Andrei Platonovich Platonov began writing very early, but during his lifetime his works were published very rarely. He lived at a turning point in Russian history, and his work reflects the first decades of the people's life after the revolution.
In 1927, the writer gained fame after his book “ Epifanskie locks", and next year he publishes two more books, is actively published in magazines, and his numerous satirical stories are published. And those works that revealed the destructive power of bureaucracy in that society were never published.
Themes of Platonov's stories
His novel Chevergun"was not accepted for publication due to censorship, and his famous work « Pit"was also not published. All that was allowed to be published then was derogatory criticism of his stories and novels.
Andrei Platonovich wrote about many things: about the Great Patriotic War, about the work of peasants and workers, about the intelligentsia, about science and sports, about the personality of man and his freedom. This theme is especially acute in his work of the 1930s. In his stories " Fro" And " Potudan River“He raises themes of true human freedom and a feeling of complete, albeit quickly passing, happiness. Also in his work he touched upon current social topics, which concerned the leadership, power of the country and the system that dominates it.
Story " Across the midnight sky"is dedicated specifically to the danger of the idea of National Socialism, and how such ideas turn out in life ordinary people. The theme of war is revealed in the story “ At the grave of Russian soldiers", in which Andrei Platonovich tries to describe all the cruelty and brutality to which the Russian people were subjected during the time of fascism. Platonov boldly expressed his opinion about Stalin's rule with this story, without directly mentioning his name, and thereby angered the ruler. Platonov's works were banned, they were not published, they were not allowed to be read, like many other writers.
Platonov's language
Platonov, according to the great poet Joseph Brodsky, tested the strength of the Russian language. Pushed him to the limit. Platonov's language, so unusual for simple eye, it's not easy to eat literary style. Platonov's language is a separate world where its own unique person. This man is unique in that he has properties that would hardly be useful to him if he lived in our world.
Platonov - writer-philosopher
And despite the seriousness of the themes that the talented and insightful Platonov raised in his works, he did not forget to write about the most important things in a person’s life - about simple, momentary happiness, about justice and honor, about the problem of the meaning of life and its search, about finding Plato's hero of peace for the soul and harmony for the heart. One of these stories is “ Flower on the ground”, telling the story of little bored Athos, who stayed at home with his grandfather. Platonov's symbolism is simple and clear, his allegories evoke an instant understanding of what is happening, and the light and realistic mood of the story reveals a deep concept with captivating simplicity. Platonov speaks about the harmony of life in an almost childish, sincere language; he shows happiness through the eyes of a small, innocent child.
That's why short stories Platonov’s works are as full of deep meaning and philosophical ideas as long, serious novels. Platonov, with his characteristic skill, reveals a wide variety of topics in his works, while speaking about them in simple and accessible language. That is why many called and call this talented writer a philosopher.
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Platonov Andrey Platonovich (1899-1951) - real name Klimentov, Russian prose writer, playwright.
Andrei Platonov was born on August 28, 1899 in the city of Voronezh in the family of a railway mechanic, studied at a parish school, and then at a city school. The Platonov family needed funds, and the boy began to work early. He changed many professions: he worked as a mechanic, foundry worker, and auxiliary worker. In 1917, Andrei became a front-line correspondent and began to collaborate with newspapers as a publicist, critic and poet.
In 1921, after graduating from party school, Platonov created his first work - the brochure “Electrification”, which received many positive reviews from critics. However, over time, the writer’s views changed towards complete rejection of revolutionary changes. His works “City of Grads” and “Doubting Makar” caused sharp condemnation by the party, and “Chevengur” was banned from publication. Published in 1931, the novel “For Future Use” was condemned by Stalin himself, after which Platonov was no longer published. His colleagues supported him - Brodsky, in his report at the Nobel Symposium, called Platonov one of the most remarkable writers of the outgoing century, and Solzhenitsyn noted that if he had to embark on long journey with a single book, then this book would be Plato’s “The Pit.”
