There was a stir, a feeling of discontent among [Russian youth in the 1960's], a critical attitude toward society, a growing interest in fresh ideas, an impatient rejection of boring formulas…. This explains the terrific response the poets of the "new wave" (mostly in their twenties) drew from their audiences. (p. 324)

This extraordinary popularity of the poets gave special significance to their work: from a literary phenomenon it grew into a social-political event. A case in hand was Evtushenko whose tempestuous career reflected the contradictions and aspirations of his generation…. He was 23 when he made a brilliant debut in 1956 with his long poem "Station Zima" (zima in Yevgeny (Alexandrovich) Yevtushenko 1933– Ken Regan/Camera 5Russian means winter). It was a "soul searching" lyrical confession with strong patriotic overtones—"glorious deeds, not weaknesses Russia expects from us"—but also possessing a spirit of daring, a drive for independence, and a...