Famous writers of the world. The most famous Russian writers and their works

03.04.2019

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According to the UNESCO Index Translationum Internet database, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Lev Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov are the most translated Russian writers all over the world! These authors are ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. But Russian literature is also rich in other names that have made a huge contribution to the development of both Russian and world culture.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Not only a writer, but also a historian and playwright, Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a Russian writer who declared himself in the period after the death of Stalin and the debunking of the personality cult.

In a way, Solzhenitsyn is considered the successor of Leo Tolstoy, since he was also a great lover of truth and wrote large-scale works about the life of people and the social processes that took place in society. Solzhenitsyn's work was based on a combination of autobiographical and documentary.

His most famous works- "The Gulag Archipelago" and "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich." With the help of these works, Solzhenitsyn tried to draw the attention of readers to the horrors of totalitarianism, about which modern people have not yet written so openly. Russian writers that period; I wanted to tell about the fate of thousands of people who were subjected to political repression, were sent to the camps innocent and were forced to live there in conditions that can hardly be called human.

Ivan Turgenev

Turgenev's early work reveals the writer as a romantic, who had a very subtle sense of nature. And the literary image of the "Turgenev girl", which has long been presented as a romantic, bright and vulnerable image, is now something of a household name. At the first stage of creativity, he wrote poems, poems, dramatic works and, of course, prose.

The second stage of Turgenev's work brought the author the most fame - thanks to the creation of "Notes of a Hunter". For the first time, he honestly portrayed the landlords, opened the topic of the peasantry, after which he was arrested by the authorities, who did not like this work, and sent into exile in the family estate.

Later, the writer's work is filled with complex and multifaceted characters - the most mature period of the author's work. Turgenev tried to reveal such philosophical themes like love, duty, death. At the same time, Turgenev wrote his most famous work both here and abroad, entitled "Fathers and Sons" about the difficulties and problems of relations between different generations.

Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov's work completely runs counter to the traditions of classical Russian literature. The most important thing for Nabokov was the play of the imagination, his work became part of the transition from realism to modernism. In the author's works, one can distinguish the type of a characteristic Nabokov hero - a lonely, persecuted, suffering, misunderstood person with a touch of genius.

In Russian, Nabokov managed to write numerous short stories, seven novels (Mashenka, King, Queen, Jack, Despair and others) and two plays before leaving for the United States. From that moment on, the birth of an English-speaking author takes place, Nabokov completely abandons the pseudonym Vladimir Sirin, with which he signed his Russian books. Nabokov will work with the Russian language only once more - when he will translate for Russian-speaking readers his novel Lolita, which was originally written in English.

It was this novel that became the most popular and even scandalously famous work of Nabokov - not too surprising, because it tells the story of the love of a mature man of forty for a teenage girl of twelve. The book is considered quite shocking even in our free-thinking age, but if there is still debate about the ethical side of the novel, then it is simply impossible to deny Nabokov's verbal skill.

Michael Bulgakov

Bulgakov's career was not easy at all. Deciding to become a writer, he abandons a career as a doctor. He writes his first works, “ Fatal eggs"And" Diavoliada ", having got a job as a journalist. The first story evokes quite resonant responses, since it resembled a mockery of the revolution. Bulgakov's story " dog's heart”, Denouncing the authorities, they refused to publish at all and, moreover, took the manuscript from the writer.

But Bulgakov continues to write - and creates a novel “ White Guard", Based on which they stage a play called" Days of the Turbins ". The success did not last long - in connection with the next scandal because of the works, all the performances based on Bulgakov were removed from the screenings. The same fate will later befall the very last play by Bulgakov "Batum".

The name of Mikhail Bulgakov is invariably associated with "The Master and Margarita". Perhaps it was this novel that became the work of a lifetime, although it did not bring him recognition. But now, after the death of the writer, this work is popular with a foreign audience.

This work is not like anything else. We agreed to designate that this is a novel, but which one: satirical, fantastic, love-lyrical? The images presented in this work amaze and impress with their uniqueness. A novel about good and evil, about hatred and love, about hypocrisy, money-grubbing, sin and holiness. At the same time, during the life of Bulgakov, the work was not published.

It is not easy to recall another author who could so deftly and accurately expose all the falsity and filth of the philistine, the current government and the bureaucratic system. That is why Bulgakov was subjected to constant attacks, criticism and prohibitions from the ruling circles.

Alexander Pushkin

Despite the fact that not all foreigners associate Pushkin with Russian literature, unlike most Russian readers, it is simply impossible to deny his legacy.

The talent of this poet and writer truly had no boundaries: Pushkin is famous for his amazing poems, but at the same time he wrote excellent prose and plays. Pushkin's creativity has received recognition not only now; his talent was recognized by others Russian writers and poets are his contemporaries.

The theme of Pushkin's work is directly related to his biography - the events and experiences he went through during his life. Tsarskoe Selo, Petersburg, time in exile, Mikhailovskoe, Caucasus; ideals, disappointments, love and affection - everything is present in the works of Pushkin. And the most famous was the novel "Eugene Onegin".

Ivan Bunin

Ivan Bunin is the first Russian writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The work of this author can be roughly divided into two periods: before emigration and after.

Bunin was very close to the peasantry, life common people, which had a great influence on the work of the author. Therefore, among it, the so-called country prose, for example, "Sukhodol", "Village", which became one of the most popular works.

