Bella Akhmadulina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bella Akhmadulina
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Bella Akhmadulina at the Russian State Prize ceremony in 2005
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| Born | Izabella Akhatovna Akhmadulina 10 April 1937 Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Died | 29 November 2010 (aged 73) Peredelkino, Russia |
| Occupation | Poet, writer, translator |
| Alma mater | Maxim Gorky Literature Institute |
| Period | 1955–2010 |
| Literary movement | Russian New Wave |
| Notable works | The String, Fever, Music Lessons, The Candle (poetry collections) |
| Spouse |
Yuri Nagibin
(m. 1960, divorced)Boris Messerer
(m. 1974) |
| Children | Elizaveta Kulieva, poet |
Bella Akhmadulina (Russian: Бе́лла (Изабе́лла) Аха́товна Ахмаду́лина; 10 April 1937 – 29 November 2010) was a famous poet, writer, and translator from the Soviet Union and Russia. She was known for her unique writing style. Many people called her "the voice of the epoch" in Russia.
Even though her writing usually didn't focus on politics, Bella Akhmadulina often spoke out. She supported important people like Boris Pasternak, Andrei Sakharov, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. She became well-known around the world. She traveled during a time called the Khrushchev Thaw. During this time, she performed her poetry in huge, sold-out stadiums.
When she passed away in 2010 at 73, Dmitry Medvedev, who was the President of Russia, said her poems were a "classic of Russian literature." The New York Times newspaper also called her one of the Soviet Union's "literary treasures."
Contents
Who Was Bella Akhmadulina?
Bella Akhmadulina was born in Moscow, Russia, on April 10, 1937. She was the only child of Akhat Valeevich Akhmadulin and Nadezhda Makarovna Lazareva. Her father was Tatar, and her mother was part Russian and part Italian. When World War II started, her family moved to Kazan for safety.
Her Early Life and Education
Bella started her writing journey as a schoolgirl. She worked as a journalist for a Moscow newspaper called Metrostroevets. She also improved her poetry skills in a special group led by the poet Yevgeny Vinokurov. Her first poems were published in a magazine called October in 1955. Famous Soviet poets approved of her work.
After finishing school, Bella went to the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute. She graduated from there in 1960. While studying, she continued to publish her poems and articles. In 1959, she was briefly asked to leave the institute. This happened because she spoke out against how the writer Boris Pasternak was being treated. However, she was later allowed to return.
Her Amazing Writings
In 1962, Bella's first collection of poems, called Struna (which means The String), was published. It was a huge success! Even after her early challenges, she published many more poetry collections. Some of these include Music Lessons (1970), Poems (1975), Candle (1977), and Dreams of Georgia (1977).
Her collection called Sad (meaning Garden) earned her the USSR State Prize in 1989. She also wrote a short story called "Many dogs and one dog." It was published in 1979 in a special collection called Metropol Almanac. She even helped create this collection. Bella also wrote essays about famous Russian poets like Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov.
In the 1960s, Bella Akhmadulina was incredibly popular. She performed her poems in sold-out stadiums, just like other famous poets such as Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Andrei Voznesensky. She also wrote an open letter supporting Andrei Sakharov when he was sent away from Moscow.
After the Soviet Union ended, she continued to publish new works. These included Casket and Key (1994) and One Day in December (1996).
Her Style and Translations
Bella Akhmadulina's poems often explored themes like friendship, love, and how people connect with each other. She wrote many essays about other Russian poets and translators. Some of these were about her close friend, Bulat Okudzhava.
She translated poetry from many countries into Russian. These included poems from France, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Georgia, and Armenia. Her writing style was very unique. She used interesting images and humor in her work. In her early poems, she often used rhyming four-line stanzas. These poems talked about everyday things in a creative way, using both old-fashioned and new words. As she got older, her themes changed to include religion and philosophy.
Bella's Personal Life
Bella Akhmadulina was married four times. Her first marriage in 1954 was to Yevgeny Yevtushenko, who was also a very famous poet. Her second husband, whom she married in 1960, was Yuri Nagibin, a well-known writer and screenwriter.
In 1971, she married film director Eldar Kuliev. They had a daughter named Elizaveta Kulieva, who also became a poet. In 1974, Bella married her last husband, Boris Messerer. He was a famous artist and stage designer. They had homes in Peredelkino and Moscow.
Her Passing
Bella Akhmadulina passed away at her home near Moscow on November 29, 2010. She was 73 years old. Her husband said she died from a heart condition. Both Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin shared their sadness about her death. Medvedev wrote that her passing was a "huge loss" and that her poetry was a "classic of Russian literature."
Film Work
Bella Akhmadulina also appeared in and wrote for films:
- Cameo appearances:
* I Am Twenty (1961)
- Screenwriter:
* Clean Ponds (1965) * Stewardess (1967)
Awards and Tributes
Bella Akhmadulina received many important awards for her work:
- In 1977, she became an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
- USSR State Prize Laureate (1989)
- State Prize of the Russian Federation (2004)
- Order of Friendship of Peoples (1984)
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class (2007) and 3rd class (1997)
- Winner of the "Nosside" prize from Italy (1994)
- Pushkin Prize winner (1994)
- Laureate of the President of the Russian Federation in Literature and Art (1998)
- Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Arts
- On April 10, 2017, Google Doodle celebrated her 80th birthday with a special drawing.
See also
In Spanish: Bela Ajmadúlina para niños
