“An anti-official Russian poetry is now flourishing as a powerful force for aesthetic invention, political resistance, and cultural freedom. The Freest Speech in Russia introduces a vast constellation of searing and appealing poets. Stephanie Sandler is an informative guide to a new Russian poetry that, at its most rhetorical and piercingly ironic, averts the dogmas of lyric containment.”—Charles Bernstein, author of The Kinds of Poetry I Want: Essays & Comedies“With remarkable thoughtfulness and sensitivity, Sandler portrays poets from several generations who have revolutionized Russian verse. Her sophisticated analysis of the new poetic language and the novel subjectivities it engenders reveals their profound historical significance: they are wellsprings of vitality in an atmosphere of political asphyxiation. Sandler is certain that the impact of new poetics will endure beyond Russia's current condition (and its state borders) and resonate well into the future, and I fully agree with her.”—Mark Lipovetsky, Columbia University“This book is a unique and brilliant study by one of the best scholars of Russian poetry. The interpretations are subtle, deeply thoughtful, and highly original. An extremely significant scholarly contribution.”—Susanne Fusso, Wesleyan University“With this book, Stephanie Sandler once again demonstrates her ability to move the field forward with deep erudition and grace. The scholarship is, frankly, stunning. There are no comparable works, and Sandler’s analyses and translations are compelling and sophisticated.”—Sarah Pratt, University of Southern California