Nature also plays a significant role in Bunin's work, which inspired many great Russian writers. Bunin believed: she is the main source of strength and inspiration, spiritual harmony, that every person is inextricably linked with her, and in her lies the key to unraveling the mystery of life. Nature and love became the main themes of the philosophical part of Bunin's work, which is mainly represented by poetry, as well as stories and stories, for example, "Ida", "Mitya's love", "Late Hour" and others.

Nikolay Gogol

After graduating from the Nizhyn gymnasium, the first literary experience Nikolai Gogol's poem "Hans Kuchelgarten", which turned out to be not very successful. However, this did not bother the writer, and he soon began working on the play "The Marriage", which was published only ten years later. This witty, colorful and lively work is being smashed to smithereens by modern society, which has made prestige, money, power its main values, and has left love somewhere in the last resort.

Gogol was deeply impressed by the death of Alexander Pushkin, which amazed others as well. Russian writers and artists. Shortly before this, Gogol showed Pushkin the plot of a new work entitled “ Dead Souls", So now he believed that this work was a" sacred testament "to the great Russian poet.

"Dead Souls" have become a magnificent satire on the Russian bureaucracy, serfdom and social ranks, and it is this book that is especially popular with readers abroad.

Anton Chekhov

Chekhov began his creative career by writing short essays, but very bright and expressive. Chekhov is best known for his humorous stories, although he wrote both tragicomic and dramatic works. And most often foreigners read Chekhov's play "Uncle Vanya", the stories "The Lady with the Dog" and "Kashtanka".

Perhaps the most basic and famous hero Chekhov's works is “ small man", Whose figure is familiar to many readers even after" Stationmaster»By Alexander Pushkin. This is not a separate character, but rather a collective image.

Nevertheless, Chekhov's little people are not the same: one wants to sympathize, others - to laugh ("The Man in a Case", "Death of an Official", "Chameleon", "Razmaznya" and others). The main problem of the work of this writer is the problem of justice ("Name Day", "Steppe", "Leshy").

Fedor Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky is best known for his works Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov. Each of these works is famous for its deep psychology - indeed, Dostoevsky is considered one of the best psychologists in the history of literature.

He analyzed the nature of human emotions, such as humiliation, self-destruction, murderous rage, as well as states leading to insanity, suicide, and murder. Psychology and philosophy are closely related to each other in Dostoevsky's portrayal of his characters, intellectuals who “feel ideas” in the depths of their souls.

Thus, "Crime and Punishment" reflects on freedom and inner strength, suffering and madness, disease and fate, the pressure of the modern urban world on the human soul, and raises the question of whether people can ignore their own moral code. Dostoevsky, along with Leo Tolstoy, are the most famous Russian writers all over the world, and Crime and Punishment is the most popular of the author's works.

Lev Tolstoy

Who do foreigners associate with famous Russian writers, so it is with Leo Tolstoy. He is one of the undisputed titans of world fiction, a great artist and person. The name of Tolstoy is known all over the world.

There is something Homeric about the epic scale with which he wrote War and Peace, however, unlike Homer, he portrayed the war as a senseless slaughter, the result of the vanity and stupidity of the leaders of the nation. The work "War and Peace" seemed to be a kind of result of all that has gone through Russian society for the period of the XIX century.

But the most famous all over the world is Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. It is readily read both here and abroad, and readers are invariably captured by the story of the forbidden love of Anna and Count Vronsky, which leads to tragic consequences... Tolstoy dilutes the narrative with a second storyline - the story of Levin, who devotes his life to his marriage to Kitty, housekeeping and God. This is how the writer demonstrates to us the contrast between Anna's sin and Levin's virtue.

And watch a video about famous Russians writers XIX century can be here:

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1) Latin: Publius Virgil Maron

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Mark Tullius Cicero, Guy Julius Caesar, Publius Ovid Nazon, Quintus Horace Flaccus

You should know Virgil from his famous epic "Aeneid", which is dedicated to the fall of Troy. Virgil is probably the strictest perfectionist in literary history. He wrote his poem at an astonishingly slow rate - only 3 lines a day. He didn’t want to do it faster, to be sure that it’s impossible to write these three lines better.

IN Latin subordinate clause, dependent or independent, can be written in any order with a few exceptions. Thus, the poet has greater freedom in defining how his poetry sounds, without changing the meaning in any way. Virgil considered any option at every stage.

Virgil also wrote two more works in Latin - "Bucolics"(38 BC) and "Georgiki"(29 BC). "Georgiki"- 4 partially didactic poems about agriculture, including all sorts of advice, for example, that you should not plant grapes next to olive trees: olive leaves are very flammable, and at the end of a dry summer, they can catch fire, like everything else, due to a lightning strike.

He also praised Aristeus, the god of beekeeping, because honey was the only source of sugar for the European world until sugarcane was brought to Europe from the Caribbean. Bees were deified, and Virgil explained how to get a hive if the farmer does not have one: kill a deer, wild boar or bear, rip them open and leave them in the forest, praying to God Aristeus. In a week, he will send a bee hive to the carcass of the animal.

Virgil wrote that he would like his poem "Aeneid" burned after his death, as it remained unfinished. However, the emperor of Rome, Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, refused to do this, thanks to which the poem has survived to this day.

2) Ancient Greek: Homer

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Apostle Paul, Euripides, Aristophanes

Homer, perhaps, can be called the greatest writer of all times and peoples, but not much is known about him. He was probably a blind man who told stories that were recorded 400 years later. Or, in fact, a whole group of writers worked on the poems, adding something about the Trojan War and the Odyssey.

