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Vladimir KorobovLiterary critic
Date of Birth: 19.01.1949
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Ранние годы
- Family History
- The stranger replied, 'Were you selling boots here five years ago?'
- A Changing Lifestyle
- Youth and Interests
- Early Literary Explorations
- Military Service and Education
- Early Literary Career
- Encounters and Influences
Ранние годы
Birth and ChildhoodVladimir Ivanovich Korobov was born on January 19, 1949, in the town of Sokol, Vologda Oblast, Russia. Sokol, a product of the Soviet era, originated from the merger of several villages centered around two pulp and paper mills. The wooden house where Vladimir was born stood in a village with the Finno-Ugric name Yonza.
Family History
Vladimir's ancestry included lace makers and shoemakers. One of his shoemaking ancestors was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship:
"Once, my great-grandfather went to a fair in Veliky Ustyug (a journey of nearly 40 kilometers from Yonza despite its bustling trade). When he arrived and set up his stall with his boots, a stranger approached him, exclaiming, 'Drive this man away, drive him away!'
My great-grandfather was frightened and confused, asking, 'Why should I be driven away?'
The stranger replied, 'Were you selling boots here five years ago?'
'Yes, I was.''I bought a pair of boots from you.'
'Well, what was wrong with the boots?'
'That's just the problem! I've been wearing them for five years without taking them off, and they still haven't worn out. How will I ever get a new pair if they last me forever?'"
A Changing Lifestyle
Like many families in the 20th century, the Korobovs' lifestyle underwent significant transformations. Vladimir's father, a military officer who served as commandant of Vienna for three days during World War II despite being only a 22-year-old lieutenant, relocated the family to Kazakhstan, first to Almaty and later to Karaganda.
Youth and Interests
Despite being an only child, Vladimir was largely left to his own devices. He pursued sports and tourism ("to travel and see the world") as a member of Karaganda's water polo team and ascended the ranks of the Komsomol in the Tian Shan mountains. He also had a passion for writing:
Early Literary Explorations
- A science fiction story that won a citywide school contest- Articles in student newspapers
- A travel diary
- Poetry
One of his poems, "Cinderella," set to music, is still sung in student circles in Karaganda today.
Military Service and Education
In 1969, Vladimir abandoned his studies at the Polytechnic Institute (where he had enrolled at his parents' behest) and enlisted in the army. Stationed in Moscow, he primarily wrote for the military construction newspaper "On the Construction Site," contributing essays, articles, and reports.
His military service proved pivotal both professionally and personally. In addition to his literary work, he gained admission to the Polygraphic Institute, majoring in "Editor of Mass Literature" (although he aspired to attend the Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism or the Literary Institute, which did not accept soldiers). He also married and had a daughter.
Early Literary Career
By 1974, Vladimir Korobov had become acting head of the criticism department of one of the leading journals of the time, "Our Contemporary." He later became head of the department and published in "Literary Russia" and "Literary Gazette."
