"Sergei Konenkov was one of the twentieth century's most distinguished Russian artists. A celebrated sculptor during the last decades of the Russian Empire, he rose to great prominence in the early Soviet period as well. Although he spent more than twenty years abroad in the United States, his influence never waned. After his return home in 1945, he became the dean of the Soviet art world while remaining a controversial figure to the end of his life. As mentor to several generations of Soviet sculptors, he was renowned for his personal charisma and artistic versatility. This collection of essays, interviews, and personal reminiscences is the first appraisal of his work and life published outside of Russia."--BOOK JACKET.