Anyway, "Iliad" and "Odyssey" were written in ancient Greek, a dialect that came to be called Homeric as opposed to Attic, which followed later and which replaced it. "Iliad" describes the last 10 years of the struggle of the Greeks with the Trojans outside the walls of Troy. The main character is Achilles. He is enraged that King Agamemnon treats him and his trophies as his property. Achilles refused to participate in a war that had lasted for 10 years and in which the Greeks lost thousands of their soldiers in the fight for Troy.

But after persuasion, Achilles allowed his friend (and possibly lover) Patroclus, who no longer wanted to wait, to join the war. However, Patroclus was defeated and killed by Hector, the leader of the Trojan army. Achilles rushed into battle and forced the Trojan battalions to flee. Without assistance, he killed many enemies, fought with the god of the river Scamander. Ultimately, Achilles killed Hector, and the poem ends with funeral ceremonies.

"Odyssey"- an unsurpassed adventure masterpiece about the 10-year wanderings of Odysseus, who tried to return home after the end of the Trojan War with his people. The details of the fall of Troy are mentioned very briefly. When Odysseus dared to go to the Land of the Dead, where, among others, he finds Achilles.

These are just two of Homer's works that have survived and have come down to us, however, it is not known for sure whether there were others. However, these works form the basis of all European literature. The poems are written with a dactylic hexameter. In memory of Homer by western tradition many poems were written.

3) French: Victor Hugo

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: René Descartes, Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas, Moliere, François Rabelais, Marcel Proust, Charles Baudelaire

The French have always been fans of long novels, the longest of which is the cycle "In Search of Lost Time" Marcel Proust. However, Victor Hugo is perhaps the most famous author French prose and one of the greatest poets of the 19th century.

His most famous works are "The cathedral Notre dame de paris" (1831) and "Les Miserables"(1862). The first work even formed the basis of the famous cartoon "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" studios Walt disney pictures, however, in Hugo's real-life novel, it did not end so fabulously.

The hunchback Quasimodo was hopelessly in love with the gypsy Esmeralda, who treated him well. However, Frollo, a vicious priest, had his eye on the beauty. Frollo followed her and saw how she almost turned out to be the mistress of Captain Phoebus. As revenge, Frollo handed the gypsy woman to justice, accusing him of killing the captain, whom he himself had killed.

After being tortured, Esmeralda confessed that she had allegedly committed a crime and should have been hanged, but in last moment Quasimodo saved her. In the end, Esmeralda was executed anyway, Frollo was thrown from the cathedral, and Quasimodo died of hunger, hugging the corpse of his beloved.

"Les Miserables" also not a particularly funny novel, at least one of the main characters - Cosette - survives, despite the fact that she had to suffer almost all her life, like all the characters in the novel. This is a classic story of fanatical observance of the law, but almost no one can help those who really need help the most.

4) Spanish: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Jorge Luis Borges

Cervantes' main work is, of course, the famous novel "The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha"... He also wrote collections of stories, romantic romance "Galatea", novel "Persiles and Sikhismunda" and some other works.

Don Quixote is a rather hilarious character, even today, whose real name is Alonso Kehana. He read so much about warlike knights and their honest ladies that he began to consider himself a knight, traveling through the countryside and getting into all sorts of adventures, forcing everyone who meets him on the way to remember him for recklessness. He befriended an ordinary farmer, Sancho Panza, who is trying to bring Don Quixote back to reality.

It is known that Don Quixote tried to fight windmills, saved people who usually did not need his help, and was beaten many times. The second part of the book was published 10 years after the first and is the first work modern literature... The characters all know about the story of Don Quixote, which is told in the first part.

Now everyone he meets is trying to ridicule him and Panso, testing their faith in the chivalrous spirit. Ultimately, he returns to reality when he loses his fight with the Knight of the White Moon, goes home, falls ill and dies, leaving all the money to his niece, provided she doesn't marry a man who reads reckless tales of chivalry.

5) Dutch: Jost van den Vondel

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Peter Hooft, Jacob Kats

Vondel is the most prominent 17th century writer in Holland. He was a poet and playwright and represented the Golden Age of Dutch literature. His most famous play is "Geisbrecht of Amsterdam", historical drama, which was performed on New Year's Day at the city theater in Amsterdam from 1438 to 1968.

The play tells the story of Geisbrecht IV, who, according to the play, invaded Amsterdam in 1303 to restore the family's honor and return to the titled nobility. He founded a kind of baronial title in these places. Vondel's historical sources were incorrect. In fact, the invasion was carried out by Geisbrecht's son, Jan, who turned out to be a real hero, overthrowing the tyranny that reigned in Amsterdam. Today Geisbrecht is national hero due to this writer error.

Vondel also wrote another masterpiece - an epic poem called "John the Baptist"(1662) about the life of John. This piece is national epic The Netherlands. Vondel is also the author of the play "Lucifer"(1654), which explores the soul of a biblical character, as well as his character and motives in order to answer the question of why he did what he did. This play inspired Englishman John Milton to write 13 years later Paradise Lost.

6) Portuguese: Luis de Camões

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: José Maria Esa de Queiroz, Fernando António Nugeira Pesoa

Camões is considered greatest poet Portugal. His most famous work is "Lusiad"(1572). The Lusiads are the people who inhabited the Roman region of Lusitania, in the place of which modern Portugal is located. The name comes from the name Luza (Lusus), he was a friend of the god of wine Bacchus, he is considered the progenitor of the Portuguese people. "Lusiad"- an epic poem consisting of 10 songs.

