Mark Freidkin facts for kids
Mark Iehielvich Freidkin (born April 14, 1953 – died March 4, 2014) was a talented Russian poet, writer, translator, and singer. He was known for his creative work, including writing his own songs and translating many famous poems and books into Russian.
Contents
About Mark Freidkin
Mark Freidkin was born on April 14, 1953, in a city called Leninobod, which is now known as Khujand in Tajikistan. He went to school in Moscow, attending English School No. 9.
Mark Freidkin was very good at languages. He translated many poems from English, including works by famous writers like Robert Burns and Edward Lear. He also translated from French, bringing works by authors such as Stéphane Mallarmé and Georges Brassens to Russian readers.
Besides his creative work, he also ran a publishing company called "Carte Blanche." In the 1990s, this company published several important books. He also owned "October 19th," which was Moscow's very first privately owned bookstore.
His Creative Work
Mark Freidkin wrote three books of prose, which means regular written stories and essays, not poetry. Over many years, he also turned his own poems and poems by others into songs. He worked hard to translate the songs of the French singer Georges Brassens into Russian.
Mark Freidkin performed his songs with a band called "Goy." Many members of this band, like him, had also studied at the English school in North Moscow. He performed his music in several countries, including Germany, the United States, France, and Israel.
Books Mark Freidkin Wrote
Mark Freidkin published several books in Russian. Some of his well-known prose books include:
- «Главы из книги жизни» (Chapters from the Book of Life) – published in 1990.
- «Опыты» (Experiences) – published in 1994. This book included shorter pieces like "Notes of a Marriage Swindler" and "Hospital Arabesques."
- «Песни» (Songs) – published in 2003.
- «Каша из топора» (Gruel from an Axe) – published in 2009. This book also contained various stories and essays.
Books Mark Freidkin Translated
Mark Freidkin translated many books from other languages into Russian, making them available to more readers. Some of his translations include:
- H. Lofting's «История доктора Дулитла» (The Story of Doctor Dolittle) – a popular children's book, translated in 1992.
- Edward Lear's «Книга бессмыслиц» (The Book of Nonsense) – a collection of funny, nonsensical poems, translated in 1992.
- Hilaire Belloc's «Избранные назидательные стихотворения» (Selected Cautionary Verses) – translated in 1994.
- Georges Brassens' «Избранные песни» (Selected Songs) – translated in 1996.
- «Английская абсурдная поэзия» (English Absurdist Poetry) – a collection of funny and strange poems, translated in 1998.
- Roald Dahl's «Детские бестселлеры» (Children's Bestsellers) – translated in 2002.
Music Albums
Mark Freidkin released several music albums with his songs. These include:
- «Эта собачья жизнь» (This Dog's Life) – 1997
- «Песни Ж. Брассенса и запоздалые романсы» (Songs of G. Brassens and Belated Romances) – 1997
- «Меж еще и уже» (Between Still and Already) – 2000
- «Последние песни» (Last Songs) – 2002
- «Король мудаков» (King of Fools) – 2005
- «Блюз для дочурки» (Blues for My Daughter) – 2010
Songs by Other Artists
Some of Mark Freidkin's songs were also performed by other famous Russian musicians. For example, the album «Тонкий шрам на любимой попе» (A Thin Scar on a Favorite Bottom) from 2003 featured his songs sung by artists like Andrey Makarevich, Maxim Leonidov, and Alyona Sviridova.
See also
In Spanish: Mark Freidkin para niños
