Leonid Vasilevich Solovev

Born Aug. 6 (19), 1906, in Tripoli, Lebanon; died Apr. 9,1962, in Leningrad. Soviet Russian writer.

Solov’ev, first published in 1923 as a journalist, graduated from the screenwriting department of the State Institute of Cinematography in 1932. During the period 1941–45 he took part in the Great Patriotic War. Solov’ev’s literary works, closely tied to the folklore and everyday life of Middle Asia, include the novella The Nomads’ Camp (1932), the short stories of the 1930’s, and the autobiographical short-story cycle From the “Book of Youth” (1963). His major work is a two-part cycle about Haji Nasreddin (part 1, Disrupter of the Peace, 1940; part 2, The Enchanted Prince, 1954; printed in one volume in 1966), which has been published in many countries. Its folkloric protagonist, “in his mind, an incorrigible rascal but, at heart, a pure and righteous man,” is presented as an invincible lover of life and a champion of “good deeds.” The work combines poetic stylization with grotesque satire directed against falsehood and lawlessness. Solov’ev’s novella Ivan Nikulin, Russian Sailor (1943) is devoted to the battles of Sevastopol’. Solov’ev also wrote plays and filmscripts using themes from his works.

Solov’ev was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War First Class and various medals.