The poem tells about all the famous Portuguese sea voyages for the discovery, conquest and colonization of new countries and cultures. She is somewhat similar to "Odyssey" Homer, Camões praises Homer and Virgil many times. The work begins with a description of Vasco da Gama's journey.

This is a historical poem that recreates many battles, the Revolution of 1383-85, the discovery of da Gama, trade with the city of Calcutta, India. The Louisiades were always watched over by the Greek gods, although da Gama, being a Catholic, prayed to his own God. At the end, the poem mentions Magellan and speaks of the glorious future of Portuguese navigation.

7) German: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Friedrich von Schiller, Arthur Schopenhauer, Heinrich Heine, Franz Kafka

Talking about German music, one cannot fail to mention Bach, in the same way German literature would not be so complete without Goethe. Many great writers have written about him or used his ideas to shape their style. Goethe wrote four novels, a great many poems and documentaries, scientific essays.

Undoubtedly, his most famous work is the book "The Suffering of Young Werther"(1774). Goethe founded the German Romantic movement. Beethoven's 5th symphony completely coincides in mood with Goethe's "Werther".

novel "The Suffering of Young Werther" talks about the dissatisfied romanticism of the protagonist, which leads to his suicide. The story is told in the form of letters and made the epistolary novel popular for at least the next century and a half.

However, the masterpiece of Goethe's pen is still a poem "Faust", which consists of 2 parts. The first part was published in 1808, the second - in 1832, the year of the writer's death. The legend of Faust existed long before Goethe, but Goethe's dramatic story remained famous history about this hero.

Faust is a scientist whose incredible knowledge and wisdom pleased God. God sends Mephistopheles or the Devil to check Faust. The story of the deal with the devil has often been raised in literature, but perhaps the most famous is the story of Goethe's Faust. Faust signs an agreement with the Devil, promising his soul in exchange for the fact that the Devil will do on Earth what Faust wants.

He becomes young again and falls in love with the girl Gretchen. Gretchen takes a potion from Faust, which should help her mother from insomnia, but the potion poisons her. This drives Gretchen insane as she drowns her newborn baby by signing her death warrant. Faust and Mephistopheles break into the prison to rescue her, but Gretchen refuses to go with them. Faust and Mephistopheles hide, and God will grant Gretchen forgiveness while she awaits execution.

The second part is incredibly difficult to read as the reader needs to be well versed in Greek mythology... This is a kind of continuation of the story that began in the first part. Faust, with the help of Mephistopheles, becomes incredibly strong and depraved until the very end of the story. He remembers the pleasure of being a good man and then dies. Mephistopheles comes for his soul, but the angels take it for themselves, they stand up for the soul of Faust, who is reborn and ascends to Heaven.

8) Russian: Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky

Today Pushkin is remembered as the father of primordial Russian literature, in contrast to that Russian literature, which had a clear tinge of Western influence. First of all, Pushkin was a poet, but he wrote in all genres. Drama is considered his masterpiece "Boris Godunov"(1831) and a poem "Eugene Onegin"(1825-32 years).

The first work is a play, the second is a novel in poetic form. "Onegin" written exclusively in sonnets, and Pushkin invented new form sonnet, which distinguishes his work from the sonnets of Petrarch, Shakespeare and Edmund Spencer.

The main character of the poem - Eugene Onegin - is the model on which all Russian literary heroes are based. Onegin is treated as a person who does not meet any norms accepted in society. He wanders, gambles, fights duels, is called a sociopath, though not cruel or evil. This person, rather, does not care about the values and rules that are accepted in society.

Many of Pushkin's poems formed the basis of ballets and operas. It is very difficult to translate them into any other language. for the most part because poetry simply cannot sound the same in another language. This is what distinguishes poetry from prose. Languages often do not match the capabilities of words. It is known that in the Inuit language of the Eskimos there are 45 different words for snow.

However, "Onegin" translated into many languages. Vladimir Nabokov translated the poem into English, but instead of one volume he got as many as 4. Nabokov retained all the definitions and descriptive details, but completely ignored the music of poetry.

All this is due to the fact that Pushkin had incredible unique style writing, which made it possible to touch on all aspects of the Russian language, even inventing new syntactic and grammatical forms and words, establishing many rules that are used by almost all Russian writers even today.

9) Italian: Dante Alighieri

Other great authors who wrote in the same language: no

Name Durante in Latin means "hardy" or "eternal"... It was Dante who helped to streamline the various Italian dialects of his time into modern Italian. The dialect of the region of Tuscany, where Dante was born in Florence, is the standard for all Italians thanks to "Divine Comedy" (1321), a masterpiece by Dante Alighieri and one of greatest works world literature of all times.

At the time this work was written, the Italian regions each had their own dialect, which were quite different from each other. Today, when you want to learn Italian as a foreign language, you will almost always start with the Florentine version of Tuscany because of its importance in literature.

Dante travels to Hell and Purgatory to learn about the punishments that sinners are serving. There are different penalties for different crimes. Those who are accused of lust are eternally driven by the wind, despite their weariness, because during their lifetime the wind of voluptuousness drove them away.

Those whom Dante considers heretics are guilty of splitting the church into several branches, among them also the prophet Muhammad. They are sentenced to split from neck to groin, and the punishment is carried out by the devil with a sword. In such a ripped state, they walk in a circle.

