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Journey to Armenia: Mandelstam - The Long Desired for Voyage

Toby Litt scours Armenia for the spirit of the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam, who wrote a masterpiece about his stay in the country in the 1930s.

British writer Toby Litt scours the mountains, lakes and capital city of Armenia for traces of a great forebear, the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam.

Mandelstam visited Armenia in 1930, and during the eight months of his stay rediscovered his long-lost poetic voice and was inspired to write a prose masterpiece, Journey to Armenia. This essay, which is a beautiful, almost Cubist, meditation on the country and its ancient culture, forms the basis of Toby's quest and his dialogue with the dead poet.

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 23 Jul 2009 11:30

Broadcast

  • Thu 23 Jul 2009 11:30