Sergey Vladimirovich
Mikhalkov
1913-2009
Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov was a writer, poet, playwright and journalist, war correspondent, screenwriter, writer of fables, public figure, and the Hero of Socialist Labour. He is recognised as a co-author (together with the poet El-Registan) of the lyrics of the national anthem of the USSR and the author of the lyrics of the anthem of modern Russia. He was one of the five authors of the epitaph on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall: “Your name is unknown, your feat is immortal”. Writings for children brought S. V. Mikhalkov the greatest fame. S.V. Mikhalkov was born on 13 March, 1913 in Moscow. S.V. Mikhalkov’s ability to write poetry appeared already at the age of nine. In 1927, the family moved to the city of Pyatigorsk, the Stavropol Territory (Krai). In these years, Sergey began to publish. In 1928 his first poem “The Road” was published in the magazine “On the Rise”. After finishing school, Sergey Mikhalkov returned to Moscow. In 1935, his first famous work, which became a classic of Soviet children’s literature, was published – “Uncle Styopa”. Between 1935 and 1937, he studied at Literary Institute. In 1939, S.V. Mikhalkov received the first Order of Lenin. He served as a war correspondent for the newspapers “In the Glory of the Motherland” of the Southern Front and “Stalin’s Falcon” of the Red Army Air Force. He was a major of the rear service, later a lieutenant colonel. He participated in the defence of Odessa, where he was concussed, he was a participant in the defence of Sevastopol. In 1942, he won the Stalin Prize for the script of the film “Battle Friends”. From 1965 to the 1970s, he was the secretary of the board of the Union of Writers of the USSR and the first secretary of the board of the Moscow organisation of the Union of Writers of the RSFSR. From the 1970s to the 1990s, he was the Chairman of the RSFSR Union of Writers. In 1992-1999 he was a co-chairman of the Executive Committee of the Community of Writers’ Unions, S.V. Mikhalkov, successfully worked in almost all literary genres: poetry, prose, drama, criticism, journalism, film, and cartoon scripts. The poet became a recognised classic of children’s poetry. His works, such as “Uncle Styopa”, “The Feast of Disobedience”, and “What about you?”, have been repeatedly reprinted and enjoyed success and love from the audience. Critics, who spoke favourably of his work, noted the originality of S.V. Mikhalkov’s talent and the influence of classical Russian drama. Even such a notion as “Mikhalkov’s theatre” appeared. In 2005, the writer was the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Community of Writers’ Unions. On 13 March, 2008, on the day of the writer’s 95th anniversary, Russian President V.V. Putin signed a decree awarding S.V. Mikhalkov the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with the wording “for his outstanding contribution to the development of Russian literature, many years of creative and public activity”.
Address: Moscow, Povarskaya St.
