Photo: Anefo / Croes, R.C. / CC BY-SA 3.0 nl (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Joseph Brodsky is, to me, proof that language can outlast power. Born in Leningrad, harassed and ultimately pushed out by Soviet authorities, he rebuilt himself in America and rose to the Nobel Prize and the post of US Poet Laureate. What moves me most is that exile from his own tongue did not silence him; instead his poems and essays became fiercer arguments for human freedom. I tend to believe in the moments when words simply outweigh the state, and Brodsky embodies that conviction. He died in 1996, yet his lines still travel across eras and borders with undimmed force.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Joseph Brodsky
- Name (Japanese)
- ヨシフ・ブロツキー
- Reading
- よしふ・ぶろつきー
- Born
- May 24, 1940 – January 28, 1996
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dragon
- Origin
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- poet / translator / essayist / playwright / dramaturge
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1987 Nobel Prize in Literature
- 1977 Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1981 MacArthur Fellows Program
- Rome Prize
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- honorary citizen of Saint Petersburg
- 1991 United States Poet Laureate
- 1991 Golden Wreath
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Gorbunov and Gorchakov | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Joseph Brodsky born?
May 24, 1940 – January 28, 1996.
Where is Joseph Brodsky from?
Joseph Brodsky is from Saint Petersburg, Russia.
What does Joseph Brodsky do?
Joseph Brodsky works as poet, translator, essayist, playwright, dramaturge.
What is Joseph Brodsky known for?
Notable works include Gorbunov and Gorchakov.
Poet — see all → · Translator — see all → · More people from Russia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.