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Nadejda NadejdinaWriter
Country:
 Russia |
Biography of Nadezhda Nadezhina
Nadezhda Nadezhina, a talented, intelligent, and beautiful writer, was born in the 20th century, which was not a suitable time for someone as sensitive and intellectual as her. Three years ago, as I was preparing to move to America, I came across a book called "The Full Basket" by a children's writer, my old friend Nadezhda Nadezhina. I was curious about what she had written, but couldn't find any inscriptions. I remembered that Nadezhda had called me into her office after the release of the book in 1947 and had written something amusing. However, the page following the cover had been torn out, most likely when Nadezhda was arrested. I felt ashamed for tearing out the inscription myself, even though it happened soon after my father's arrest. I looked at the empty space where the inscription used to be and cursed myself for living in such a terrible time.
Nadezhda Nadezhina was arrested in 1950, which was the second blow of fate for her. Her life had begun happily and peacefully. She was born in 1905 into a family of a teacher at the Mogilev Gymnasium, Augustin Ivanovich Adolph, who was of Latvian descent. In her family, there was love, friendship, and mutual support. From a young age, the children were encouraged to read literature and poetry. They also had a great interest in sciences, especially botany and zoology. Nadezhda Nadezhina remembered that she used to talk to trees in her childhood, considering them her best friends and confiding in them her secrets. She began writing poetry at a young age and went on to study at the Higher Literary and Art Institute named after V.Ya. Bryusov, and later transferred to the Literature Faculty of Moscow State University. At the institute, she fell in love with the poet Nikolai Dementiev and married him. Although Dementiev is now only known by poetry enthusiasts, he was widely recognized in the 1920s and 1930s, and his poems were recited at poetry evenings. Nadezhda Nadezhina's life took a tragic turn in late 1935 when Nikolai jumped off a balcony and died. The cause of his suicide remains a mystery, with various rumors circulating about his illness or persecution by the NKVD. Nadezhda Nadezhina found solace in her work, but it was a difficult time for literature. As an honest and sincere person, she struggled to conform and speak the language of Aesop. She found a niche where she could escape censorship and write without compromising herself - she began writing books for children about nature, plants, and animals. She had a deep knowledge of biology and was friends with many biologists. Her books were loved by readers for their kindness, intelligence, and clear language.
When the war broke out, Nadezhda Nadezhina joined the editorial team of "Pioneer Pravda," where she worked throughout the war and post-war years. I joined "Pioneer Pravda" in 1945 and that's when we met. Despite the age difference, we became friends. In 1947, her book "The Full Basket" was published by Detgiz, which was the beginning of my story.
In 1950, she was arrested with the standard accusations of being a "Trotskyist," an "anti-Stalinist," and an "enemy of the people." She was sentenced to 10 years and sent to the Potma labor camp. She returned to Moscow in 1956 after serving "only" six years.
Nadezhda Nadezhina did not like to talk about her years in the camp and rarely shared any details, not even with her close niece, Lera. However, some details of her life in captivity have reached us through her poems. In the camp, where she had no means to write down her thoughts, she turned to poetry again. She repeated and repeated the following lines: "Placing my hand on my heart, under the dome of the sky, I swear that my poems will contain no lies, only the truth, nothing more." Her camp poems spoke of the horror of existence behind barbed wire, but even in the hellish conditions, she found lines about love, happiness, and loyalty.
After her release, Nadezhda Nadezhina returned to her work. Times were still difficult for literature, but she wrote diligently. Her books for children were published eagerly by children's magazines and publishing houses. Although she didn't flood them with her manuscripts, her books were well-received by readers for their bright and clear language. In 1956, her first book, "The Full Basket," was reissued, and she gave me a copy with a short inscription.
In 1960, her book "The Seaworld Navigator Sets Sail" was published. It was an interactive book where children could travel through seas and oceans, learning about the underwater kingdom, exotic fish, and marine creatures. Alongside her work for children, she also wrote for adults.
Once, before her arrest, Nadezhda Nadezhina invited friends to her home and read two of her "adult" stories. They contained harsh and honest truths about life, skillfully and without embellishments. Many years have passed, but I can't forget the overwhelming feeling of despair that those stories evoked in me (later I felt a similar feeling when reading Petrushevskaya).
At that time, it was impossible to think about publishing such stories. Unfortunately, Nadezhda Nadezhina's "adult" stories never saw the light of day. Most likely, they were confiscated during a search and disappeared without a trace.
Another book given to me by Nadezhda Nadezhina was "Partisan Lara," a novella about a Leningrad schoolgirl named Lara Mikheenko, an intelligence agent executed by the Nazis. Nadezhda Nadezhina brought lyricism and warmth to this well-worn theme. The inscription in the book says, "To dear Luba Rebel'skaya-Kuznetsova, remembering how we worked together in the post-war years and with gratitude for your help. November 22, 1985. N. Nadezhina."
I cannot recall everyone who attended the housewarming party. The Grachevskys came with their whole family: Yuri, his wife Lena Krichevskaya, an English translator, and even their brown spaniel, Peggy. However, Nadezhda Nadezhina did not dare invite the main advocate, Ilyin, as they were not personally acquainted and he held a high position.
