Leonid Solovyov
Encyclopedia
Leonid Vasilyevich Solovyov (August 19, 1906–April 9, 1962) was a Russia
n writer and playwright.
Born in Tripoli
, Syria
(now Lebanon
) where his father taught at the Russian consulate, he began writing as a newspaper correspondent (in Uzbek
) for the Pravda Vostoka, published in Tashkent
. His first stories and sketches of life in Central Asia
and the Middle East
appeared in that newspaper and led to several collections of short stories.
His first book was Lenin in Eastern Folk Art (Moscow, 1930), which he described as "a volume of Central Asian post-revolutionary folklore." He is famous for such novels as The Book of My Youth, but his masterpiece is Tale of Hodja Nasreddin
, which Alexei Tolstoy
hailed as a work of unusual talent.
During the Second World War, Solovyov served as a war correspondent and produced several wartime stories and screenplays.
In 1946, Solovyov was accused of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism against the Soviet state. He was interred in several prison camps until 1954, when he was cleared of all charges and released. The second part of The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin, subtitled The Enchanted Prince, was written in the camps and completed around 1950. After his imprisonment, Solovyov settled in Leningrad. The two parts of The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin were published together for the first time in 1956 and enjoyed a very favorable reception.
The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin
, contains two novels: Disturber of the Peace, or Hodja Nasreddin
in Bokhara (Возмутитель спокойствия) and The Enchanted Prince (Очарованный принц). The whole novel has been translated into dozens of languages including Turkish, Persian, Hindi, Uzbek and Hebrew.
Both volumes were translated into English, the first appearing in the United States as Disturber of the Peace (1940), reprinted in 1956 as The Beggar in the Harem. Impudent Adventures in Old Bukhara (in England as Adventures in Bukhara). A new translation was released in 2009 under the title The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin: Disturber of the Peace (Translit Publishing, November 2009). The second volume appeared in 1957 as The Enchanted Prince.
The book was translated into Hebrew and adapted as a very successful play in presented by the Cameri Theater
in Tel Aviv, and revived on several later occasions (http://sf.tapuz.co.il/shirshur-167-50937361.htm
http://www.habima.co.il/show_item.asp?itemId=1782&levelId=63141&itemType=0&template=32). The satyrical song "In Beautiful Bokahara" (בבוכרה היפה), derived from the play, gained a life of its own, being performed by various well-known Israeli singers such as Arik Lavi and Nissim Garameh (http://www.mp3music.co.il/lyrics/3237.html,
http://www.shiron.net/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=2329&wrkid=3238)
Solovyov served in the Russian Navy during World War II
, and several novels grew from his experiences.
Leonid Solovyov also wrote many screenplays including one based on Nikolai Gogol
's story "The Overcoat".
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n writer and playwright.
Born in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(now Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
) where his father taught at the Russian consulate, he began writing as a newspaper correspondent (in Uzbek
Uzbek language
Uzbek is a Turkic language and the official language of Uzbekistan. It has about 25.5 million native speakers, and it is spoken by the Uzbeks in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia...
) for the Pravda Vostoka, published in Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
. His first stories and sketches of life in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
appeared in that newspaper and led to several collections of short stories.
His first book was Lenin in Eastern Folk Art (Moscow, 1930), which he described as "a volume of Central Asian post-revolutionary folklore." He is famous for such novels as The Book of My Youth, but his masterpiece is Tale of Hodja Nasreddin
Nasreddin
Nasreddin was a Seljuq satirical Sufi figure, sometimes believed to have lived during the Middle Ages and considered a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes. He appears in thousands of stories, sometimes witty, sometimes wise, but often, too, a fool or...
, which Alexei Tolstoy
Alexei Tolstoy
Alexei Tolstoy may refer to:* Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Russian poet, novelist and playwright* Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, , Russian writer and playwright who specialized in science fiction and historical novels...
hailed as a work of unusual talent.
During the Second World War, Solovyov served as a war correspondent and produced several wartime stories and screenplays.
In 1946, Solovyov was accused of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism against the Soviet state. He was interred in several prison camps until 1954, when he was cleared of all charges and released. The second part of The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin, subtitled The Enchanted Prince, was written in the camps and completed around 1950. After his imprisonment, Solovyov settled in Leningrad. The two parts of The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin were published together for the first time in 1956 and enjoyed a very favorable reception.
The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin
Nasreddin
Nasreddin was a Seljuq satirical Sufi figure, sometimes believed to have lived during the Middle Ages and considered a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes. He appears in thousands of stories, sometimes witty, sometimes wise, but often, too, a fool or...
, contains two novels: Disturber of the Peace, or Hodja Nasreddin
Nasreddin
Nasreddin was a Seljuq satirical Sufi figure, sometimes believed to have lived during the Middle Ages and considered a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes. He appears in thousands of stories, sometimes witty, sometimes wise, but often, too, a fool or...
in Bokhara (Возмутитель спокойствия) and The Enchanted Prince (Очарованный принц). The whole novel has been translated into dozens of languages including Turkish, Persian, Hindi, Uzbek and Hebrew.
Both volumes were translated into English, the first appearing in the United States as Disturber of the Peace (1940), reprinted in 1956 as The Beggar in the Harem. Impudent Adventures in Old Bukhara (in England as Adventures in Bukhara). A new translation was released in 2009 under the title The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin: Disturber of the Peace (Translit Publishing, November 2009). The second volume appeared in 1957 as The Enchanted Prince.
The book was translated into Hebrew and adapted as a very successful play in presented by the Cameri Theater
Cameri Theater
The Cameri Theater , established in 1944 in Tel Aviv, is one of the leading theaters in Israel, and is housed at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center....
in Tel Aviv, and revived on several later occasions (http://sf.tapuz.co.il/shirshur-167-50937361.htm
http://www.habima.co.il/show_item.asp?itemId=1782&levelId=63141&itemType=0&template=32). The satyrical song "In Beautiful Bokahara" (בבוכרה היפה), derived from the play, gained a life of its own, being performed by various well-known Israeli singers such as Arik Lavi and Nissim Garameh (http://www.mp3music.co.il/lyrics/3237.html,
http://www.shiron.net/artist?type=lyrics&lang=1&prfid=2329&wrkid=3238)
Solovyov served in the Russian Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and several novels grew from his experiences.
Leonid Solovyov also wrote many screenplays including one based on Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was a Ukrainian-born Russian dramatist and novelist.Considered by his contemporaries one of the preeminent figures of the natural school of Russian literary realism, later critics have found in Gogol's work a fundamentally romantic sensibility, with strains of Surrealism...
's story "The Overcoat".