“[Wood] tells us in his preface that the book ‘asks theoretical questions but answers them practically,’ and by practical, he means analysis of techniques as illustrated by a series of generally superb line-by-line readings. This is a technical book, a primer of sorts, of interest to the practicing writer but probably most useful and illuminating for the serious reader who enjoys the fictive ride and wants to take a look under the hood.”—Christopher Tilghman, The Washington Post

"The translations—by a new generation of Russian American poets—are consistently wonderful. Rachel Cohen's essay concisely and brilliantly describes the Futurists, the Formalists, the Acmeists, and the Symbolists-all artistic groups surrounding Mayakovsky. The book further explores Mayakovsky's relationships with Lili Brik and Tatiana Yakovleva, explains his propaganda work, and addresses his mixture of the surreal, the lyric, and the sarcastic . . . Encompassing the excitement and glory of the revolution's generation."—Gene Shaw, Library Journal