The New York Times discovered last week that Yevgeny Yevtushenko, one of Russia's most popular 20th century poets, has been hiding in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the last decade. Yevtushenko claims that he makes his home "in the bellybutton of world culture that is Tulsa" to find a more authentic version of America. I managed to get out of the city just after Yevtushenko arrived, but I've seen him a few times over the years.
On one of his first visits, he presented his movie Stalin's Funeral. My friend Chris, a projectionist at the local art house, collected the film canisters from the poet's hotel room and was told simply, "Don't fuck up the reels."
Last year, my mother needed a Russian interpreter at her school. She was given the number of a local woman, but was warned the woman's husband was absolutely crazy. The translator, of course, was married to Yevtushenko.
Originally posted on A Frolic of My Own.
Article comments
1 - Chris Wilson
I suppose if author James Ellroy can be happy living in surburban Kansas City, great writers can be happy living anywhere.....
2 - bside
wow! I didn't know he was "hiding" in Tulsa. he's not doing so great of a job of "hiding" though. I saw him in my town of Fort Wayne Indiana a year and a half ago. Our local symphony orchestra played Shostakovich's 13th Symphony for which the text is made of of poems by Yevtushenko, and he was there to read some of the poems. very good experience. always good to be in the presence of genius.
3 - Tony
Yes, my 15-year-old son is good friends, and on his middle school academic bowl team, with Yevtushenko's son. Smart kid - must be good genes.
4 - Carl
The idea that Yevtushenko is "hiding" in Oklahoma is absurd. I have lived all over Oklahoma for the last fifteen years, and have seen Yevtushenko everywhere. Had several conversations with him. I'm sure many other people have (he taught a small, intimate 15 student class at OU, which my wife took. Rather pointless class, but it is still interesting to hear the man). Indeed, watched "Stalin's Funeral" with him going on throughout about the 'meaning' of each chess piece.
He is a great man. And a shady one.
I don't know if perhaps you just chose the wrong word and don't wish to blame you for what was implied by the Times (as they never actually said "hiding), but once again, it sounds like New Yorkers as always aim to they are the be-all, end-all of the world, and are shocked that anyone could possibly find a life elsewhere. Do you really wish to perpetuate this idiotic notion?
What is wrong with "Russian Poet *LIVING* in Oklahoma?"
5 - Chris Kent
What is wrong with "Russian Poet *LIVING* in Oklahoma?"
The same thing that is the matter with an Oklahoma poet living in Russia.....it's extremely queer.....
6 - Carl
I disagree.
When James and Anne Wright were in Venice, were they on the lamb from the Martins Ferry PD? Or from their past? Or reality?
Of course not. They just wanted to live there.
7 - rick james beeeoch
The same thing that is the matter with an Oklahoma poet living in Russia.....it's extremely queer.....
You're extremely queer.
8 - Chris Kent
lol.....you got that right Ricky baby, but I'm damn sure not living in Oklahoma either....
9 - boomcrashbaby
Tulsa is my hometown, I still have family there and go back every now and then. I left Tulsa over a decade ago because the town was hostile, the police were corrupt, the politics were bigoted, the people were judgemental and cruel, the economy was tanked, it was an all around miserable place to live.
This poor man must have lived in Siberia if he thinks Tulsa is the bellybutton of world culture. Personally, I think the area about an inch under the scrotum would be a more accurate analogy.
10 - Chris Kent
lol....BCB, I don't believe I will ever think of Oklahoma in quite the same way again.
I am clueless as to why Yevgeny Yevtushenko is shuffling around Tulsa - maybe he enjoys shopping at Wal-Mart?
Sounds like a great movie project starring Robin Williams.
11 - Ben Gollnick
Yevtushenko is there, i took a class from him at Tulsa University in 1999. hes crazy but hes also a very kind and idealistic man. but why hes in Tulsa I dont know. I think i mentioned to him that its a corrupt town. i attended the prep school there. its run like tamany hall. most of the money there is old and most of the old money families are pretty untalented and debased. I think alot of his poetry really relates to what i expierienced there. his poetry often speaks of injustices. my career there was brief. i was going to be expelled from prep school for left-wing activity. I liked that he called himself an " anarchist " in the class. I think in general he disliked alot of what i said because i had some sympathies with the old ussr. i could never depict him having the consensus view of oklahoma though. he's very tolerant,cultured, courageous. he attacks all injustice. he wrote the script to " i am cuba " which was a joint soviet-cuban production. this film would put anyone in tears. I think i had the same level of strong reaction to i am cuba as i did schindlers list.
Ben Gollnick