Ivan Fyodorovich Kovalyov (1885–1965). The date of birth in the Old Style is 31 March (12 April) 1885; information on the date of death only indicates that he was still alive after 1966.[4] — a self-taught storyteller from Voskresensky District of Nizhny Novgorod Region, one of the most significant folk tale-tellers of the Soviet period. Member of the USSR Writers' Union since 1938, recipient of the Order of the Badge of Honour.[1]

Biography

Born in the village of Shadrino (now Voskresensky District of Nizhny Novgorod Region). According to the Nizhny Novgorod State Regional Children's Library, Kovalyov was born in the selo of Shadrino in Semyonovsky Uyezd of Nizhny Novgorod Governorate into a peasant family.[2] He received only a three-grade rural education. In his youth he worked as a peddler, then served in the tsarist army and took part in the First World War. He was captured and taken to Germany, and was only able to return to his homeland in 1920. During the 1930s he worked as a stableman on a kolkhoz, served as a kolkhoz brigade leader, and managed the Shadrino izba-chitalnya (village reading room). Throughout all of this, he continued without fail to compose and tell folk tales.[1]

Storytelling Work

Kovalyov's repertoire was dominated by magical and adventure tales featuring a poor hero who attains wealth and happiness through wit and resourcefulness. His tales were distinguished by multiple plotlines, complex composition, and psychological depth. Kovalyov's tales are also notable for their meticulous elaboration of detail — alongside their psychological depth, this is one of the hallmarks of his style noted by Nizhny Novgorod researchers.[2] Among his finest tales are "About Emelya the Fool," "Two Merchants," "The Mosquito and the Fly Had a Quarrel," and "Mikola Duplensky." Some tales deal with Soviet subjects: in 1937, for example, the tale "The Ice Hill," about the Chelyuskin expedition survivors, was published in the anthology Creativity of the Peoples of the USSR. In total, folklorists recorded approximately one hundred tales from him. The first individual tales by Kovalyov were set down by folklorists in 1931; his full repertoire was recorded between 1937 and 1939.[4][1]

Kovalyov's first collection of fairy tales was published in Gorky in 1940. In 1941, the State Literary Museum published a large volume of his tales, edited by Academician Yu. I. Sokolov, with an introductory article and scholarly commentary by E. Hofmann and S. Mints. The third book was published in Gorky in 1953.[1]

Public Activities and Recognition

In 1938, Kovalyov was admitted to the Union of Writers of the USSR. During the years of the Great Patriotic War he traveled to the front and performed for soldiers at combat positions. For his contributions to literature he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour and the Medal for Valiant Labour.[1]

Sources

  1. hrono.ru — Kovalyov's first individual tales were recorded by folklorists in 1931; his complete repertoire was documented in 1937–1939.
  1. ngounb.ru — Literary Map of Nizhny Novgorod Region
  2. нгодб.рф — Kovalev Ivan Fyodorovich (31.03 [12.04].1885 — after 1966) — Nizhny Novgorod State Regional Children's Library named after T. A. Mavrina (GBUK NO… — According to information from Nizhny Novgorod…
  3. checko.ru — LLC SK "EVEREST" — Chelyabinsk — INN 7449095748 — General Director Kovalev I. F.