I would like to digress here and say a few words about Victor Nikolayevich Ilyin. He was an extraordinary and controversial person. In addition to his position as the organizational secretary of the Moscow branch of the Writers' Union, he held a high-ranking position in the security apparatus. He helped not only Nadezhda Nadezhina but also many other writers in solving everyday issues. They were sincerely grateful to him. Testimonials about Victor Ilyin can be found in the memories of writers who knew him.
For example, Vladimir Voinovich writes in "Ivan Chiada" (a novel about Soviet life): "Victor Nikolayevich Ilyin, the secretary of the Moscow branch of the Writers' Union for organizational matters, Lieutenant General of State Security, Merited Worker of Culture of the RSFSR. He participated in the Civil War. His service in the security apparatus was marked by orders, honorary weapons, and ten years of imprisonment (according to him, he refused to testify against his friend). He has long-standing merits in the field of culture… They say he behaved decently in the camp. After his release, he worked on a construction site for some time before returning to work with writers. He willingly fulfills domestic requests. If you need to install a telephone, arrange for a relative to be admitted to the hospital, enroll in a garage cooperative, or secure a burial place, go to him. He will make the necessary calls, write a letter (he understands these matters)… When he promises something, he fulfills it, and when he does fulfill it, he is clearly pleased and accepts expressions of gratitude willingly…"
The description given by Voinovich about Ilyin only scratches the surface. However, it reveals his professionalism and dedication to his investigative duties. He thought, invented, and acted diligently. He genuinely looked satisfied when he succeeded in fulfilling his promises and accepted expressions of gratitude willingly.
Nadezhda Nadezhina's own apartment, where she could be alone for as long as she wanted, was a true happiness for her. She marveled at the fact that she had her own separate apartment, not just any apartment, but a fairy tale! Here, she could spend a whole day working peacefully and quietly. She could choose not to work at all, lie on the couch with a book, make phone calls whenever she pleased, spend as much time as she wanted in the bathtub, and invite anyone she wanted. It didn't matter that she would soon turn 70. She would live here for the rest of her life! After the barrack in the camp and the drunken communal apartment, it was truly happiness. This feeling of lasting happiness, which envelops you every morning when you wake up, is something that we, former Soviet people who managed to get a separate apartment, understand without words.
Nadezhda Nadezhina had many acquaintances and friends who knew how difficult her life was. The editorial team of "Pioneer Pravda" did their best to help her, but without success. She had enough square meters, but other arguments were not taken into account. She had no money for a cooperative apartment. She struggled in her communal apartment.
And then, unexpectedly and swiftly, events unfolded. My husband's friend, Yuri Grachevsky, a theater critic and playwright, became a member of the housing commission. Yuri himself had served a prison sentence (he blabbed something as a 19-year-old boy) and sympathized with Nadezhda Nadezhina's hardships. He taught her how to write an application, what documents to gather, and where to submit them. In other words, he took personal control of her case. Nadezhda Nadezhina's candidacy was approved, and she was included on the list to receive a one-room apartment. On the last day of distribution of housing orders, Nadezhda called in tears saying that her application had been rejected. Through back channels, we found out that her space had been given to a young woman, a secretary to one of the board members.
The following events unfolded swiftly and unexpectedly. My husband contacted Grachevsky, who immediately rushed to the Central House of Writers, where the Moscow Writers' Union was located. It was the end of the working day, and Grachevsky caught Ilyin, the organizational secretary of the Writers' Union, at the door and explained Nadezhina's situation. He thought Ilyin would ask them to come back the next day, but instead, he went back to his office, undressed, and made a phone call. Unable to achieve anything, he said, "Let's go!" A car was waiting at the entrance and in a matter of minutes, they arrived at the Moscow City Hall. There, they went straight to the reception of the powerful chairman, Promyslov, and Ilyin disappeared behind his office door. He came out a while later, smiling and said, "Tell Nadezhina to go early in the morning to get the order; otherwise, her apartment will be taken away again..."
The next day, Nadezhda Nadezhina received the cherished housing order.
Among Nadezhda Nadezhina's camp poems, there is one titled "Happiness."
…Why talk so long?
The dog licks its wounds in a deep ravine.
But I'm already so tired that I can't laugh or cry.
I'm already so tired that I feel, like a dog,
That happiness is an overgrown ravine.
A ravine where I can be alone for at least a minute.
And now, she had her own apartment, where she could be alone for as long as her soul desired. She walked through the empty apartment and couldn't believe her happiness - a separate apartment, not just an apartment, but a fairytale! She could spend a whole day sitting and working peacefully. She could do whatever she wanted in complete silence. She could call anyone, take long baths, and invite anyone she pleased. And it didn't matter that she would soon turn 70. She would live here! After the barrack, after the drunken communal apartment - this was true happiness. Moreover, we, former Soviet people who managed to get a separate apartment, understand this feeling of happiness that never fades and embraces you every morning when you wake up, without words…
I cannot recall everyone who attended the housewarming party. The Grachevskys came with their whole family: Yuri, his wife Lena Krichevskaya, an English translator, and even their brown spaniel, Peggy. However, Nadezhda Nadezhina did not dare invite the main advocate, Ilyin, as they were not personally acquainted, and he held a high position.