While in disgrace, Andrei Platonovich made a living by adapting Russian and Bashkir fairy tales. Deprived of the opportunity to publish, the writer did not give up creative work, but his worldview again made a “revolution”: he lost faith in the possibility of rebuilding the socialist political system and began to create works about the future mainly in an ironic manner.
Andrei Platonov died in 1951 in Moscow from tuberculosis. His works, which became dystopian classics, were translated into many languages and included in school curriculum. They were prepared for publication by the writer’s daughter Maria.
In Platonov’s prose, the world appears as a contradictory, often tragic integrity of human and natural existence: the stories “Epiphanian Locks” (1927), “City of Grads” (1928), “Potudan River” (1937). In the novels “Chevengur” (published in 1972, in Russia - 1988), “Happy Moscow” (not finished, published in 1991), the story “The Pit” (published in 1969), “Juvenile Sea” (published in 1979; in Russia both - in 1987), "Jan" (published in 1964) - rejection of the imposed forms of socialist reorganization of life. The originality of Platonov’s style is determined by the “tongue-tied” and “roughness” of the language, which are combined in the fabric of the narrative with abstract concepts and metaphorical images.
In a report at the Nobel Symposium at the Swedish Academy (1991), Brodsky called Platonov (along with Proust, Kafka, Musil, Faulkner and Beckett) one of the most remarkable writers of the past century. In his opinion, they deserved such an assessment by several general features: they were “loners, original, often to the point of eccentricity”; their work was considered “difficult” (due to which the reaction to it fluctuated between “open hostility” and “complete indifference”); This “difficulty” stemmed from their description of “a completely different quality of life” (in comparison with what characterized the literature of the previous century), namely “uncertainty,” for their art began where the logic, plots and composition systems of the past died; In the end, their style prevailed over the plot, and their language prevailed over the narrative, which makes it possible to call them also " greatest poets century." These thoughts coincided with what Brodsky wrote in the preface to the Ardis edition of "The Pit": the impersonal, folklore and mythological language of Platonov, the "first serious surrealist", was not escapist, but a creation of the era itself, testifying at the same time to the nation, victim of this language.
Solzhenitsyn expressed his admiration for Platonov much more simply, but no less convincingly: if he had to go on a long journey with one single book, then that book would be “The Pit.”
Andrey Platonov (real name Andrey Platonovich Klimentov) (1899-1951) - Russian Soviet writer, prose writer, one of the most original Russian writers in style of the first half of the 20th century.
Andrey was born on August 28 (16), 1899 in Voronezh, in the family of a railway mechanic Platon Firsovich Klimentov. However, traditionally his birthday is celebrated on September 1st.
Andrei Klimentov studied at a parish school, then at a city school. At the age of 15 (according to some sources, already at 13) he began working to support his family. According to Platonov: “We had a family... 10 people, and I am the eldest son - one worker, except for my father. My father... could not feed such a horde.” “Life immediately turned me from a child into an adult, depriving me of my youth.”
Until 1917, he changed several professions: he was an auxiliary worker, a foundry worker, a mechanic, etc., which he wrote about in early stories“The Next One” (1918) and “Seryoga and Me” (1921).
Participated in civil war as a frontline correspondent. Since 1918, he published his works, collaborating with several newspapers as a poet, publicist and critic. In 1920, he changed his last name from Klimentov to Platonov (the pseudonym was formed on behalf of the writer’s father), and also joined the RCP (b), but a year later at will left the party.
In 1921, his first journalistic book, Electrification, was published, and in 1922, a book of poems, Blue Depth. In 1924, he graduated from the polytechnic and began working as a land reclamation worker and electrical engineer.
In 1926, Platonov was recalled to work in Moscow at the People's Commissariat for Agriculture. He was sent to engineering and administrative work in Tambov. In the same year they wrote “Epiphanian Gateways”, “Ethereal Route”, “City of Grads”, which brought him fame. Platonov moved to Moscow, becoming a professional writer.