IN "Comedy" there are also descriptions of Paradise, which are also unforgettable. Dante uses Ptolemy's concept of paradise that Heaven consists of 9 concentric spheres, each of which brings the author and Beatrice, his beloved and guide, closer to God at the very top.

After meeting with various famous personalities from the Bible, Dante finds himself face to face with the Lord God, depicted in the form of three beautiful circles light merging into one, from which Jesus emerges, the embodiment of God on Earth.

Dante is also the author of other smaller poems and essays. One of the works - "On folk eloquence" talks about the importance Italian language as spoken. He also wrote a poem "New life" with passages in prose, in which he defends noble love. No other writer knew the language as flawlessly as Dante knew Italian.

10) English: William Shakespeare

Other great writers in the same language: John Milton, Samuel Beckett, Jeffrey Chaucer, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens

Voltaire called Shakespeare "this drunken fool", and his works "this huge dung heap"... Nevertheless, Shakespeare's influence on literature is undeniable and not only in English, but also in the literature of most other languages of the world. Today Shakespeare is one of the most translated writers, his complete works have been translated into 70 languages, and various plays and poems - into more than 200.

About 60 percent of all catch phrases, quotes and idioms of English language come from King James Bibles(English translation of the Bible), 30 percent from Shakespeare.

According to the rules of Shakespeare's time, tragedies at the end required the death of at least one main character, but in an ideal tragedy, everyone dies: "Hamlet" (1599-1602), "King Lear" (1660), "Othello" (1603), "Romeo and Juliet" (1597).

In contrast to the tragedy, there is a comedy, in which someone is sure to marry at the end, and in an ideal comedy all the heroes get married and get married: "Sleep in summer night" (1596), "Much ado about nothing" (1599), "Twelfth Night" (1601), "Windsor Ridiculous" (1602).

Shakespeare was adept at sharpening tensions between characters in a superb combination with plot. He was able, like no one else, to organically describe human nature. Shakespeare's real genius is the skepticism that permeates all of his works, sonnets, plays and poems. He praises the highest moral principles of humanity, as it should be, but these principles are always expressed in an ideal world.

On the eve of the World Writer's Day, the Levada Center wondered who in the minds of the people of Russia deserves to enter list of the most prominent Russian writers... The survey was conducted by 1600 residents Russian Federation over 18 years old. The results can be called predictable: a dozen leaders reflect the composition of the school curriculum in literature.

Human rights activist Solzhenitsyn (5%) joined her almost closely. Kuprin, Bunin and Nekrasov finished at the same time - each got 4% of the votes. And then new names began to appear among friends from textbooks, for example, Dontsova and Akunin took their place next to Griboyedov and Ostrovsky (3% each), and Ustinova, Ivanov, Marinina and Pelevin stood on the same level with Goncharov, Pasternak, Platonov and Chernyshevsky ( one%).

The top 10 most prominent writers of Russia are opened by the poet-misanthrope, full of contempt for the soulless light, the creator of demonic characters and the singer of Caucasian exoticism in the form of mountain rivers and young Circassians. However, even stylistic errors like “a lioness with a shaggy mane on a ridge” or “a familiar corpse” did not prevent him from climbing the Parnassus of Russian literature and taking tenth place in the rating with a score of 6%.

9. Bitter

In the USSR he was considered the ancestor Soviet literature and socialist realism, while ideological opponents denied Gorky his writing talent, intellectual scope, and accused him of cheap sentimentalism. Received 7% of the votes.

8. Turgenev

He dreamed of a career as a philosopher and even tried to get a master's degree, but he failed to become a scientist. But he became a writer. And a quite successful writer - his fees were among the highest in Russia. With this money (and income from the estate), Turgenev supported the entire family of his beloved Pauline Viardot, including her children and husband. In the poll, it scored 9%.

7. Bulgakov

Russia rediscovered this writer for itself only twenty-five years ago, after perestroika. Bulgakov was one of the first to face the horrors of communal apartments and obstacles on the way to a Moscow residence permit, which was later reflected in The Master and Margarita. His contribution to literature was appreciated by 11% of Russians.

6. Sholokhov

It is still unknown who exactly wrote "Quiet Don" - an unknown writer from the "white" camp, or a group of comrades from the NKVD, or Sholokhov himself, who later received for the novel Nobel Prize... In the meantime, he is ranked sixth on the list of outstanding writers with a score of 13%.

5. Gogol

They love him not for moralizing, but for the door to the world of grotesque and phantasmagorias, fancifully intertwined with real life. He scored the same number of points as Sholokhov.

4. Pushkin

In his youth he loved to play pranks (for example, to shock the inhabitants of Yekaterinoslav with an outfit of translucent muslin pantaloons without underwear), was proud of his thin waist and tried with all his might to get rid of the status of "writer". At the same time, already during his lifetime he was considered a genius, the first Russian poet and creator of the Russian literary language... In the minds of today's readers, it ranks fourth with a score of 15%.

3. Chekhov

author humorous stories and the ancestor in Russian literature of tragicomedy in the world is considered to be a kind of " business card»Russian drama. The Russians give him an honorable third place, giving him 18% of the vote.

2. Dostoevsky

Five books of a former convict and an inveterate gambler were included in the list of "One Hundred best books of all time "according to the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Dostoevsky knows more than anyone else and describes with utmost honesty the dark and painful depths human soul... In the ranking he took second place with a score of 23%.

