Pavel Bazhov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pavel Bazhov
Павел Бажов |
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| Born | Pavel Petrovich Bazhov 27 January 1879 Sysert, Yekaterinburgsky Uyezd, Perm Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 3 December 1950 (aged 71) Москва, Soviet Union |
| Notable works | The Malachite Box |
Pavel Petrovich Bazhov (Russian: Па́вел Петро́вич Бажо́в; born January 27, 1879 – died December 3, 1950) was a famous Russian writer and journalist.
Bazhov is best known for his collection of fairy tales called The Malachite Box. These stories are based on old Ural folklore. The book was first published in the Soviet Union in 1939. Later, in 1944, it was translated into English and published in New York City and London. One of his tales even inspired the ballet The Tale of the Stone Flower by Sergei Prokofiev. Bazhov also wrote books about the Russian Revolution and Civil War. His grandson, Yegor Gaidar, later became the Prime Minister of Russia.
Pavel Bazhov's Early Life
Pavel Bazhov was born in Sysert, a town in the Urals. His father, Pyotr Bazhov, worked in a steel plant. Like many families in factory towns, his family faced financial struggles. They also had little political power in Czarist Russia. These early experiences inspired Bazhov to help others.
Between 1889 and 1893, he attended a religious school in Yekaterinburg. He often took part in student protests. Once, a teacher even noted his "political disloyalty" on his school certificate. Yekaterinburg made a big impression on him. He would return to live there many years later. In 1899, Bazhov graduated from Perm Theological Seminary. He wanted to go to a university, but he was not accepted.
Instead, he became a Russian language teacher. He taught first in Yekaterinburg, then in Kamyshlov. From 1907 to 1914, Bazhov taught at the Women’s Diocesan College. There, he met and married Valentina Ivanitsky, one of his former students. She became an inspiration for many of his poems about love and happiness.
His Writing Career and Achievements
When World War I began, Bazhov had two daughters. He joined the Bolshevik Party in 1918. He then volunteered for the Red Army and fought on the Ural front. In 1920, Bazhov moved to Semipalatinsk. He was elected to a Party Committee there.
From 1923 to 1929, he lived in Yekaterinburg. He worked for the Krestianskaya (Peasants) Newspaper. He also wrote essays about old factory life and the Civil War. In 1924, Bazhov published his first book, Urals Tales. This book described life in the Urals during the late 1800s.
During this time, he also wrote over forty tales based on Ural factory folklore. These stories became his most famous work, The Malachite Box. This collection of fairy tales earned Bazhov the USSR State Prize. He later added even more tales to the book.
Bazhov was proud of his work between 1917 and 1920. He was recognized for his "high international quality, resilience, courage and heroism" during the revolution and civil war. For his efforts, he received an Order of Lenin and the USSR State Prize.
During World War II, Bazhov worked with writers in Yekaterinburg. He also helped writers who had moved there from other parts of the Soviet Union. After the war, his eyesight grew weaker. However, he continued editing and collecting local folklore.
In 1946, he was elected to the Supreme Soviet, a high government body.
Pavel Bazhov passed away in 1950 in Moscow. He was buried in his hometown, Yekaterinburg.
What He Left Behind
Pavel Bazhov's stories and legacy continue to be celebrated.
In 1968, the Sverdlovsk Film Studio released a film called Tales of the Ural Mountains. This movie was made for Bazhov's 90th birthday. It mixed facts about how his stories were created with acted scenes from his tales. It also shared information about popular characters like the Fire-Fairy. The film featured the voice of Yevgeny Vesnik and even included rare recordings of Pavel Bazhov's own voice.
Another film, Pavel Petrovich Bazhov. A remembrance documentary film, was made in 1979 by the same studio. In 2010, a documentary called The Soviet skaz of Pavel Bazhov was released by Russia-K.
Bazhov's books are still available today. Some of his famous works include:
- Bazhov, Pavel. The Malachite Casket. (also known as The Malachite Box)
- Bazhov, Pavel. The Mistress of the Copper Mountain and other Tales.
See also
In Spanish: Pável Bazhov para niños
