Alexei Novikov-Priboi’s Followers (1)

Alexei Novikov-Priboi

Born

in Tambov Oblast, Russian Federation

March 12, 1877

Died

April 29, 1944

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Aleksey Silych Novikov-Priboi (Алексей Силыч Новиков-Прибой), 12 March 1877 – 29 April 1944, was the pen-name of A. S. Novikov, an ethnic Russian writer in the Soviet Union, noted for his stories with a nautical theme.

Novikov-Priboi was the second son of a peasant family from Tambov Oblast. His mother, of Polish descent, had hoped that he would enter the church as a monk, but he was attracted to the thought of adventure by hearing stories from travelling sailors, and volunteered for the Imperial Russian Navy instead. He served as a seaman with the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1899-1906. He became involved with revolutionary activities from an early age and after publishing an article in a Kronstadt newspaper in 1903, was arrested from spreadin Aleksey Silych Novikov-Priboi (Алексей Силыч Новиков-Прибой), 12 March 1877 – 29 April 1944, was the pen-name of A. S. Novikov, an ethnic Russian writer in the Soviet Union, noted for his stories with a nautical theme.

Novikov-Priboi was the second son of a peasant family from Tambov Oblast. His mother, of Polish descent, had hoped that he would enter the church as a monk, but he was attracted to the thought of adventure by hearing stories from travelling sailors, and volunteered for the Imperial Russian Navy instead. He served as a seaman with the Russian Baltic Fleet from 1899-1906. He became involved with revolutionary activities from an early age and after publishing an article in a Kronstadt newspaper in 1903, was arrested from spreading "subversive propaganda". However, due to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, he was soon released, and with his records marked "unreliable" was transferred to the 2nd Pacific Squadon’s battleship Orel, on which he participated at the climatic Battle of Tsushima.

Taken as a prisoner-of-war by the Japanese, while in prison camp he began gathering stories from fellow survivors. After the war, he returned to his home town and began writing, and his first works describing the war in highly critical terms were published in 1906. However, he soon fell afoul with the tsarist authorities who banned his works, and Novikov-Priboi was forced to go into hiding. He fled to Finland in 1907, and between 1907-1913 lived in England, visiting France, Spain, North Africa and Capri, where he befriended the exiled Maxim Gorky, who provided him with advice on his writing. Novikov-Priboi supported himself working part time as a blacksmith, accountant, and as a merchant sailor. He returned to Russia in 1913 under a false passport.

During World War I, from 1915–1918, Novikov-Priboi worked on hospital trains, and afterwards settling at Barnaul, where he lived to 1920 in a commune with fellow writers and artists. His first collection of short stories, Sea Stories, was published in 1917 after some difficulties with the publishers. Novikov-Priboi’s early works were influenced by Gorky and are part of the mainstream of Russian realistic literature. These include classic "seafaring" works, including (the novella The Call of the Sea (1919) and the novels The Submariners (1923) and The Salty Font (1929).

From 1920, Novikov-Priboi began work on a historical epic Tsushima, and was able to access government achieves. The first part of the book was published in 1932, and the 2nd part was awarded the Stalin Prize, (2nd degree). The novel describes the heroism of Russian sailors and certain officers the increasing of revolutionary activity, and what he considered criminal negligence of the Imperial Russian Naval command.

After the start of World War II, Novikov-Priboi continued to publish works about the navy. He died in 1944 in Moscow, with his final novel Captain First Class, unfinished. His grave is at the Novodevichy Cemetery. Novikov-Priboi was honored by commemorative postage stamps issued in 1952 and 1977, and numerous streets in the former Soviet Union were named after him. His honors include Order of Red Banner of Labor and Medal for the Defence of Moscow.

In 1969, his daughter opened a private museum in his honor, at his former dacha at Cherkizovo, near Pushkino, Moscow Oblast.

English Translations

The Captain, Hutchinson International, 1946.
The Sea Beckons, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1965.
Tsushima, Hyperion Press, 1978. ...more

Combine Editions
Alexei Novikov-Priboi’s books

Average rating: 4.22 · 107 ratings · 14 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	Цусима by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Алексей Новиков-Прибой 4.24 avg rating — 99 ratings — published 1937 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Цусима: том II by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Алексей Новиков-Прибой, В. Сафронов (Illustrator) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Цусима: том I by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Алексей Новиков-Прибой, В. Сафронов (Illustrator) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Captain by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Алексей Новиков-Прибой it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2003 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Žena na moru by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Nikola Nikolajević (Translator) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Разкази за боцманмата by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Кузман Савов (Translator), Росен Тренков (Translator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Капитан 1-го ранга by Alexei Novikov-Priboi, Алексей Новиков-Прибой 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Sea Beckons; Short Novels and Stories 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars