Konstantin Simonov
Konstantin Simonov was a notable Russian writer and war correspondent born on November 28, 1915, in St. Petersburg. His early life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of his father in World War I and the political turmoil that led to his family's relocation to Moscow. Simonov's literary career began while he worked as a lathe operator, and after publishing several poems, he graduated from the Gorky Institute of Literature in 1938. His experiences as a war correspondent during World War II, particularly during the siege of Stalingrad, significantly shaped his writing, resulting in widely read works like "Dni i nochi" (Days and Nights). For his contributions, he received prestigious awards, including the Stalin Prize. Post-war, Simonov engaged in international literary dialogue and served in various editorial roles; however, his criticism of Soviet policies led to challenges during his career, including his removal from the editor position at Novy Mir in 1957. Despite these conflicts, he remained an influential figure in Russian literature until his death in 1979, known for his propagandistic works and later disillusionment with the government’s oppressive practices.
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Konstantin Simonov
- Born: November 28, 1915
- Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia
- Died: August 28, 1979
Biography
Konstantin (born Kirill) Mikhailovich Simonov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, on November 28, 1915, to Princess Aleksandra Obolenskaya, a penniless member of one of Russia’s oldest aristocratic families, and an army officer in the Russian army, who lost his life shortly after Simonov’s birth in World War I. Simonov’s mother remarried another army officer, Aleksandr Ivanishchev, a veteran of World War I, who became an instructor at the Ryazan Military Academy in southern Russia after the Russian Revolution.
After completing his basic education at various provincial schools, primarily at Ryazan and Saratov, Simonov traveled with his stepfather’s division in 1930 and became an engineering apprentice and worked as a lathe operator in Saratov. After he and his family were targeted by a political purge, which sent his stepfather to prison and evicted him and his mother from their home in Saratov, the Simonov family moved to Moscow for economic sustenance. He enrolled in a night school for workers in Moscow while still working as a lathe operator. After publishing several poems, his publisher encouraged him to enter the Gorky Institute of Literature, which he did, graduating in 1938. He completed a year of graduate work before Russia’s involvement in World War II.
As a war correspondent, Simonov’s first assignment to the Soviet-Japanese Campaign of 1939 in Mongolia provided poignant experiences for his book of poems entitled Lirika, which was published a year later. Moreover, in 1939, Simonov became an official member of the Communist Party; consequently, he was called into active service as a war correspondent for the Red Star journal in June 1941. His ensuing literary productions of poetry and prose, Dni i nochi: Povest (1944; Days and Nights, 1945), which depicts the courage of Soviet troops during the siege of Stalingrad, during this period, were widely read by the military and civilians. For his contributions in boosting the morale of the Russian military, Simonov received the Stalin Prize and many other medals.
After World War II, Simonov participated in many international literary delegations—mainly those dealing with the Cold War. He was also a member of the editorial boards of numerous journals and publishing firms. Moreover, he was twice appointed as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of his Communist government. In 1954, he became the chief editor for the distinguished journal Novy Mir; however, during his tenure, his publication of an essay that rejected Soviet Realism led to the removal of his position in 1957. Moreover, his protest of his government policies continued with his refusal to sign an approval document for Russia’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Nevertheless, his unpatriotic actions were not reprimanded, and he remained a leading member of the Union of Writers.
Simonov continued his work as secretary for the Union of Writers throughout the 1970’s. He died in Moscow on August 28, 1979. Simonov was a prolific writer whose profound influence lies primarily with his influential propagandistic literature produced during and after World War II. However, Simonov’s eventual disgust of his government’s abusive policies motivated his later writings.