Gradually, Platonov’s attitude towards revolutionary changes changes until they are rejected. His prose ( "City of Gradov", "Doubting Makar" etc.) often caused rejection of criticism. In 1929, A.M. received a sharply negative assessment. Gorky and Platonov’s novel “Chevengur” was banned from publication. In 1931, the published work “For Future Use” caused sharp condemnation by A. A. Fadeev and I. V. Stalin. After this, Platonov practically stopped being published. Stories "Pit", "Juvenile Sea", the novel "Chevengur" was released only in the late 1980s and received worldwide recognition.
In 1931-1935, Andrei Platonov worked as an engineer in the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry, but continued to write (the play "High voltage" , story "Juvenile Sea"). In 1934, the writer and a group of colleagues traveled to Turkmenistan. After this trip, the story “Jan”, the story “Takyr”, the article "On the first socialist tragedy" etc.
In 1936-1941, Platonov appeared in print mainly as a literary critic. He publishes in magazines under various pseudonyms." Literary critic", "Literary Review", etc. Working on a novel "Journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg"(his manuscript was lost at the beginning of the war), writes children's plays "Granny's Hut", "Good Titus", "Step-Daughter".
In 1937, his story “The Potudan River” was published. In May of the same year, his 15-year-old son Platon was arrested, having returned from imprisonment in the fall of 1940, terminally ill with tuberculosis, after the troubles of Platonov’s friends. In January 1943 he died.
With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the writer and his family are evacuated to Ufa, where a collection of his war stories is being published "Under the skies of the Motherland". In 1942, he volunteered to go to the front as a private, but soon became a military journalist, front-line correspondent for Red Star. Despite suffering from tuberculosis, Platonov did not leave the service until 1946. At this time, his war stories appeared in print: "Armor", "Spiritualized People"(1942), "No Death!" (1943), "Aphrodite" (1944), "Towards the Sunset"(1945), etc.
For Platonov’s story “Return” (original title “Ivanov’s Family”), published at the end of 1946, the writer was subjected to new attacks from critics the following year and was accused of slandering the Soviet system. After this, the opportunity to publish his works was closed for Platonov.
At the end of the 1940s, deprived of the opportunity to earn a living by writing, Platonov was engaged in literary adaptation of Russian and Bashkir fairy tales, which were published in children's magazines.
Platonov died on January 5, 1951 in Moscow from tuberculosis, which he contracted while caring for his son.
His book was published in 1954 "The Magic Ring and Other Tales". With Khrushchev's "thaw", his other books began to be published (the main works became known only in the 1980s). However, all of Platonov's publications during the Soviet period were accompanied by significant censorship restrictions.
Some works of Andrei Platonov were discovered only in the 1990s (for example, the novel written in the 30s "Happy Moscow").
One of the most notable Russian writers XX century - Andrey Platonov. The list of works by this author allows you to thoroughly study national history first half of the 20th century.
Andrey Platonov
Andrei Platonov, whose list of works is well known to every schoolchild, became famous after the release of the novels “The Pit” and “Chevengur”. But besides them there were many significant works.
The writer himself was born in Voronezh in 1899. He served in the workers' and peasants' Red Army and took part in the Civil War as a war correspondent. He began publishing his works in 1919.
In 1921, his first book was published, which was called "Electrification". His poems also appeared in a collective collection. And in 1922, his son Plato was born and a collection of poems, “Blue Clay,” was published.
In addition to writing, he was engaged in hydrology. In particular, he developed his own projects for hydrofication of the region in order to protect fields from drought.
In the mid-20s, Platonov worked fruitfully in Tambov. The list of the writer’s works is supplemented by such works as “Ethereal Route”, “City of Grads”, “Epiphanian Gateways”.
The following are his most significant works for Russian literature- these are “Kotlovan” and “Chevengur”. These are very unexpected and innovative works that differ modern language. Both works were created in a fantastic spirit, they describe the utopian construction of a new communist society, the formation of a new generation of people.
