Professor David Peimer
Yevgeny Yevtushenko and His Poem “Babi Yar”
Summary
Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko (1933–2017) published his poem, “Babi Yar,” in 1962, 17 years after the Second World War. Professor David Peimer uncovers the biography and background of Yevtushenko while exploring the poem “Babi Yar.” Video clips of Yevtushenko reading his poem in English and Russian and being interviewed by the BBC complete this lecture.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing in New York, UK, Berlin, EU Parliament (Brussels), Athens, Budapest, Zululand and more. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published widely with books including: Armed Response: Plays from South Africa, the digital book, Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.
Well, the Russian authorities knew about it when the Russian army liberated Kyic in late 1943, early ‘44. So in '43, that would’ve been the Russian leadership or the Russian army. Actual public, I can’t put an exact date on it, because word would’ve gotten out in all ways through ordinary soldiers who had been there and seen because they had to excavate it like in that one picture showed. So families would’ve got to know through the soldiers, there would’ve been reporters, others, journalists. And then there would’ve been grey area. Can they publish? Word would’ve gotten out in some way, but not in a major way. Like you know, when Eisenhower went to the camp.
Well the first one was the Ukrainian and Soviet authorities during the communist era. And then afterwards, I’d have to check that, who put the menorah in.
Yeah, the Russian sent a missile. I don’t know if it was totally demolished, but it certainly was attacked.