Joseph Brodsky Memorial Fellowship Fund

02/11/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Evgeny Solonovich — a wonderful poet, an extraordinary translator of Italian poetry, and a devoted friend of the Joseph Brodsky Fellowship Fund.
When Joseph Brodsky was dreaming of reviving the cultural exchange between Russia and Italy through the creation of a Russian academy in Rome, Solonovich was among the very first people he placed on his list of advisors. His knowledge, integrity, and profound love for Italian culture made him an essential presence — and later, his support for the Foundation proved invaluable.
It was thanks to Solonovich’s vision and generosity that new paths opened for us, including the creation of the series "I poeti della Fondazione Brodskij", which gave voice in Italy to many of our fellows. His faith in the importance of this cultural bridge never faltered.
We owe him more than words can say — for his wisdom, his humanity, and his unwavering dedication to the union of Russian and Italian culture. If that union had a name, it would be his.
We remain profoundly grateful, and we will carry his memory forward with love and respect.

09/30/2025

Brodsky poems in the wild:
"A reader emailed me recently musing about a birthday for her friend, who is turning 40 this week. This put me in the mind of Joseph Brodsky’s poem “May 24, 1980,” which I’ve given to many friends on the occasion of their 40th birthdays. Brodsky takes stock of his life in language that’s enchanting…” Melissa Kirch, New York Times

Good morning. Milestone birthdays occasion consideration of what we’ve done with our lives thus far, and what we want to do with the time to come.

04/18/2025

We are devastated to learn of the death of Denis Akhapkin. He was a true friend to poetry: a brilliant and sensitive scholar, a dedicated humanist, and a spirited literary companion. His work as an editor and expositor of the works of Joseph Brodsky were foundational. We mourn his loss and the loss to literature

https://www.facebook.com/smolnybb/posts/pfbid031TknsG47SriyrbwoMN53EqYARpmvGj3hEG3C2FwQr7ddHPuLfAj1osDQDn6XFzMLl

12/03/2024

Tomorrow evening the Poetry in America television series and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research will present a screening of Poetry in America’s recent episode on Joseph Brodsky with Joseph Brodsky Memorial Fellowship Fund co-founder Ann Kjellberg and Yivo director Jonathan Brent, both of whom appear in the episode (as do Sven Birkerts, Zakhar Ishov, and others) in conversation. Please join us! Or watch the episode at home here

https://www.poetryinamerica.org/episode/six-years-later-epitaph-for-a-centaur/?fbclid=IwY2xjawG8SfpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQVc7cLeCxFjc6YrujupZNSIZWx5Z2tHqbYErUj4mwzOkp0YKgAZpr76jg_aem_teQwrbfnATd-BtEH2Bizww

https://yivo.org/Joseph-Brodsky?fbclid=IwY2xjawG8Sb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUS6hCnp-SPfvw7I8q8abuJD6Ln_KlL6CexmCDvmh9dIM39aNv_gCzT9Bg_aem_kHF-2lJji9aa_uOrMy-oeA

Join YIVO for a screening of a short film exploring the poet Joseph Brodsky’s Jewish identity, his legacy, and the political undertones of his writing.

10/23/2024

We deeply mourn the passing of a wonderful poet, Shamshad Abdullaev, (Joseph Brodsky Fellow in 2015). May his work be read and inspire future generations.

23 октября 2024 года в Алматы на 67-м году жизни скончался Шамшад Абдуллаев — поэт, прозаик, эссеист.

03/25/2024

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Kees Verheul, a distinguished Dutch slavist and translator and also a close and loving friend to Joseph throughout his life. Kees was a person whose humanism and kindness was deeply entwined with his rich contribution to intellectual life. We will miss him so much

Kort nadat ik bij Van Oorschot was komen werken, vond ik in de krochten van de uitgeverij een exemplaar van Kontakt met de vijand. Het was een nieuw-oud boek, het had er sinds verschijnen in 1975 in een doos gelegen. Ik begon erin en stopte niet meer. De toon, het avontuur. Kees Verheul was de...Lee...

01/08/2024

A wonderful essay by Maria Stepanova (Brodsky Fellow, 2010):

She began with the idea of writing a novel, at a time when the idea that the experiences of the 20s and 30s could be drawn into a single form capable of holding everything together

06/26/2023

CURRENT FELLOWS AT CIVITELLA RANIERI.
Boris Khersonsy and Ludmilla Khersonskaya have been living here, supported by THE JOSEPH BRODSKY FELLOWSHIP FUND, since March 2022

06/19/2023

BORIS KHERSONSKY's latest book of poems with an introduction by Maria Sozzani Brodsky can be ordered at КНИГА СЕФЕР - книжный магазин, издательство

01/19/2023

We encourage you to attend this reading by wonderful poet and longtime friend of the JBMFF, Vladimir Gandelsman

Please join the Harriman Institute to celebrate the publication of Vladimir Gandelsman's A Man Only Needs a Room: Poetry (New Meridian Press, 2022), the first comprehensive introduction to the poet's verse in English translation. Gandelsman in this reading will be joined by translators Anna Halberst

11/15/2022

We are proud to congratulate Maria Stepanova (JB Fellow 2010), for « Le prix du Meilleur livre étranger » ex æquo with Juan Gabriel Vasquez.

Cette récompense qui honore chaque année un roman et une non-fiction traduits en français a été décernée au Colombien Juan Gabriel Vasquez et à la Russe Maria Stepanova.

10/17/2022

We mourn the passing of Mikhail Eremin, wonderful poet and Joseph Brodsky Fellow in 2014. May he rest in Peace.