1. Leo Tolstoy

"Inveterate man" earned the fame of a genius writer and classic of Russian literature during his lifetime. His works have been published and republished many times in Russia and abroad and have appeared on the movie screen many times. One "Anna Karenina" was filmed 32 times, "Resurrection" - 22 times, "War and Peace" - 11 times. Even his life itself has served as material for several films. Perhaps it is thanks to the recent high-profile film adaptations that he earned the fame of the first writer in Russia, receiving 45% of the votes.

It cannot be denied that the nature of the approaching or imminent changes in the life of human civilization was first felt by those who were ahead of their time - famous writers.

Writers - Connectors Between Future and Present

Among the infinite number of writers of each era are those authors who, in addition to all the recognized merits fiction, generously give humanity a new vision. It was they who, much more convincingly than scientists, formulated new concepts and ideas and, as a result, created the intellectual and emotional argumentation of the future. They managed to see his challenge in everyday life, to expose unsightly problems, to point to persistent conflicts, helping to understand the coming threats and give new hopes.

Great writers of world literature

This list is imperfect. It contains individual famous writers who can be safely called the greatest writers of all times and peoples.

Pleiad of geniuses of poetry and prose

The 19th century was so rich in talent that it managed to spawn an outstanding galaxy of prose and poetry geniuses. The most famous writers and N. M. Karamzin, A. S. Griboyedov, A. S. Pushkin, K. F. Ryleev, M. Yu. Lermontov, N. A. Nekrasov, N. V. Gogol, A. A. Fet, I. S. Turgenev, M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, G. Chernyshevsky, A. P. Chekhov, F. M. Dostoevsky.

Writers who made a significant impact on English literature

The famous have created a great many outstanding works, which have laid a powerful message, so they have retained their relevance today.

Thomas More, and translator. Author of many translations from the ancient Greek language and poems, as well as 280 Latin epigrams.
Jonathan Swift, a bold publicist and genius satirist, poet, is known to the general public as the creator of Gulliver's Travels.
founding father of romantic "sensual" literature in Great Britain. With his three whale novels, he undoubtedly formed a stable foundation for his imperishable world fame.
the founder of the English realistic novel, a prolific, deep playwright.
Walter Scott, comprehensively developed personality, warrior, writer, poet, expert in the field of advocacy and history, founder historical novel 19th century.

The writers who changed the world

After the horrors of World War II, it seemed to everyone that from now on the world would rest on all understandable, simple and reasonable principles. Social relationships, global politics relied on the modernization of progress and positive trends, faith in education, science. However, since the beginning of the 70s, the idealistic world began to inevitably collapse, and people learned a different reality. Famous writers and poets, defining the mindset of the new generation, have taken the brunt of the dramatic changes that have come.

The soul and mind of our time

Below is a list of those writers who have defined the soul and mind of our time.

Marquez (lawyer). Major works: "The General in His Labyrinth", "Nobody Writes to the Colonel", "One Hundred Years of Solitude", "Fallen Leaves" and many others.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn (teacher of physics and mathematics, famous Russian writer). Major works: " Cancer Corps”,“ The Red Wheel ”,“ In the First Circle ”and the more than provocative“ GULAG Archipelago ”. Famous writers often fell into disgrace with the ruling order.
Toni Morrison (editor). Major works: "Favorite", "Resin Scarecrow", "Jazz", "Love", "Paradise".
Salman Rushdie (philologist). Major works: "Shame", "Rage", "Children of Midnight", "Clown Shalimar", "Satanic Poems".
Milan Kundera (director). Major works: "Ignorance", "Immortality", "Slowness", "Funny Love" and others.
Orkhan Pamuk (architect). Major works: Istanbul, White Fortress, Other Colors, New Life, Snow, Black Book.
Michel Houellebecq (environmental engineer). Major works: "Platform", "Elementary Particles", "Possibility of the Island", "Lanzarote".
J.K. Rowling (translator). 7 Harry Potter novels.

Umberto Eco (philologist). Major works: "Baudolino", "Name of the Rose", "Island on the Eve", "Foucault's Pendulum".
Carlos Castaneda (anthropologist). Major works: "Gift of the Eagle", "The Power of Silence", "Special Reality", "Tales of Power", " Inner fire"," Wheel of time "," Second circle of power "and others. The category "famous writers" would be left out without mentioning this outstanding person.

Modern domestic literature rich in a variety of names. Many book resources compose their own ratings of the most read authors, best-selling books, top-selling books (RoyalLib.com, bookz.ru, liters. Ozon.ru, Labyrinth.ru, Chitay-gorod, LiveLib.ru). We present the "twenty" of the most popular contemporary writers in Russia, whose works can be found in the Centralized library system Volgodonsk.

Speaking about modern Russian literature, one cannot but recall the masters of writing novels.

Lyudmila Ulitskaya. Bright representative Russian literature post-soviet period... She began to write prose when she was already over forty. In her own words: "First I raised children, then I became a writer." The first collection of stories by the writer "Poor Relatives" was published in 1993 in France and was published in French. Ulitskaya's book "Medea and Her Children" made her one of the finalists for the 1997 Booker Prize and made her truly famous. Awards " Big Book"Were awarded: a collection of stories" The People of Our Tsar "," Daniel Stein, Translator ", which soon received the status of a bestseller. In 2011 Ulitskaya presented the novel "Green Tent", which tells about dissidents and the life of people of the generation of the "sixties". Autobiographical prose and her essays were included in the 2012 book Sacred Trash. Fans of the writer characterize her work exclusively as bold, subtle, intelligent.

