary of the October Revolution, and is usually regarded as the first Soviet play. His next important play, a satire entitled The Bed-Bug, was commissioned by Meyerhold in 1929; it was staged by him at his own theatre with music by Shostakovich, but was not an unqualified success. It was not seen professionally in London until 1962. Mayakovsky's next play, The Bath House—‘Drama in Six Acts with a Circus and Fireworks’—again produced by Meyerhold, in 1930, was even less well received. Worn out by the constant strain of meeting deadlines—his literary output in his last years was prodigious—and by an unhappy love affair, he committed suicide. Several of his plays were later revived, notably by Taïrov.