Demyan
Bedny
1893-1945
Demyan Bedny, whose real name was Yefim Pridvorov, was a Soviet poet, novelist, and publicist whose work reflected the ideology and contradictions of his time. He was born in 1883 in a working-class family in the Kherson region. After completing his education, he studied medicine and then attended St. Petersburg University. His literary career began in 1912 when his satirical poems, fables, and feuilletons were published in Bolshevik newspapers and magazines. His works were characterized by their simplicity, humour, and social orientation, making them accessible to a wide audience. After the October Revolution, Bedny’s work received support from the Bolshevik Party, celebrating the achievements of socialism and criticizing the bourgeoisie, religion, and tsarist rule. His writings reflected the contradictions and complexities of the period, and his style was often humourous and accessible. An important place in Demyan Bednyi’s works was occupied by his satirical poems, such as “Main Street” and “Bogatyrs”. These poems were widely published, and the author became a respected literary figure in the new Soviet state. In recognition of his contributions, the city of Spassk, located in the Penza region, was renamed Bednodemyanovsk in his honour (this name lasted until 2005). During the Great Patriotic War, Bednyi changed his pen name to Combat and wrote about the heroism of Soviet soldiers and the support of the Communist Party. In 1956, he was posthumously readmitted to the Communist Party, and his work was once again appreciated, although there were mixed opinions about his writing. A memorial plaque was installed in Moscow to honour his memory.
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