Nikolay Zadornov Writer, Honored Cultural Worker of the Latvian SSR Date of Birth: 05.12.1909 Country: Latvia

Biography of Nikolay Zadornov

Nikolay Pavlovich Zadornov was a renowned writer and a prominent figure in Latvian culture. He was born on December 5, 1909, in Penza, Russia. Zadornov studied at a local school in Penza and began publishing his works in the newspaper "Rabochaya Penza".

During his youth, Zadornov spent time in Chita, where his father was stationed for work. He received his education there and later worked as an actor in theaters in Siberia and the Ural region from 1926 to 1935. During this time, he also started publishing his writings, initially in Bashkir newspapers. He then returned to the Far East and actively participated in the All-Union Komsomol Construction of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, for which he was awarded the honorary builder of the city.

The Far East became the primary setting for Zadornov's works, particularly his two historical novel cycles about the Russian people's colonization of the Far East in the 19th century. His first cycle included four novels: "Distant Land" (books 1-2, 1946-1949), "First Discovery" (initially titled "To the Ocean", 1969), "Captain Nevelskoy" (books 1-2, 1956-1958), and "War for the Ocean" (books 1-2, 1960-1962). His second cycle focused on the peasants' resettlement and colonization of the Far East and included the novels "Amur, Father" (books 1-2, 1941-1946) and "Gold Rush" (1969). He also published other works, such as the novel "Tsunami" (1971) about Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin's expedition to Japan in 1854-55, and the book of travel essays "Blue Hour" (1968).

Zadornov's works have been translated into many languages, including French, Japanese, Czech, Romanian, and Bulgarian. He was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1952 for his novels "Amur, Father", "Distant Land", and "To the Ocean". He also received three orders and various medals for his contributions to literature.

In his later years, Zadornov worked on unfinished works such as the cycles "Great Voyages" and "Mistress of the Seas". Unfortunately, his life was cut short during the dissolution of the USSR. He passed away on September 18, 1992. A memorial plaque is dedicated to him in Penza, on the house where he lived (45 Revolution Street).

Source: "Penzenskaya Encyclopedia" / Chief Editor K.D. Vishnevsky. - Penza: Ministry of Culture of the Penza Region, Moscow: Great Russian Encyclopedia.