Victor Serge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Victor Serge
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | December 30, 1890 Brussels, Belgium
|
| Died | November 17, 1947 (aged 56) Mexico City, Mexico
|
| Nationality | |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse(s) | Liuba Russakova |
| Partner(s) | Laurette Séjourné |
| Children | 2, including Vlady |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Victor Serge (born Victor Lvovich Kibalchich) was a Russian writer, poet, and historian. He was also a Marxist revolutionary. He was born on December 30, 1890, and passed away on November 17, 1947.
Serge started his political journey as an anarchist. Anarchists believe in societies without government. Later, he joined the Bolsheviks in Russia in 1919. The Bolsheviks were a group that led the Russian Revolution. He worked for the Comintern, which was an international organization supporting communism.
Victor Serge became a journalist, editor, and translator. He was known for criticizing the Stalinist government in the Soviet Union. He remained a revolutionary until his death. He supported the Left Opposition, a group that disagreed with Stalin's policies. He was also a close friend of Leon Trotsky, another important revolutionary leader.
Many people remember Victor Serge for his novels, memoirs, and poetry. His books often tell stories about people living in the Soviet Union and about revolutionaries in the early 20th century. One of his most famous novels is The Case of Comrade Tulayev. This book is known for its unique style, which some compare to the works of famous writers like George Orwell and Franz Kafka.
Early Life and Activism
Victor Serge was born in Belgium. His parents were Russian revolutionaries who had to leave their home country. He did not go to school for very long and left home when he was a teenager.
He lived in a French mining village and worked as a typesetter, which is someone who arranges text for printing. Later, he moved to Paris, France. In Paris, he became an anarchist and worked as an editor for an anarchist newspaper.
During this time, he was involved in a court case related to a group called the Bonnot Gang. He was sentenced to five years in prison because he refused to give evidence in the trial. He was 22 years old when this happened. He was released from prison in 1917.
In 1919, he arrived in Russia. The country was going through a civil war between the Red Army (revolutionaries) and the White Army (those against the revolution). Even though he worried about the Bolsheviks stopping other groups, he decided to support them. He believed there was a small chance to make the revolution better, and it was worth taking that chance.
His Writings
Victor Serge wrote many books, both fiction and non-fiction. His works often explored themes of revolution, justice, and the lives of people during challenging times.
Fiction Books
- The Case of Comrade Tulayev (1967): This is one of his most well-known novels.
- Men in Prison (1969): This book shares his experiences and observations about life in prison.
Non-fiction Books
- From Lenin to Stalin (1937): This book looks at the changes in Russia from the time of Lenin to Stalin.
- Memoirs of a Revolutionary, 1901–1941 (2012): This book tells the story of his own life and experiences as a revolutionary.
- Year One of the Russian Revolution (1972): This book describes the first year of the Russian Revolution.
See also
In Spanish: Víctor Serge para niños
- Anarchism in France
- Anti-Stalinist left
- Transatlantic (portrayal in 2023 TV series)
