Arseny Tarkovsky
A poet of profound spiritual depth whose verses became the haunting soul of his son's cinematic masterpieces.
1907–1989 (age 82)·Soviet Russian poet and translator·Birthday: June 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arseny Tarkovsky lived a life etched by history's tumult, his poetry serving as a refuge and a testament to the human spirit. Born in 1907 in Ukraine, he survived the Russian Civil War and the purges of the 1930s, finding his voice in translation work before his own collections gained recognition. His verse, metaphysical and richly imagistic, grappled with time, memory, and a deep connection to the natural world. For many outside Russia, his work is inextricably linked to the films of his son, Andrei Tarkovsky, who wove his father's readings into the soundscapes of 'Stalker' and 'Mirror.' The latter film stands as a poignant dialogue between father and son, with Arseny's poetry providing its emotional and philosophical backbone. He witnessed his son's exile from the Soviet Union but died before him, leaving a body of work that continues to define the lyrical intensity of 20th-century Russian poetry.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arseny was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arseny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Arseny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 70
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 80
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Died at 82
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- His poetry is featured prominently in several of Andrei Tarkovsky's films, including 'Mirror' and 'Stalker.'
- Awarded the State Prize of the USSR posthumously in 1989 for his final collection, 'From Youth to Old Age.'
- Produced significant translations of poetry from Georgian, Armenian, Arabic, and other languages into Russian.
Did You Know?
He served as a war correspondent and was severely wounded in World War II, leading to the amputation of his leg.
He initially discouraged his son Andrei from pursuing film, urging him to focus on poetry instead.
A minor planet, 4235 Tatishchev, discovered in 1978, is named after him (using the transliteration 'Tarkovskij').
“A man has only one birth, and one death. The space between is life.”
