Music for the Dead and Resurrected

by Valzhyna Mort
Music for the Dead and Resurrected cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Poetry
Technical:
  • ID: 752
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-20
  • ISBN: 9780374721619
  • Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
  • Published: 2020-11-03
  • Formats: 12
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Valzhyna Mort's 'Music for the Dead and Resurrected' is a powerful and lyrical exploration of mourning and remembrance in the wake of violent history. Through letters addressed to the dead, Mort confronts the legacy of devastation in Belarus, from the Chernobyl disaster to the atrocities of World War II and Soviet labor camps. Her poetry serves as a ritual of remembrance, challenging the myths perpetuated by propaganda and seeking solace in the voices of the past. Born in Belarus and now living in the United States, Mort's work is a searing indictment of a world where appeals to virtue and justice have failed. The natural world, particularly old trees, becomes a witness to both radiation and memory, providing a haunting backdrop to her poetic journey. This collection is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to confront and transcend historical trauma.

Reviews
The Poetry School · 2025-09-19
moving 4.50

This collection captures the essence of survival through music amidst the harsh realities of a war-ravaged Minsk. The poems are both haunting and resilient, reflecting the poet's unique voice.

The reviewer highlights how Mort's poetry navigates the icy, war-torn landscapes of Minsk, using music as a lifeline. The collection is praised for its ability to convey both the brutality and beauty of survival. They appreciate the poet's skill in blending personal and political themes, creating a powerful and moving experience. The reviewer also notes the collection's emotional depth and the way it resonates with themes of resilience and memory.

Quick quotes

    Valzhyna Mort's prize-winning third collection roves and hovers over an icy, war-ravaged Minsk, where music is a mode of survival.

    The collection captures the essence of survival through music amidst the harsh realities of a war-ravaged Minsk.

    The poems are both haunting and resilient, reflecting the poet's unique voice.

The Guardian · 2022-05-10
compelling 4.75

This exceptional collection explores the loss of self in an authoritarian regime, showcasing Mort's bright and powerful voice. The poems are deeply moving and thought-provoking.

The reviewer from The Guardian emphasizes the collection's exploration of identity and survival in the face of oppression. They find Mort's voice to be bright and compelling, even in the darkest of themes. The reviewer appreciates the poet's ability to delve into the psychological and emotional impact of living under an authoritarian regime. The collection is seen as a testament to the power of poetry in conveying complex and harrowing experiences.

Quick quotes

    This exceptional collection from the Belarus-born poet digs into what happens when the self goes missing in an authoritarian regime.

    Mort's voice is bright and powerful, even in the darkest of themes.

    The poems are deeply moving and thought-provoking.

Plume Poetry · Chelsea Wagenaar · 2021-04-25
rich 4.25

The poems are quick and barbed at times, while others are achingly patient. They are deeply rooted in the history and struggles of Belarus.

Chelsea Wagenaar from Plume Poetry notes the varied pace and tone of Mort's poems, which range from quick and sharp to slow and reflective. They highlight the poems' deep connection to Belarusian history and the impact of war and political oppression. The reviewer appreciates the poet's ability to balance political themes with personal introspection, creating a rich and layered collection. They also mention the collection's emotional resonance and its ability to evoke a sense of place and time.

Quick quotes

    The poems are at times quick and barbed, and at others achingly patient.

    They are rooted in Belarus, a beleaguered country shattered by WWII, Soviet control, and ongoing political turmoil.

    The collection's emotional resonance and its ability to evoke a sense of place and time are particularly noteworthy.

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