Apollon Maikov is a significant figure among poets in the age of realism in Russia. Critics generally do not rank Maikov among the best poets of his generation, an honor reserved for Afanasii Afanas'evich Fet, Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov, and their older colleague Fedor Ivanovich Tiutchev; yet, Maikov was well respected during his time. He, Fet, and Iakov Petrovich Polonsky are often classified together as poets of "pure art" during an age when socially engaged prose dominated the Russian literary landscape. Maikov wrote little prose and established his career almost entirely on his poetry; he was especially admired for his anthological verse--short lyrics written in the classical Greek style on light or melancholy subjects. In addition, he wrote poemy (long narrative poems) and lyric dramas, most of which can be considered important milestones in his career. Maikov also translated the works of classical and modern poets. He is renowned...