I would like to digress here and say a few words about Victor Nikolayevich Ilyin. He was an extraordinary and controversial person. In addition to his position as the organizational secretary of the Moscow branch of the Writers' Union, he held a high-ranking position in the security apparatus. He helped not only Nadezhda Nadezhina but also many other writers in solving everyday issues. They were sincerely grateful to him. Testimonials about Victor Ilyin can be found in the memories of writers who knew him.
For example, Vladimir Voinovich writes in "Ivan Chiada" (a novel about Soviet life): "Victor Nikolayevich Ilyin, the secretary of the Moscow branch of the Writers' Union for organizational matters, Lieutenant General of State Security, Merited Worker of Culture of the RSFSR. He participated in the Civil War. His service in the security apparatus was marked by orders, honorary weapons, and ten years of imprisonment (according to him, he refused to testify against his friend). He has long-standing merits in the field of culture… They say he behaved decently in the camp. After his release, he worked on a construction site for some time before returning to work with writers. He willingly fulfills domestic requests. If you need to install a telephone, arrange for a relative to be admitted to the hospital, enroll in a garage cooperative, or secure a burial place, go to him. He will make the necessary calls, write a letter (he understands these matters)… When he promises something, he fulfills it, and when he does fulfill it, he is clearly pleased and accepts expressions of gratitude willingly…"
The description given by Voinovich about Ilyin only scratches the surface. However, it reveals his professionalism and dedication to his investigative duties. He thought, invented, and acted diligently. He genuinely looked satisfied when he succeeded in fulfilling his promises and accepted expressions of gratitude willingly.
Nadezhda Nadezhina's own apartment, where she could be alone for as long as she wanted, was a true happiness for her. She marveled at the fact that she had her own separate apartment, not just any apartment, but a fairy tale! Here, she could spend a whole day working peacefully and quietly. She could choose not to work at all, lie on the couch with a book, make phone calls whenever she pleased, spend as much time as she wanted in the bathtub, and invite anyone she wanted. It didn't matter that she would soon turn 70. She would live here for the rest of her life! After the barrack in the camp and the drunken communal apartment, it was truly happiness. This feeling of lasting happiness, which envelops you every morning when you wake up, is something that we, former Soviet people who managed to get a separate apartment, understand without words.
Nadezhda Nadezhina had many acquaintances and friends who knew how difficult her life was. The editorial team of "Pioneer Pravda" did their best to help her, but without success. She had enough square meters, but other arguments were not taken into account. She had no money for a cooperative apartment. She struggled in her communal apartment.
And then, unexpectedly and swiftly, events unfolded. My husband's friend, Yuri Grachevsky, a theater critic and playwright, became a member of the housing commission. Yuri himself had served a prison sentence (he blabbed something as a 19-year-old boy) and sympathized with Nadezhda Nadezhina's hardships. He taught her how to write an application, what documents to gather, and where to submit them. In other words, he took personal control of her case. Nadezhda Nadezhina's candidacy was approved, and she was included on the list to receive a one-room apartment. On the last day of distribution of housing orders, Nadezhda called in tears saying that her application had been rejected. Through back channels, we found out that her space had been given to a young woman, a secretary to one of the board members.
The following events unfolded swiftly and unexpectedly. My husband contacted Grachevsky, who immediately rushed to the Central House of Writers, where the Moscow Writers' Union was located. It was the end of the working day, and Grachevsky caught Ilyin, the organizational secretary of the Writers' Union, at the door and explained Nadezhina's situation. He thought Ilyin would ask them to come back the next day, but instead, he went back to his office, undressed, and made a phone call. Unable to achieve anything, he said, "Let's go!" A car was waiting at the entrance and in a matter of minutes, they arrived at the Moscow City Hall. There, they went straight to the reception of the powerful chairman, Promyslov, and Ilyin disappeared behind his office door. He came out a while later, smiling and said, "Tell Nadezhina to go early in the morning to get the order; otherwise, her apartment will be taken away again..."
The next day, Nadezhda Nadezhina received the cherished housing order.
Among Nadezhda Nadezhina's camp poems, there is one titled "Happiness."
…Why talk so long?
The dog licks its wounds in a deep ravine.
But I'm already so tired that I can't laugh or cry.
I'm already so tired that I feel, like a dog,
That happiness is an overgrown ravine.
A ravine where I can be alone for at least a minute.
Now, she had her own apartment, where she could be alone for as long as her soul desired. She walked through the empty apartment and couldn't believe her happiness - a separate apartment, not just an apartment, but a fairytale! She could spend a whole day sitting and working peacefully. She could do whatever she wanted in complete silence. She could call anyone, take long baths, and invite anyone she pleased. And it didn't matter that she would soon turn 70. She would live here! After the barrack, after the drunken communal apartment - this was true happiness. Moreover, we, former Soviet people who managed to get a separate apartment, understand this feeling of happiness that never fades and embraces you every morning when you wake up, without words…
