Introduction

Abstract

This introduction offers an explanation of the book’s content and an overview of the background to Skryabin’s artistic development: the currents of thought of Russian symbolism and the debate about the significance of art; the relevance of the ‘Russian idea’; the concept of ‘ecstasy’ in Russian philosophy and Russian symbolism. It explores differences between Russian and Western approaches to philosophy, and gives a brief summary of the main influences on Skryabin. This is followed by an account of elements in Skryabin’s life which affected his development and outlook: loss of a talented mother in infancy; isolated upbringing; and personal setbacks: an injury which threatened to prevent him from performing, disappointment in first love, an unsuccessful marriage, a new relationship, exile in Switzerland and Belgium, return to Russia, and sudden death from blood poisoning, which brought to birth a ‘Skryabin myth’. It also examines personal and artistic (mostly philosophical and literary) influences.