Gavriil Troyepolsky
Encyclopedia
Gavriil Nikolayevich Troyepolsky (O.S. November 16 (N.S.
November 29), 1905, today's village of Novospasovka, Voronezh Oblast
— June 30, 1995, Voronezh
) was a Soviet writer
, best known for his novel White Bim Black Ear
.
es until 1954, when he became a full-time writer, all his books dealing with nature and people who work the land.
His first short story appeared in 1937. His first book, the collection Iz zapisok agronoma [Diaries of an Agronomist], was published in 1953 by Novy Mir
; in it he "ridiculed district party secretaries, kolkhoz chairmen, village demagogues and thieves"—"His discerning first-person narrator introduces readers to the lyrical beauties of the Russian landscape and the grotesque human figures that dot it." The following year he moved to Voronezh
, where he remained the rest of his life.
His first novel, Chernozem [Black Earth], appeared in Novy Mir in 1958-1961; it describes rural life under Stalin and was attacked by the Soviet literary establishment. His O rekakh, pochvakh i prochikh [About rivers, soils, and other things] (1965) documented the misuse of Russia's natural resources and predicted an ecological disaster. It was his Bely Bim, Chernoye ukho [translated as White Bim, the Black Ear] (1971) that brought Troepolsky fame. The titular setter was identified with his editor and close friend Alexander Tvardovsky, who died the same year. The story sold millions of copies around the world, "all the currency proceeds of which were taken by the state."
Troepolsky was elected to the board of the USSR Union of Writers
in 1967. In 1975, he received the State Prize
, and afterwards he held a senior position on the board of the Russian Federation Union of Writers. His works appeared in Literaturnaya Gazeta
and other literary magazines, and his three-volume Complete Works was published in 1977-78. Jeanne Vronskaya writes: "He is reported to have expressed joy when the Communist system collapsed. His house in Voronezh, became a place of pilgrimage for young writers."
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
November 29), 1905, today's village of Novospasovka, Voronezh Oblast
Voronezh Oblast
Voronezh Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on June 13, 1934.-Main rivers:*Don*Voronezh*Bityug*Khopyor-Economy:...
— June 30, 1995, Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
) was a Soviet writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, best known for his novel White Bim Black Ear
White Bim Black Ear
White Bim Black Ear is a 1977 Soviet film directed by Stanislav Rostotsky. The movie is based upon the book of the same name, written by Gavriil Troyepolsky. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.- Plot :...
.
Biography
Troepolsky was born in Tambov Province, the son of a Russian Orthodox priest. He graduated from an agricultural school in 1924 and worked as an agronomist on kolkhozKolkhoz
A kolkhoz , plural kolkhozy, was a form of collective farming in the Soviet Union that existed along with state farms . The word is a contraction of коллекти́вное хозя́йство, or "collective farm", while sovkhoz is a contraction of советское хозяйство...
es until 1954, when he became a full-time writer, all his books dealing with nature and people who work the land.
His first short story appeared in 1937. His first book, the collection Iz zapisok agronoma [Diaries of an Agronomist], was published in 1953 by Novy Mir
Novy Mir
Novy Mir is a Russian language literary magazine that has been published in Moscow since January 1925. It was supposed to be modelled on the popular pre-Soviet literary magazine Mir Bozhy , which was published from 1892 to 1906, and its follow-up, Sovremenny Mir , which was published 1906-1917...
; in it he "ridiculed district party secretaries, kolkhoz chairmen, village demagogues and thieves"—"His discerning first-person narrator introduces readers to the lyrical beauties of the Russian landscape and the grotesque human figures that dot it." The following year he moved to Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
, where he remained the rest of his life.
His first novel, Chernozem [Black Earth], appeared in Novy Mir in 1958-1961; it describes rural life under Stalin and was attacked by the Soviet literary establishment. His O rekakh, pochvakh i prochikh [About rivers, soils, and other things] (1965) documented the misuse of Russia's natural resources and predicted an ecological disaster. It was his Bely Bim, Chernoye ukho [translated as White Bim, the Black Ear] (1971) that brought Troepolsky fame. The titular setter was identified with his editor and close friend Alexander Tvardovsky, who died the same year. The story sold millions of copies around the world, "all the currency proceeds of which were taken by the state."
Troepolsky was elected to the board of the USSR Union of Writers
USSR Union of Writers
The USSR Union of Writers, or Union of Soviet Writers was a creative union of professional writers in the USSR. It was founded in 1932 on the initiative of the Central Committee of the Communist Party after disbanding a number of other writers' organizations: RAPP, Proletkult, and VOAPP.The aim of...
in 1967. In 1975, he received the State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
, and afterwards he held a senior position on the board of the Russian Federation Union of Writers. His works appeared in Literaturnaya Gazeta
Literaturnaya Gazeta
Literaturnaya Gazeta is a weekly cultural and political newspaper published in Russia and Soviet Union.- Overview :...
and other literary magazines, and his three-volume Complete Works was published in 1977-78. Jeanne Vronskaya writes: "He is reported to have expressed joy when the Communist system collapsed. His house in Voronezh, became a place of pilgrimage for young writers."
Sources
- Jeanne Vronskaya, OBITUARIES : Gavriil Troepolsky, The Independent, 31 July 1995