Dina Rubina. Critics often refer to her as a "female writer," although her novel "On the Sunny Side of the Street" won the third Big Book Prize in 2007, when Ulitskaya's "Stein" went to the first. The 2004 novel "Syndicate", which describes the Moscow branch of the Israeli agency "Sokhnut" with a satirical intonation, quarreled it with many in Israel. But Russian readers are still big fans of her work. The story "When it will snow" has brought particular popularity to the author. The work went through several editions, was filmed, played on theatrical stages. The writer's books are distinguished by their colorful language, vivid characters, a rude sense of humor, adventurous plots and the ability to speak about difficult problems and things. From the latest works - the trilogy "Russian Canary". The plot, the character of the characters, the ruby language - it is impossible to tear yourself away from all this!

Aleksey Ivanov.High-quality Russian prose in the genre of realism. The words of one critic that "Alexei Ivanov's prose is the gold and foreign exchange reserves of Russian literature" are often reproduced on the covers of his books. Ivanov's heroes - be they mythical Voguls of the 15th century ("The Heart of Parma"), semi-mythical rafters of the 18th century ("The Gold of Riot") or mythologized modern Permians ("The Geographer Drank the Globe"), speak a special language and think in a special way. All works are very different, but they are united by subtle authorial humor, gradually turning into satire. The writer Alexei Ivanov is notable for the fact that while emphasizing his "provinciality", he nevertheless, in any novel, carefully monitors that the plot rushes according to all the laws of a Hollywood action movie. His last novel"Bad weather" was received ambiguously by the reading public. Some talk about the cardboardness and lifelessness of the heroes, the hackneyed criminal theme, others - with enthusiasm about the writer's ability to create a portrait of our contemporary - a person brought up during socialism, who received a solid Soviet education, and during the global breakdown of society, he was left alone with his conscience and questions. Isn't this a reason to read the novel and form your own opinion about it?

Oleg Roy.A prominent name among novelist writers. He lived outside Russia for a little over a decade. It was at this time that it began. creative career writer. The title of the debut novel "The Mirror" was presented to post-Soviet readers as "The Amalgam of Happiness". After this book, he became famous in book circles. O. Roy is the author of more than two dozen books of various genres for adults and children, as well as articles in popular print media... The writer's work will appeal to those who just love good prose. He writes in the genre of an urban novel - life stories, slightly seasoned with mysticism, which gives the author's work a special flavor.

Pavel Sanaev.The book "Bury Me Behind the Skirting Board" was highly appreciated by critics and readers - a story in which the theme of growing up seems to be turned upside down and takes on the features of surreal humor! A book in which the idea itself is parodied with homerically funny and sophisticated evil happy childhood... The sequel to the cult story was published only in 2010 under the title "The Chronicles of Broken Down".

Evgeny Grishkovets. He began as a playwright and performer of his plays, but then the dramatic scene seemed to him little. He added music lessons to this, and then moved into prose writing, releasing the novel "Shirt". It was followed by the second book - "Rivers". Both works, judging by the reviews, were warmly received by the readers. Short stories and collections of stories began to appear. Despite the fact that the author is working very seriously on each of his works and then proudly notes that his “position of the author” in this book is not at all similar to the “position of the author” in the previous one, it seems that Grishkovets, with his plays, performances, with prose and songs he has been writing the same text of his name all his life. And at the same time, each of his viewers / readers can say: "He wrote this directly about me." The best books of the author: "Asphalt", "A ... a", collections of stories "Plank" and "Footprints on me."

Zakhar Prilepin.His name is known the widest circle readers. Prilepin's childhood and youth were spent in the USSR, and growing up fell on the difficult 90s of the 20th century. Hence the frequent reviews of him as the “voice of generations”. Zakhar Prilepin was a participant in the 1996 and 1999 Chechen campaigns. His first novel, Pathology, which tells about the war in Chechnya, was written by the author in 2003. The best books of the writer are social romances"Sin" and "Sankya", in which he shows the life of modern youth. Most of the author's books were warmly received by the public and critics, "Sin" received rave reviews from fans and two awards: "National Bestseller" and "Loyal Sons of Russia". The writer's assets also include the Supernatsbest Award, which is awarded for the best prose of the decade, as well as the All-China Best foreign novel». New romance- "The Abode", about the life of the Solovetsky special purpose camp, has become a bestseller due to its historical and artistic content.

Oksana Robski.As a writer, she made her debut with the novel "Casual", which laid the foundation for the genre of "secular realism" in Russian literature. Books by Oksana Robski - "Day of Happiness - Tomorrow", "About LyubOFF / ON", "Oysters in the Rain", "Casual 2. Dance with the head and feet" and others have caused numerous and contradictory reviews from critics. According to some observers, the novels faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of Rublevka and testify to the spiritlessness and artificiality of the world of the so-called Rublev's wives. Other critics point to numerous inconsistencies and suggest that Robski's works have little to do with the realities of the daily life of the business elite. On the whole, the artistic merit of her works is not highly appreciated; At the same time, some critics emphasize that Robski, in fact, does not pretend to high artistic goals, but expounds events in an easy, dynamic and clear language.

Boris Akunin.Fiction writer. Akunin is a pseudonym, and not the only one. Publishes its works of art also under the names of Anna Borisova and Anatoly Brusnikin. And in life - Grigory Chkhartishvili. The author's fame was brought about by novels and stories from the series “ New detective"(" The Adventures of Erast Fandorin "). He also created the series "Provincial Detective" ("The Adventures of Sister Pelagia"), "The Adventures of a Master", "Genres". In each of his "offspring" a creative person amazingly combines literary text with cinematic visuals. Positive feedback from readers testifies to the popularity of all stories without exception.

