Klavdia Lukashevich: the life and work of a children's writer

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Among Russian writers, Claudia Vladimirovna Lukashevich gained a lot of fame. Her stories radiate love and warmth for children. They are not only interesting, but also filled with wise meaning, the desire to awaken diligence and humanity in children's hearts.

The beginning of the creative path

Klavdia Lukashevich was born on December 11, 1859 in St. Petersburg in the family of a poor landowner. From childhood, she loved creativity. She wrote poems, poems, was fond of drawing. The girl spent her childhood at the Mariinsky Women's Gymnasium, where she enthusiastically studied not only painting, but also music. Creative activities gave her great pleasure.

The biography of Klavdiya Lukashevich says that from the age of 12, the girl earned money on her own, engaged in correspondence and gave lessons. In 1881, the newspaper "Children's Reading" published a poem by Klavochka en titled "In Memory of Alexander II." Under the work, instead of the author's name, there was a modest signature: "Gymnasium student".

As a teenager, Lukashevich sent her letters several timescreations in the newspaper "Family Evenings". A little later, she was engaged in the release of the handwritten magazine Zvezda.

Active activity

In 1885 Claudia marries Konstantin Frantsevich Khmyznikov. Her husband was appointed inspector of the Girls' Institute of Eastern Siberia, and following him, the woman moved to Irkutsk.

Clavdia continues to teach and does not leave creativity. In those years, the writer's life was filled with the world of literature and creative work. Claudia Vladimirovna:

• is a teacher of Russian in elementary grades;
• compiles anthologies and textbooks;
• composes alphabets;
• writes biographies of famous people;
• compiles collections of children's activities, games and entertainment;
• designs manuals for matinees, musical evenings and festive events.

Lukashevich gave birth to four children, but this does not prevent her from doing what she loves. A woman skillfully combines raising children, housework and writing. Many children's stories and novels appear from under her pen. In 1889, the work "Makar" was awarded the St. Petersburg Frebel Society. This was not the last award in the work of the writer. The stories of Claudia Lukashevich enjoyed success and people's love.

A new twist

In 1890, a terrible grief comes into the writer's life: her dear husband and beloved daughter of 10 years old die.

Experiencing the loss, Klavdia Lukashevich returns to St. Petersburg. Trying to feed her family and settle down in life, she temporarily assigns three children to the juvenile department of the Nikolaev Orphan's Institute, and she herself enters the service of the board of the South-Eastern Railway.

Klavdia Lukashevich continues to write children's books and cooperates with almost all publishing houses. Her books are a great success and children's love. At the beginning of the 20th century, the circulation of her works exceeded one million.

Klavdia Lukashevich's books are imbued with love for children. Through her stories and novels, she tries to form in young readers the concept of humanity, diligence, kindness and attention to the world around her. Some skeptics expressed themselves impartially about the work of Claudia Vladimirovna, reproaching her for "excessive virtue." The writer answered such speeches firmly and with dignity:

If sentimentality is what I spared the child's imagination from cruel, heavy pictures, then I did it consciously. I portrayed the truth of life, but for the most part I took what was good, clean, and bright; it has a reassuring, reassuring, reconciling effect on young readers.

The stories and books of Claudia Lukashevich consisted of her own memories and experiences. With simple and soft words, she tried to convey to the children the essence of life values. The writer sent many works for children from the countryside.

Children's books

Among famous worksKlavdiya Lukashevich, the following are of particular attention and popularity:

• "Voice of the Heart";
• "Evil";
• "Brother and sister";
• "My sweet childhood";
• "Master and Servant";
• "Poor relative";
• "Barefoot Team";
• "In cramped quarters, but not offended";
• "Two sisters";
• "Uncle Flutist";
• "From the village";
• "Correspondence of three friends";
• "Orphan's share";
• "Rag-picker";
• "A pink flower that falls asleep at night".

This is a small part of what Klavdia Lukashevich wrote in her life.

Human kindness and mercy prompted Claudia Vladimirovna to devote herself to serving people during the First World War. At her own expense, she maintains a hospital for the wounded, a shelter for children whose parents went to the front. During the war, one of her sons is killed…

Unfortunately, in 1923, by order of higher authorities, the writer's works were withdrawn from libraries. The reasons are "sentimentality, didacticism, stereotyped situations, sketchy characters." The writer refused to rewrite stories according to the "new template of modern times".

The last years of his life, Klavdiya Lukashevich lives with rather meager means. Her son, Khmyznikov Pavel Konstantinovich, becomes a doctor of geographical sciences.

Creativity of Claudia Lukashevich has not faded so far. Her books are very loved by children, full of light, kindness and warmth.