Viktor Ivanovich Avdeev (1923–1955) was a Nizhny Novgorod poet and war veteran, a member of the Union of Soviet Writers, Sormovo (disambiguation). He went through The Great Patriotic War from Moscow to Berlin, and after demobilization received a literary education and managed to publish his first book of verse, but died at the age of 31, not living to see wide recognition.[1][3]

Biography and wartime path

Avdeev was born in Sormovo in 1923. He studied at School No. 67, developed a passion for reading on the advice of his Russian-language teacher, and joined the literary circle at the Pioneers' Palace. The circle's members published the collection "The Word of Gorky's Grandchildren", in which Avdeev also made his debut — with the poems "Gorky Children's Railroad" and "A Sailor's Tale."[1]

In 1941, at eighteen, he went to the front. Over four years of war he rose to the rank of guards captain, and was awarded three orders — including the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class — and six medals.[3]

Literary career

After the war Avdeev enrolled at the Gorky Literary Institute in Moscow — in 1950, straight into the third year (having transferred from another humanities institute) — and graduated in 1954.[3] In 1951 a large selection of his poems appeared in the collection "On What Is Most Dear."[1][3] In 1953 the Volgo-Vyatka Book Publishing House issued the poet's first standalone book — "Volga Dawns".[1]

On January 21, 1955, Avdeev died suddenly. In 1959 his posthumous collection "A Drop of Honey" was published.[1][3] The poems "My Coming of Age" and "Victory" were published in the literary magazine "Nizhny Novgorod" (1997, No. 5).[3]

Memory

In April 2017, the Leninsky Komsomol Library (28A Vasiliya Ivanova Street) hosted a literary and musical program titled "The Most Sormovo of Poets: Viktor Avdeev." The "Second Wind" choir introduced listeners to the poet's work; librarians presented a book exhibition devoted to his life and poetry.[1] Avdeev is included in the virtual exhibition of the Nizhny Novgorod State Regional Universal Scientific Library), "Writers of Gorky — Participants of the Great Patriotic War."[3]

Sources

  1. Vremya N — Nizhny Novgorod residents to be introduced to the work of front-line poet Viktor Avdeev (archive)
  2. ngounb.ru — WRITERS OF GORKY (NIZHNY NOVGOROD) — PARTICIPANTS OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR AND THEIR WORKS ABOUT THE WAR — Nizhny Novgorod State Regional… (archive)
  3. checko.ru — LLC "BUSINESS PROBLEMS RESEARCH" — Labazy — INN 5603034418 — Director Avdeev V. I.