Mark Sergeev (1926–1997) (Russian: Марк Сергеев) was a Russian poet. Sergeev is known by his books ''Rail Tracks'', ''A Ballad About Poplars'', ''Carving'', ''Connection of Times'', and ''Evening Birds''. He has published about 20 poem collections. Sergeev's first book was a collection of poems for children. About 60 children's books of his were published.

Early life

He was born in the family of a builder, later the head of a comprehensive survey party to check the Padunsky narrowing on the

Angara River The Angara (; ) or Angar ( мүрэн) is a major river in Siberia, which traces a course through Russia's Irkutsk Oblast and Krasnoyarsk Krai. It drains out of Lake Baikal and is the headwater tributary of the Yenisey. It is long, and has a ...

. His parents were David Markovich Gantvarger and Rosalia Gantvarger. On the maternal side, he was the great-grandson of the classic of Jewish literature,

Mendele Mocher Sforim Mendele Mocher Sforim (, ; lit. "Mendele the book peddler"; January 2, 1836, Kapyl – December 8, 1917 .S. Odessa), born Sholem Yankev Abramovich (, ) or S. J. Abramowitch, was a Jewish author and one of the founders of modern Yiddish and Heb ...

. He fought in the

Great Patriotic War The Eastern Front, also known as the Great Patriotic War (term), Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and its successor states, and the German–Soviet War in modern Germany and Ukraine, was a Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II ...

as a

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

. Before graduation in June 1941, Sergeyev's entire class planted a poplar alley in front of the school. All the graduates vowed to return, but only five kept their vows – the rest died in the war. The poem "The Ballad of Poplars" is dedicated to these events. He graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of

Irkutsk University Irkutsk State University () was founded in October 1918 in Irkutsk, Siberia. Nowadays Irkutsk State University is a scientific and educational institution training students in humanities, natural, technical and applied sciences. ISU facilities ...

. In 1979, he joined the editorial boards of the book series ''Literary Monuments of Siberia''" and ''Polar Star'' of the East Siberian Book Publishing House (

Irkutsk Irkutsk ( ; rus, Иркутск, p=ɪrˈkutsk; Buryat language, Buryat and , ''Erhüü'', ) is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. With a population of 587,891 Irkutsk is the List of cities and towns in Russ ...

). In 1994, he initiated the creation of the All-Russian Festival "Days of Russian Spirituality and Culture" Radiance of Russia(

). He was buried in Irkutsk Radishchevsky cemetery.

Recognition

* Order of the Patriotic War II degree (1985). *

Order of the Badge of Honor The Order of the Badge of Honour () was a civilian award of the Soviet Union. It was established on 25 November 1935, and was conferred on citizens of the USSR for outstanding achievements in sports, production, scientific research and socia ...

. *

Order of Friendship of Peoples The Order of Friendship of Peoples () was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in s ...

. * Laureate of the Irkutsk Komsomol Prize.(1971) * Laureate of the Prize of the Culture and Art Development Fund under the Committee of Culture of the Irkutsk Region (1996)

Legacy

* The

Regional Children's Library bears his name. * The Irkutsk House of Writers bears his name. 1926 births 1997 deaths People from Yenakiieve Russian male poets Soviet military personnel of World War II Irkutsk State University alumni 20th-century Russian poets 20th-century Russian male writers Soviet magazine editors * On the house where Mark Sergeev lived, a memorial plaque was erected in memory of him. * In Irkutsk, the "Intellectual of the Province" award named after Mark Sergeev was established.

References

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