Oleg Grigoriev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oleg Grigoriev
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Oleg Grigoriev
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| Born | December 6, 1943 Vologda Oblast, USSR |
| Died | April 30, 1992 (aged 48) Saint-Petersburg, Russia |
| Occupation | poet, artist |
Oleg Grigoriev (born December 6, 1943 – died April 30, 1992) was a talented Russian poet and artist. He was known for his unique and playful style of writing. Many of his short poems became very popular, almost like well-known sayings or songs.
Contents
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Oleg Grigoriev was born in the Vologda region during World War II. After the war, he and his mother moved to Leningrad. From a young age, Oleg loved to paint and write poems. He even wrote one of his most famous poems, "I have asked electrician Petrov...", when he was just 16 years old.
After finishing high school, Oleg went to art school. However, he was soon asked to leave because his painting style was considered "unusual." After that, he worked many different jobs. He was a guard, a person who tended a furnace, a postman, and even a yard-keeper.
Becoming a Published Poet
In 1970, Oleg Grigoriev published his very first book. It was called "Oddballs" («Чудаки») and was a collection of poems for children. Soon after, he faced some difficulties with the government. He was asked to do public work building a factory.
In 1975, Oleg took part in an art show in a place called DK Nevsky.
Popularity and Challenges
In 1981, his second collection of children's poems came out. It was titled "Growth Vitamin" («Витамин роста»). The poems in this book became very popular with kids and families. However, some important people in the Soviet literary world did not like them. One of these people was Sergey Mikhalkov, a well-known writer.
It is said that Mikhalkov was upset about a poem where a bird says a branch looks like a cage. The bird also notes that the "bars" on the branch are not as close together. Mikhalkov thought this was a hidden message against the Soviet government. Because of this, two editors of the book lost their jobs. Oleg was also not allowed to join the USSR Union of Writers. Joining this group would have allowed him to write full-time.
Oleg Grigoriev's next book for children, "Talking Raven" («Говорящий ворон»), was published in 1987.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1989, Oleg Grigoriev had another difficult time. He received a suspended sentence after an argument with a policeman. This means he was found guilty but did not have to go to prison right away. Several famous Russian writers, including Andrey Bitov and Bella Akhmadulina, asked the court to be kind to the poet. Finally, in 1991, Oleg Grigoriev was allowed to join the Union of Writers.
Oleg Grigoriev passed away on April 30, 1992. He was buried in Volkovo Cemetery in Saint-Petersburg.
His first book of poems for adults was published after he died in 1993. Since then, his poems, both for kids and grown-ups, are printed many times each year. Some of his works have even been translated into German and French.