Many readers prefer detective genres, adventure literature.

Alexandra Marinina. She is called by critics only as a queen, diva Russian detective... Her books are read in one breath. They are distinguished by realistic plots, which makes the reader wholeheartedly relive the events that occur with the heroes, empathize with them and think about important life questions... Some of the author's new works that have already become bestsellers: "Execution without malice", "Angels on Ice Don't Survive", "The Last Dawn".

Polina Dashkova.The writer became widely known after the publication of the detective novel "Blood of the Unborn" in 1997. In the period 2004-2005. the author's novels "A Place in the Sun", "Cherub" were filmed. The style of the writer is characterized by bright characters, an exciting plot, and a good style.

Elena Mikhalkova. Critics say she is a master of the "life" detective. The best books of the writer are detective stories, in which all the characters have their own story, which is interesting to the reader no less than the main storyline. The author takes plot ideas for his works from everyday life: a conversation with a supermarket seller, leaflet texts, a family conversation at breakfast, etc. The plots of her works are always thought out before the smallest details making each book very easy to read. Among the most popular books: "Whirlpool of other people's desires", "Cinderella and the dragon".

Anna and Sergey Litvinov. They write in the genres of adventure and detective literature... These authors know how to keep the reader in suspense. On their joint account there are more than 40 novels: "The Golden Maiden", "Heavenly Island", "The Sad Demon of Hollywood", "Destiny Has a Different Name" and many others. In their reviews, readers admit that the Litvinovs are masters of intrigue and an exciting plot. They harmoniously combine in their texts a mysterious crime, vivid characters and a love line.

One of the most popular literary genres among Russian readers is female love story.

Anna Berseneva. This is the literary pseudonym of Tatiana Sotnikova. She wrote her first novel, Confusion of Feelings, in 1995. Anna Berseneva is the only author who has managed to populate modern women's novels with outstanding male heroes. After all, it is precisely the absence of expressive male types, according to sociologists, that is the reason that the female novel is practically absent in the domestic book market. The cycle of A. Berseneva's novels about several generations of the Grinev family - "Unequal Marriage", "The Last Eve", "The Age of the Third Love", "The Small Pearl Catcher", "The First, Accidental, Only" - formed the basis of the multi-part television film"The Captain's Children".

Catherine Vilmont. Her books are loved by readers all over Russia. She wrote her first love story at the age of 49 ("The Journey of the Optimist, or All the Women are Fools"). Then I tried myself in the genre of a children's detective story. In his women's novels, Wilmont reveals inner world modern, mature, independent women, capable of managing circumstances, talking about their failures and victories, tragedies and joys, and about what worries every reader - about love. The novels of Catherine Vilmont are humor, cheerfulness and witty titles: "In Search of Treasures", "The Hormone of Happiness and Other Nonsense", "Incredible Luck", "With All the Fool!" , "An intellectual and two Rits"... It's ironic, light live prose, which is read in one breath and charges readers with optimism and self-confidence.

Maria Metlitskaya. Her works have appeared on the modern women's market. love literature relatively recently, but have already won the respect of fans. The first novel has been published since 2011. The best books of the writer are known for accuracy of details, life-affirming mood and light humor. Reviews of her fans indicate that these books helped them find a way out of difficult life situations. Today, the list of the writer's works includes more than 20 novels and short stories. Among her last works, it is worth highlighting the following: "Our Little Life", "The Mistake of Youth", "The Road to Two Streets", "Faithful Husband", "Her last Hero" and others.

In modern Russian science fiction there is a whole galaxy of talented writers, whose names and works deserve attention.

Sergey Lukyanenko. One of the most circulated authors among science fiction writers. The first circulation of his book "The Last Watch" was 200 thousand copies. Films based on his novels have become important factor increasing popularity. Blockbuster release " The night Watch"And" Day Watch "raised the circulation of books this author more than seven times.

Nick Perumov.He became widely known after his first publication in 1993 of the epic "Ring of Darkness", which is set in Middle-earth by John Ronald Ruel Tolkien. From novel to novel, Nick's style has become more individual and unique, and the original opinion of critics and him as a Tolkienist is in the past. The best books by Perumov and his series are included in the treasury of Russian science fiction literature: The Chronicles of Kjerward, Chronicles of the Rift, The Thieves of Souls, Black Blood and many others.

Andrey Rubanov.The fate was not easy: he had to work as a driver and bodyguard in the difficult 90s, to live in Chechen Republic in the midst of a military campaign. But it gave him the necessary life experience and helped to successfully start his career in literature. The most flattering reviews deserved the work, rightly included in the list of the best science fiction books: "Chlorophilia", "Plant and Grow", "Living Earth".

Max Fry.The author's genre is urban fantasy. Her books are for people who have not lost faith in a fairy tale. Stories about ordinary life and a light syllable capable of capturing any reader. An attractive contrast makes the image of the protagonist popular and extraordinary: the male external role and behavior and female motives of actions, the way of describing and evaluating what is happening. Among the popular works: "The Power of the Unfulfilled (collection)", "Volunteers of Eternity", "Obsessions", "Simple Magic Things", "The Dark Side", "Stranger".

These are by no means all the names of contemporary Russian literature. Peace domestic works diverse and exciting. Read, learn, discuss - keep up with the times!