Tatiana Kuzovleva Poetess Country: Russia

Biography of Tatiana Kuzovleva

Tatiana Kuzovleva is a well-known Russian poet. She has had discussions about finance, poetry, and politics. She was fortunate to have a strong educational background, thanks to her father and her neighbor. Her father, despite being a technical person, had a deep knowledge of history, architecture, music, and painting. Her neighbor, whom she considers a second mother, also provided her with kindness and love during the first ten years of her life. Tatiana studied at the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute and later completed the Higher Literary Courses as a member of the Writers' Union. She did not have a good experience with the Literary Institute, as she failed an exam due to a trivial mistake. However, she never regretted not getting in.
First Publication

Tatiana's first poems were published in the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper in the early 1960s, thanks to the involvement of Evgeniya Samoilovna Laskina, the head of the literature department at that time. She vividly remembers the day her poems were published and the excitement she felt. The first living poet to have an impact on her life was Mikhail Arkadyevich Svetlov, and she dedicated one of her important poems, "Master," to him. She even has a photograph of herself next to Svetlov in the Literary Gazette from that time.
Support from Parents

Initially, Tatiana's parents wanted her to pursue an engineering degree. However, their attitude towards her choice changed after her publications and successful performances at major events. Tatiana's daughter, Olga Savelieva, followed in her mother's footsteps by writing poetry and translating young poets. Although she worked as a journalist for various publications, she eventually became an editor at "Koltso A." Tatiana's grandson, Artemiy, is focused on algebra, physics, and programming, and has recently discovered the works of Bulgakov and Ilf and Petrov.
Life as a Poet

Tatiana mentions that being a professional poet was never easy, even during Soviet times. It was impossible to make a living solely from poetry. Many poets had to take on additional jobs, such as paid performances, answering letters for various publications, and translations. Tatiana and her husband, Vladimir Saveliev, struggled to make ends meet in the early years of their marriage. However, their translations provided them with both financial freedom and lifelong friendships. Although there has been a decline in translation opportunities in recent years, there is a renewed interest in translating contemporary foreign poetry into Russian.
Favorite Poets

Tatiana admires several poets from older and contemporary generations. Among them are Leonid Martynov, Boris Slutsky, David Samoylov, Arseny Tarkovsky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Andrei Voznesensky, Bella Akhmadulina, Robert Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir Kornilov, Rima Kazakova, and Alexander Gorodnitsky. She also appreciates the songs of Bulat Okudzhava.
"Koltso A" Journal

Tatiana is the chief editor of the "Koltso A" journal. It was initially established as the literary organ of the Moscow Writers' Union. The journal aimed to provide a platform for talented writers who were struggling to break into mainstream literary magazines. Over the years, it has featured many renowned authors and has gained popularity among readers. Tatiana receives positive feedback from readers and has noticed an increase in manuscript submissions and requests from libraries to acquire more copies.
Views on Literature and Politics

Tatiana has a critical view of the "Moskovsky Literator" newspaper, which she considers to be chauvinistic. She disagrees with the publication of anti-Semitic poems and believes in promoting dialogue, understanding, and peace. She expresses her disappointment in the recent elections and the failure of liberal parties. Tatiana believes that the leaders of these parties have become disconnected from their constituents and neglected to engage in meaningful dialogue with them.
"Christians of Russia - in Support of Israel" Movement

Tatiana is involved in the "Christians of Russia - in Support of Israel" movement, which aims to express Christian love and support for the people of Israel. This movement originated from the International Christian Embassy, established by Protestant Christians who saw the restoration of Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Tatiana participated in a pilgrimage to Israel organized by the movement and hopes to collaborate with other organizations, such as the Moscow Union of Writers and the Roerich Museum, to promote dialogue and cultural exchange between Russia and Israel.
Antisemitism in Russia

Tatiana acknowledges that there is a possibility of a rise in antisemitism in Russia. She believes that antisemitism can emerge regardless of education, lifestyle, citizenship, religion, or political system. It often becomes a subject of speculation and is directed by certain groups. Tatiana emphasizes the importance of countering antisemitism through education and raising awareness about the contributions of Jewish people to various fields, including science, culture, and literature.