This course offers a fundamentally new reading of the central works of the Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin (1799-1837) and reexamines his literary evolution. The course will examine Pushkin’s works in the context of European literature, culture, and political events. We will consider Pushkin as a Russian and a European writer and political thinker. Much attention will be given to comparative analyses of Pushkin’s works and their European (and sometimes American) intellectual sources. Course readings will include Pushkin’s “canon” and also his lesser-known works such as diaries, critical articles, and travelogues.