The fifteen distinguished contributors do more than elucidate a world-class novel. They provide capsule courses on a spectrum of topics that mattered deeply to Andrei Bely but are obscure to many readers today: anthroposophy, neoKantianism, 'life-creation,' racial thinking, political terrorism. A path-breaking literary portal."" - Caryl Emerson, Princeton University""Succeeds in making a challenging modernist novel more accessible to nonspecialists. Students and fans of Bely's work at every level will appreciate this fine and informative critical companion to Petersburg."" - Emily Johnson, author of How St. Petersburg Learned to Study Itself