"Epiphanian Gateways"
"Epiphansky Gateways" appeared in 1926. The action takes place in Peter's Russia. At the center of the story is the English engineer William Perry, a master of lock construction. He calls his brother to Russia to help him fulfill the new imperial order. The British need to build a ship canal that would connect the Oka and Don rivers.
Whether the brothers will be able to carry out this plan is the subject of Platonov’s story.
"Chevengur"
In 1929, Platonov wrote one of his most famous works is a socio-philosophical novel "Chevengur".
The actions of this work have already been transferred to contemporary writer Russia. In the south, war communism and the New economic policy. Main character- Alexander Dvanov, who lost his father. Father drowned himself, dreaming of better life, so Alexander has to live with a foster parent. These events described in the novel are largely autobiographical; the fate of the author himself developed in a similar way.
Dvanov goes in search of his communism. On this path he meets many different people. Platonov revels in their description. The works, the list, the most famous of them are presented in this article, but “Chevengur” stands out even against this background.
Dvanov encounters the revolutions of Kopenkin, who resembles the medieval character Don Quixote. Her own Dulcinea also appears, who becomes Rosa Luxemburg.
Finding truth and justice in a new world, even with knights errant, turns out to be not at all easy.
"Pit"
In 1930, Platonov created the dystopian story "The Pit". Here communism is already being built in the literal sense of the word. A group of builders receives instructions to build a common proletarian house, a building that should become the basis of a utopian city of the future in which everyone will be happy.
Andrey Platonov describes their work in detail. The works listed in this article are a must read if you want to get to know this original author better. The story "The Pit" can greatly help you with this.
The construction of a common proletarian house is interrupted suddenly, even at the foundation pit stage. The matter cannot move forward. Builders realize that creating something on the ruins of the past is useless and futile. Moreover, the end does not always justify the means.
At the same time, the story of a girl Nastya, who was left homeless, is told. She is a bright embodiment of the living future of the country, those residents who should live in this house when it is built. In the meantime, she lives at a construction site. She doesn’t even have a bed, so the builders give her two coffins, which were previously taken from the peasants. One of them serves as her bed, and the second as a toy box. In the end, Nastya dies without seeing the construction of a utopian house.
In this story, Andrei Platonov sought to show the cruelty and meaninglessness of the totalitarian system. A list of this author's works often reflects this one point of view. This story contains the entire history of Bolshevism during collectivization, when people were fed only with promises of a bright future.
"Potudan River"
Platonov's short works, a list of which is also in this article, are of great interest to readers. These include primarily the story "The Potudan River".
It tells the story of Red Army soldier Nikita Firsov, who returns on foot from service to his homeland. Everywhere he meets signs of hunger and need. He goes out to the distance and notices the first lights of his hometown. At home he is met by his father, who was no longer expecting his son from the front, and changed his mind about many things after the death of his wife.
The meeting of father and son after a long separation takes place without unnecessary sentimentality. Nikita soon notices that his father is worried about serious problems. He is on the very edge of poverty. There is practically no furniture left in the house, even though my father works in a carpentry workshop.
The next morning Nikita meets his childhood friend Lyubov. She is the daughter of a teacher, their house was always clean and tidy, they seemed to be the main intellectuals. For this reason alone, he had long ago given up the idea of asking for her hand in marriage. But now everything has changed. Poverty and devastation came to this house. Everything around has changed.
"Return"
One of the last significant works Platonov - the story "Return". This time the events after the end of the Great Patriotic War are described.
Captain Ivanov returns from the front. At the station he meets young Masha and comes to her hometown. At this time, his wife and two children, with whom he was separated for 4 years, are waiting for him at home. When he finally gets to his home, he discovers amazing picture. 12-year-old Petya is in charge of everything, Ivanov feels out of place, he cannot fully rejoice at his return.
Platonov Andrey Platonovich - pseudonym, real name - Klimentov Andrey Platonovich; Voronezh, Russian Empire; 16.08.1899 – 05.01.1951
Andrei Platonov is a popular Soviet writer and military journalist. It came out from under his hand large number poetic and prose works mainly on social topics. Based on Andrei Platonov’s books, many performances were staged and several were filmed. feature films. The last film to be released in 2017 was called “Yushka”.
