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Dmitriy KovalevRussian Soviet lyric poet, translator
Date of Birth: 17.06.1915
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Content:
- Early Life and Influences
- Education and Wartime Service
- Literary Career
- Writing Style and Legacy
- Personal Life and Death
Early Life and Influences
Dmitry Kovalyov was born in the village of Vetka, Belarus, on October 1, 1920. He was the eldest child of a blacksmith and grew up in a humble and large family, with three sisters and four brothers. Despite the hardships of their circumstances, Kovalyov developed a deep passion for poetry, inspired by the works of Sergei Yesenin.
Education and Wartime Service
After completing three years of formal education, Kovalyov began working to support his family. He was drawn to the written word and enrolled in the Workers' Faculty at age nineteen. Later, he attended the Leningrad University Philology Department and taught in rural areas.
In 1940, Kovalyov was drafted into the Soviet Navy and served throughout World War II. He was initially a rifleman in the Marines but later became a submariner and worked in naval publications. It was during this time that he emerged as a poet, penning some of his most poignant works, such as "Losses" and "But I Thought."
Literary Career
After the war, Kovalyov graduated from the Higher Literary Courses in Moscow. He was soon invited to lead the Russian Prose and Poetry Department at the Molodya Gvardia publishing house. In the 1960s and 1970s, he taught at the Literary Institute and led poetry readings across the Soviet Union.
Despite his success in Moscow, Kovalyov maintained a deep connection to his hometown. He frequently visited Vetka and supported local aspiring writers. He joined the Communist Party in 1944 and remained steadfast in his belief in the Russian tradition of poetry.
Writing Style and Legacy
Dmitry Kovalyov's poetry is characterized by its lyricism, evocative imagery, and heartfelt reflections on life's transient nature. He believed in the power of poetry to reveal truth and connect people with the natural world. His works encompass themes of war, time, love, and the human condition.
Kovalyov's critical essays and translations from Belarusian, including works by Yakub Bryl and Ivan Melezh, further contributed to his literary legacy. He left behind an unfinished autobiography that provides valuable insights into his life and times.
Personal Life and Death
Dmitry Kovalyov married and had a daughter. He lived in Moscow until his death on February 2, 1987. He is buried at the Vagankovo Cemetery, close to the grave of his inspiration, Sergei Yesenin. His legacy continues to be honored in Vetka, where a street is named after him, and in his wife's hometown of Lgov, Russia, where a literary museum contains an exhibition dedicated to his work.