Alexey Silych
Novikov-Priboy
1877-1944
Alexey Silantievich Novikov, better known as Novikov-Priboy, was a Russian and Soviet maritime writer, publicist, and winner of the Stalin Prize 2nd degree (1941). He was born on March 24 (April 5), 1877, in the village of Matveevskoe, the Spassky District, the Tambov Governorate, in a peasant family. Novikov showed an early interest in learning. He was taught to read and write by a local cleric and later finished parochial school. At the age of 22, he volunteered for military service and joined the Navy, serving from 1899 to 1906 as a sailor on the Baltic Fleet. During this time, he actively engaged in self-education, attending Kronstadt Sunday School. In 1903, he was arrested for his involvement in revolutionary activities and transferred from the cruiser “Minin” to the battleship “Eagle” due to his perceived unreliability. Despite this setback, Novikov continued to pursue his passion for writing and storytelling, eventually becoming a prominent figure in Soviet literature. As part of the 2nd Pacific Squadron, Novikov participated in the Battle of Tsushima, during which his ship was sunk. After the battle, he was captured by the Japanese and imprisoned in a prison camp. While there, he began collecting information about the Battle of Tsushima and recorded the memories of other participants. In 1906, after returning to Russia, Novikov published his first two essays, “Madmen and Fruitless Victims” and “For the Sins of Others”, under the pseudonym A. Zaterty. However, these works were later banned by the government. Fearing arrest, Novikov decided to flee abroad in 1907. During his exile, he lived in several countries including England, France, and Spain, working as a merchant sailor and gathering material for his future works. Finally, in 1913, Novikov received an amnesty on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and returned to Russia. During World War I, he worked on ambulance trains for the Zemstvo Union from 1915 to 1918, assisting wounded soldiers. In the spring of 1918, Novikov was part of a cultural and educational mission in Barnaul. While under occupation of the Whites, he joined the army of Admiral Kolchak. In Barnaul, he participated in the activities of a local literary society and edited an issue of the magazine “Siberian Dawn”. His main work was the epic novel “Tsushima”, which was first published in 1932. Based on archival data and eyewitness accounts, it describes the heroism and tragedy of the Russian Navy in the Russian-Japanese War. In addition to “Tsushima”, he wrote many short stories and essays, such as “Sea Stories”, “Submariners”, “A Woman at Sea”, “The Salty Font” and the unfinished novel “Captain of the First Rank”. Novikov-Priboy collaborated with prominent Soviet publications and magazines such as The Red Fleet, the Pravda and the Znamya. During the Great Patriotic War, Novikov-Priboy actively wrote articles and essays about the heroism of Soviet sailors. He saw literature not only as a form of artistic expression, but also as a tool for public education. Maxim Gorky was his mentor and teacher, supporting the aspiring author and helping him to publish his first works and establish his name in literature. The pseudonym “Novikov-Priboy” was suggested by Vikenty Veresaev, combining the author’s surname with the marine theme. His works, including “Tsushima,” have been translated into many languages and have left an indelible mark on Russian and world literature. A memorial plaque in his honour has been installed in Moscow on the house where he lived.
Address: Moscow, Bolshoy Kislovsky Lane, 5-7, building 1
