Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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"The Fly-Tsokotukha," "The Cockroach," "Aibolit"—these and other tales by Korney Chukovsky are known to everyone, young and old. They are taught in schools, performed in theaters, and animated films based on them. And few know who their author really was.
First name and harsh childhood
The future famous writer was born on March 31, 1882, in St. Petersburg and given the name Nikolai Korneichuk. His mother, a peasant, gave birth to him and his sister Maria out of wedlock, the son of a doctor in whose household she worked. For a long time, the boy didn't even have a patronymic name in his documents; only later did he become known as Nikolai Vasilyevich, after his godfather.
The union of a wealthy Jew and a Christian peasant woman was impossible in the eyes of both society and the law, so the mother and her children soon found themselves on the street and were forced to move in with relatives in Odessa, where she worked hard at several jobs to support her family.
At the age of five, Nikolai went to kindergarten, where he befriended the future Hero of Israel, Vladimir Jabotinsky. He attended gymnasium until fifth grade, but was then expelled "due to his lowly origins" in accordance with the circular "On the Reduction of Gymnasium Education." Afterward, the boy went to work, but even in the most difficult times, he found time for his true passion—literature. He read a lot and even taught himself English and began translating.
Journalist, translator, critic
In 1901, Nikolai found his niche in journalism and adopted the pseudonym "Korney Chukovsky." Later, he would add the fictitious patronymic "Ivanovich," and after the Revolution, he would make the pseudonym his official name.
Kornei always worked hard, often on several things at once: he wrote critical notes for magazines, translated famous works, worked on his own books, and gave lectures on literature.
In 1905, he published his own satirical magazine, "Signal," whose contributors included such renowned writers as Alexander Kuprin, Fyodor Sologub, and Nadezhda Teffi. He was even arrested for his caustic comments and uninhibited opinions, but thanks to the defense of a professional lawyer, he was acquitted and released after nine days.
Chukovsky wrote dozens of essays on famous writers, and was even awarded the Lenin Prize for his monograph "The Mastery of Nekrasov." He had a profound understanding of the Russian language and spent his entire life translating books, striving not to outdo the authors but to convey the meaning and character of each work as accurately as possible. It was he who introduced Soviet children and adults to "Robinson Crusoe" and "Baron Munchausen," as well as to the works of Walt Whitman, Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Arthur Conan Doyle, and many others.
For his countless achievements and discoveries, in 1962 Korney Chukovsky was awarded the Honorary Title of Doctor of Literature from Oxford University.
Fairy tales eclipsed everything
Kornei Ivanovich became known to the common people thanks to his children's works, which he initially wrote mostly for his own children.
In 1916, at Maxim Gorky's request, he began managing the children's section of Parus magazine. Together they compiled the collection "Yolka," and Chukovsky published his first fairy tale, "Krokodil." A couple of years later, "Tarakanishche" (1921), "Moidodyr" (1923), "The Fly-Tsokotukha" and "Telephone" were published in 1924, "Fedorino Grief" and "Barmaley" in 1925, "Confusion" and "The Miracle Tree" in 1926, and "Aibolit" in 1929. Children were delighted, as were their parents. The literary world recognized Chukovsky as a master of the genre, but the authorities opposed him and began persecuting him.
In 1928, Vladimir Lenin's wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, criticized his works in Pravda, finding them anti-Soviet and full of false ideals. Under pressure from critics, the writer "renounced" his old fairy tales in 1929 and turned to journalism. At the end of 1931, the author's main inspiration, his youngest daughter Murochka, also died of tuberculosis.
Despite the loss, Chukovsky did not abandon his work. He translated foreign works, began writing memoirs, which he continued until the end of his life, and also recorded his observations of children, their psyche, speech acquisition, and verbal creativity in the book "From Two to Five" (1933), which has been reprinted several times.
The writer's last years
In 1938, Chukovsky leased a dacha in Peredelkino, where he moved permanently. Here, he often socialized with local children, organized readings and meetings with famous people, and even built an entire library next to his property.
Chukovsky repeatedly admitted that, despite his love for children, he was burdened by his fame as a children's book author, which overshadowed his serious works. The multifaceted and talented writer was saddened that for most readers, he remained the creator of "The Fly-Tsokotukha."
He died on October 28, 1969. His dacha in Peredelkino, where he lived most of his life, now houses his museum.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: March 31, 2026.
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