Korney Ivanovich
Chukovsky
1882-1969
Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky was a prominent children’s author, poet, journalist, literary critic, and translator. His works include “Moydodyr”, “Aibolit”, and “Mukha-Tsokotukha”, among others. Nikolai Korneichukov (name given by birth) was born on March 31 (old style), 1882, in St. Petersburg, the Russian Empire. He attended kindergarten at the age of five and later studied at school. While there, he met famous figures such as Vladimir Jabotinsky and Boris Zhitkov. Chukovsky started his career as a journalist and began writing for the Odessa News in 1901. After learning English, he became a correspondent for a London-based publication, where he spent two years before returning to Odessa. His literary career took off when he moved to Kuokkala and met Ilya Repin. The encounter with Repin inspired Chukovsky to pursue writing full-time. In London, Chukovsky was introduced to the works of authors such as Thackeray, Dickens, and Bronte, who also influenced his own creative path. After the revolution, his pseudonym Korney Ivanovich Chukovsky became his real name, and he began to actively write and publish the almanac Chukokkala, which he continued to publish until the end of his life. Children’s literature was of particular importance to Chukovsky. He started writing for children after he was already a recognized literary critic. In 1916, his first collection “The Christmas Tree” was published. Later, in 1923, his famous works “Moidodyr” and “The Cockroach” were released, becoming popular among children in the post-Soviet space. Chukovsky’s work was not always well-received. Some critics considered his writings to be inconsistent with ideological standards, but over time these opinions were seen as absurd, and Chukovsky became one of the favourite children’s authors in the USSR. He also translated works from other languages, the works of R. Kipling, M. Twain and the retelling of The Bible for children, a memorial plaque has been installed in Moscow.
Address: Moscow, Tverskaya St., 6, building 1
