Alexey Novikov-Priboy
Encyclopedia
Aleksey Silych Novikov-Priboi ( March 12, 1877 – April 29, 1944) was the pen-name of A. S. Novikov, a ethnic Russian writer in the Soviet Union
, noted for his stories with a nautical theme.
. His mother, of Polish descent, had hoped that he would enter the church as a monk, but he was attracted to the thought of adventure by hearing stories from travelling sailors, and volunteered for the Imperial Russian Navy
instead. He served as a seaman with the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1899-1906. He became involved with revolutionary activities from an early age and after publishing an article in a Kronstadt
newspaper in 1903, was arrested from spreading “subversive propaganda”. However, due to the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904–05, he was soon released, and with his records marked “unreliable” was transferred to the 2nd Pacific Squadon’s battleship
, on which he participated at the climatic Battle of Tsushima
.
Taken as a prisoner-of-war by the Japanese, while in prison camp he began gathering stories from fellow survivors. After the war, he returned to his home town and began writing, and his first works describing the war in highly critical terms were published in 1906. However, he soon fell afoul with the tsarist authorities who banned his works, and Novikov-Priboi was forced to go into hiding. He fled to Finland
in 1907, and between 1907-1913 lived in England
, visiting France
, Spain
, North Africa
and Capri
, where he befriended the exiled Maxim Gorky
, who provided him with advice on his writing. Novikov-Priboi supported himself working part time as a blacksmith, accountant, and as a merchant sailor. He returned to Russia in 1913 under a false passport.
During World War I
, from 1915–1918, Novikov-Priboi worked on hospital train
s, and afterwards settling at Barnaul
, where he lived to 1920 in a commune with fellow writers and artists.
His first collection of short stories, Sea Stories, was published in 1917 after some difficulties with the publishers. Novikov-Priboi’s early works were influenced by Gorky and are part of the mainstream of Russian realistic
literature. These include classic “seafaring” works, including (the novella
The Call of the Sea (1919) and the novels The Submariners (1923) and The Salty Font (1929).
From 1920, Novikov-Priboi began work on a historical epic Tsushima, and was able to access government achieves. The first part of the book was published in 1932, and the 2nd part was awarded the Stalin Prize
, (2nd degree). The novel describes the heroism of Russian sailors and certain officers the increasing of revolutionary activity, and what he considered criminal negligence of the Imperial Russian Naval command.
After the start of World War II
, Novikov-Priboi continued to publish works about the navy. He died in 1944 in Moscow
, with his final novel Captain First Class, unfinished.
His grave is at the Novodevichy Cemetery
. Novikov-Priboi was honored by commemorative postage stamps issued in 1952 and 1977, and numerous streets in the former Soviet Union were named after him. His honors include Order of Red Banner of Labor and Medal for the Defence of Moscow
.
In 1969, his daughter opened a private museum in his honor, at his former dacha
at Cherkizovo, near Pushkino, Moscow Oblast
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, noted for his stories with a nautical theme.
Biography
Novikov-Priboi was the second son of a peasant family from Tambov OblastTambov Oblast
Tambov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tambov. Population: down from 1,178,443 recorded by the 2002 Census.Tambov Oblast is situated in forest steppe.-Birth rate:...
. His mother, of Polish descent, had hoped that he would enter the church as a monk, but he was attracted to the thought of adventure by hearing stories from travelling sailors, and volunteered for the Imperial Russian Navy
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
instead. He served as a seaman with the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1899-1906. He became involved with revolutionary activities from an early age and after publishing an article in a Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
newspaper in 1903, was arrested from spreading “subversive propaganda”. However, due to the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904–05, he was soon released, and with his records marked “unreliable” was transferred to the 2nd Pacific Squadon’s battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, on which he participated at the climatic Battle of Tsushima
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
.
Taken as a prisoner-of-war by the Japanese, while in prison camp he began gathering stories from fellow survivors. After the war, he returned to his home town and began writing, and his first works describing the war in highly critical terms were published in 1906. However, he soon fell afoul with the tsarist authorities who banned his works, and Novikov-Priboi was forced to go into hiding. He fled to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 1907, and between 1907-1913 lived in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, visiting France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
, where he befriended the exiled Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
, who provided him with advice on his writing. Novikov-Priboi supported himself working part time as a blacksmith, accountant, and as a merchant sailor. He returned to Russia in 1913 under a false passport.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, from 1915–1918, Novikov-Priboi worked on hospital train
Hospital train
A hospital train is a railway train with carriages equipped for the provision of healthcare. Historically this has ranged from trains equipped to transport wounded soldiers, with basic nursing and first aid facilities on board, to fully equipped mobile medical centres, sometimes including operating...
s, and afterwards settling at Barnaul
Barnaul
-Russian Empire:Barnaul was one of the earlier cities established in Siberia. Originally chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, the site was founded by the wealthy Demidov family in the 1730s. In addition to the copper which had originally...
, where he lived to 1920 in a commune with fellow writers and artists.
His first collection of short stories, Sea Stories, was published in 1917 after some difficulties with the publishers. Novikov-Priboi’s early works were influenced by Gorky and are part of the mainstream of Russian realistic
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
literature. These include classic “seafaring” works, including (the novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
The Call of the Sea (1919) and the novels The Submariners (1923) and The Salty Font (1929).
From 1920, Novikov-Priboi began work on a historical epic Tsushima, and was able to access government achieves. The first part of the book was published in 1932, and the 2nd part was awarded the Stalin 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....
, (2nd degree). The novel describes the heroism of Russian sailors and certain officers the increasing of revolutionary activity, and what he considered criminal negligence of the Imperial Russian Naval command.
After the start of 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...
, Novikov-Priboi continued to publish works about the navy. He died in 1944 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, with his final novel Captain First Class, unfinished.
His grave is at the Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
. Novikov-Priboi was honored by commemorative postage stamps issued in 1952 and 1977, and numerous streets in the former Soviet Union were named after him. His honors include Order of Red Banner of Labor and Medal for the Defence of Moscow
Medal for the Defence of Moscow
The Medal for the Defence of Moscow was established on May 1, 1944. It was designed to commemorate the deeds of all the soldiers and civilians who had actively fought in the defence of Moscow from the Germans, in the Battle of Moscow....
.
In 1969, his daughter opened a private museum in his honor, at his former dacha
Dacha
Dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and post-Soviet cities. Cottages or shacks serving as family's main or only home are not considered dachas, although many purpose-built dachas are recently being converted for year-round residence...
at Cherkizovo, near Pushkino, Moscow Oblast
Pushkino, Moscow Oblast
Pushkino is a city and the administrative center of Pushkinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Ucha and Serebryanka Rivers, northeast of Moscow...
.
English Translations
- The Captain, Hutchinson International, 1946.
- The Sea Beckons, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1965.
- Tsushima, Hyperion Press, 1978.