Andrei Platonov

Date of Birth: August 28, 1899

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: January 5, 1951

Biography

Andrei Platonov, born Andrei Platonovich Klimentov, was a renowned Soviet Russian writer, playwright, and poet. He was born on August 28, 1899, in the village of Yamskaya Sloboda, near Voronezh, Russia. Platonov is most remembered for his profound and often bleak portrayals of the human condition in the Soviet Union, exploring themes of utopia, dystopia, and the struggles of the working class. Platonov’s early life was marked by hardship. He was the eldest of eleven children in a working-class family. His father was a metalworker, and his mother was a homemaker. Despite his family’s financial difficulties, Platonov received a good education and showed an early talent for writing. During the Russian Civil War, Platonov worked as a land reclamation engineer and later as an editor for several regional newspapers. His early works were influenced by his experiences and the revolutionary zeal of the time. However, as he grew more disillusioned with the Soviet system, his writings took on a more critical tone. Platonov’s most famous works include “The Foundation Pit,” “Chevengur,” and “Soul.” These works were often censored or unpublished during his lifetime due to their critical portrayal of Soviet society. Despite this, Platonov continued to write, producing a body of work that has been celebrated posthumously for its depth, innovation, and humanity. Platonov died on January 5, 1951, in Moscow, Russia, from tuberculosis, a disease exacerbated by the hardships he endured during World War II, including the loss of his son in the war.

5 Interesting Facts about Andrei Platonov

1. Platonov’s son, Platon, died from tuberculosis, which he contracted in a labor camp during Stalin’s Great Purge.

2. Platonov was initially an enthusiastic supporter of the Bolshevik Revolution but became increasingly critical of the Soviet regime.

3. His novel “The Foundation Pit” was not published in his lifetime due to its critical portrayal of the Soviet system.

4. Platonov worked as a land reclamation engineer, which influenced many of his works depicting the struggles of the working class.

5. Despite his critical stance, Platonov was a member of the Communist Party and believed in the ideals of communism, though he criticized its implementation.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Andrei Platonov

1. “The world is a beautiful place, but it is not easy to see its beauty.”

2. “A man is given the world to live in, but he is also given a mind to understand it.”

3. “Life is painful, but it is also full of joy, and one must learn to see both.”

4. “The soul is a battlefield where the war between good and evil is fought.”

5. “To live is to struggle, and to struggle is to live.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a Soviet writer, Platonov did not accumulate substantial personal wealth, and his works were often censored. His highest net worth would have been modest, in line with a typical Soviet intellectual of his time.