Mikhail Alexandrovich
Sholokhov
1905-1984
Mikhail Alexandrovich Sholokhov was a Soviet writer, journalist, screenwriter and a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1939. He served as a war correspondent during World War II (1941-1945) and awarded the rank of colonel in 1943. Sholokhov received several prestigious awards, including the Stalin Prize in 1941, the Lenin Prize in 1960, and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1965. He was also twice awarded the title of the Hero of Socialist Labour in 1967 and 1980. Sholokhov was the third Russian writer who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1965 after I.A. Bunin (1933) and B.L. Pasternak (1958). The prize was awarded for the novel “The Quiet Don” as a vivid and comprehensive epic about the lives of the Don Cossacks during a time of historical change. This work has been widely acclaimed and translated into numerous languages. Mikhail Sholokhov was born on May 24, 1905, on the Kruzhilinsky Farm in the village of Vyoshenskaya. From an early age he learned to read and write thanks to his parents’ support, and attended parish school. In 1914, however, his health began to deteriorate, and he was sent to Moscow for medical treatment. Following the October Revolution, the Sholokhov family relocated, and in 1920, Mikhail’s father took a position managing a mill. In 1925, Mikhail’s father died. In 1930, Sholokhov joined the Communist Party, remaining a member for the rest of his life. Sholokhov’s writing career began in 1923, with the publication of articles and short stories in newspapers. His work quickly gained attention, leading to the release of his famous novel, “The Quiet Don,” which became a classic of Russian literature. However, immediately after its publication, accusations of plagiarism emerged. According to rumors, the novel’s manuscript was taken from the field bag of a deceased White Army officer, causing a scandal. Mikhail Sholokhov claimed to be the author and, in 1929, after an official investigation, his authorship was confirmed. In 1930, Sholokhov started writing the novel “Virgin Soil Upturned,” which was completed and published in 1950. He also wrote other notable works about the war, including “They Fought for their Country” and “Fate of a Man,” reflecting his views on the tragedy of war. A monument has been erected in Moscow in honour of the renowned writer.
Address: Moscow, 11-ya Tekstilshchikov str., 12A