Biography of Andrey Platonov
Klimentov was born in August 1899 in the city of Voronezh. His father held the position of a machinist and at the same time worked as a mechanic at railway. For the responsible performance of all his duties, he was even awarded the title of Hero of Labor. The future writer's mother was a housewife. In total there were eleven children in the family. That is why Andrei knew from childhood how to care for the younger ones and often helped his mother.
We can read about Andrei Platonov that at the age of seven he entered a local school at the church. However, just three years later, in 1909, he transferred to a city school, where he studied for four years. After this, he gets several jobs to help his father feed his family. Platonov holds the position of day laborer, works in an insurance office and is listed as an assistant driver on one of the trains. In 1915, the future writer got a job at a pipe factory, where he worked as a foundry worker for several months.
Andrey Platonov short biography says that in 1918 he entered the Voronezh Technical School. Education young man interrupt the ongoing hostilities. Since the end of 1918, Andrei has been on the revolutionary committee and works part-time as an editor of one of the newspapers. In addition, he takes part in the civil war as one of the correspondents. This is exactly how Platonov’s writing career began.
Already in 1919, the first works of Andrei Platonov were published. All of them are published in local newspapers and magazines. The young man tries himself as a poet, prose writer and publicist. In 1921, the aspiring writer graduated from the local party school. That same summer, his first book, Electrification, was published. In addition, several of the author’s poems were published in a specially prepared collective collection.
In 1922, the writer's son Plato was born. If we download the biography of Andrei Platonov, we will find out that the same year was marked by the release of a full-fledged book of Platonov’s poetry entitled “Blue Depth”. The work finds many positive responses among professional critics and Andrei Platonovich’s colleagues. Despite his writing activities, he continues to work in his specialty, holding the position of chairman of the hydropower commission. In 1924, Andrei Platonov was mainly engaged in social activities. It offers a large number of hydrofication projects native land, which would help protect local crops from upcoming droughts.
In December 1926, the writer moved to Tambov, where new stories were created (“City of Grads”, “Epiphanian Locks”). At the end of the 20s of the twentieth century, the most popular work– Andrei Platonov’s story “The Pit”. Unfortunately, this work, like the novel “Chevengur”, was not published during the writer’s lifetime.
In the early thirties of the last century, Platonov faced depression. This condition pushes him to write a story called “For Future Use.” Andrei Platonov’s work, although it had an interesting and original plot, received disapproving reviews from critics and Stalin. As a result of this, Platonov does not publish a single work for several years until the charges against him for betraying the Motherland are completely dropped. In 1934, he went to Turkmenistan, where he wrote several stories and even managed to publish them. However, the works are again subject to severe criticism, which is why for two years not a single periodical has agreed to publish the work of Andrei Platonov.
In 1938, Andrei Platonov’s biography takes an unexpected turn. His fifteen-year-old son is arrested for two years. The young man returns home with a heavy incurable disease– tuberculosis. Andrei does his best to care for his son, as a result of which he becomes infected with his own illness, which will torment him for the rest of his life. Having lived a few more years at the age of twenty, Plato dies from an exacerbation of tuberculosis.
During World War II, Andrei Platonov served as a war correspondent for one of the periodicals. The writer’s stories on military topics have also been published there for several months. For a long time he served on the front line and took part in several battles. Despite all the efforts made and the combat operations completed, the writer receives only one medal, unlike many other correspondents.
In the winter of 1946, the health of the writer Andrei Platonov deteriorated significantly, which is why he was urgently demobilized. In the same year, he published the story “Return”, which within a few months was seriously criticized and accused of libel. The writer realizes that he can no longer make a living by writing. For this reason, in the late 40s, Platonov decided to engage in editing folk tales, which are published in children's periodicals. In January 1951, the writer suffered from a worsening attack of tuberculosis, as a result of which he died suddenly.