Boris Kornilov Russian poet Date of Birth: 29.07.1907

1. Early Life and Literary Beginnings
2. Ascent to Literary Fame
3. Controversies and Tragedy
4. Mass Appeal and Popularity
5. Decline and Downfall

Early Life and Literary Beginnings

Russian poet Nikolay Kornilov was born on July 16, 1905, in the village of Pokrovskoye in the Nizhny Novgorod region to a family of teachers. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the village of Dyakov before his family relocated to the city of Semyonov in 1922.

As a youth, Kornilov developed a passion for writing poetry, which his family encouraged. He joined the Young Pioneers and later became an activist in the Komsomol, contributing articles to the local newspaper and working with the "Blue Blouse" youth theater. His poems caught the attention of the Nizhny Novgorod newspaper, marking a turning point in his life.

Ascent to Literary Fame

In 1925, Kornilov petitioned the Komsomol to support his entry into a journalism institute or literary school. He was subsequently sent to Leningrad, where he joined a literary group led by Vasily Sayanov. Kornilov's "provincial verses" impressed Sayanov and other members, and his career began to take off. His poems were published in numerous youth publications, and he soon emerged as a leading figure in the "Smena" literary group.

Controversies and Tragedy

In 1931, Kornilov published his first official poetry collection, "Youth." However, he later disavowed this work, considering his 1932 collection, "All My Friends," as his true debut. Despite his literary success, Kornilov's career was marked by controversy. In 1932, he was accused of "fierce kulak propaganda" for writing about the liquidation of the kulak class. His reputation was restored with the publication of his poem "Tripolye" (1933), dedicated to the memory of Komsomol members killed in a kulak uprising.

Mass Appeal and Popularity

Kornilov's popularity soared after the release of his 1932 poem, "Song of the Encounter," one of his most famous works. He became a master of mass songs, writing tunes like "Song of the Revolutionary Cossacks," "October," "Internationale," and "Song of the Young Communist Red Navy Men." At the 1934 Writers' Congress, he was hailed as a promising figure in Soviet poetry.

Decline and Downfall

In the mid-1930s, Kornilov's work began to show signs of crisis. His efforts to keep up with the changing times proved unsuccessful, and he struggled with alcoholism and other personal issues. In 1936, he was expelled from the Writers' Union.

In the wake of Sergey Kirov's assassination in Leningrad, a campaign was launched to purge "hostile elements." In 1937, Kornilov was arrested and executed on November 21, 1938. He was posthumously rehabilitated.