The memoirs of Ivan Tvardovsky
Здесь я пересказываю краткое содержание воспоминаний И.Т.Твардовского «Родина и чужбина», которые недавно прочёл. Иван Трифонович был не менее талантливым человеком, чем его знаменитый брат, поэт Александр Твардовский. Иван освоил несколько профессий - резчика по дереву и кости, столяра и модельщика литейного дела. В годы Второй мировой войны Иван оказался в плену в Финляндии, а затем работал лесорубом и резчиком в Швеции. После войны, вернувшись в СССР, он был арестован и провел больше пяти лет в Гулаге. На чужбине Иван выучил два иностранных языка (финский и шведский), а в конце жизни написал талантливые мемуары, где немало рассказал и о взаимоотношениях с братом Александром. Текст книги И.Т. Твардовского имеется в библиотеке Белоусенко.
I have read the memoirs of Ivan Tvardovsky Родина и чужбина (The Motherland and Foreign Lands). He was a brother of Alexandr Tvardovsky, a well-known Soviet poet.
During the Second World War Ivan was taken prisoner by Finns and lived in Finland. Afterwards he moved to Sweden and worked there as a woodcutter, then as a joiner and carver. He learned both Finnish and Swedish languages well enough for daily life, and he in his profession earned a good salary and respect.
After the war Ivan decided to return to the Soviet Union, where his wife lived, even though he knew that most probably he would be put to prison. And so this happened: he got a very hearty welcome at the Soviet embassy in Stockholm, but as soon as he reached the first Soviet town, Vyborg, he was arrested.
Ivan spent over five years in prisons and camps, mainly in Chukotka (in the Far East). Due to his precious skills, he was not put to hard labour as other prisoners, but worked as a professional, which probably saved his life. He made exquisite furniture (for camp officials), various items of wood and bone, but his main profession in the camp was pattern-making for a foundry.
In the last part of the book Ivan tells how he restored the native house of their family in Smolensk region, where also his brother Alexandr, the poet, lived as a child.
As for Alexandr, during Stalin’s reign he achieved a very high position in the Soviet hierarchy, but in order to advance, he renounced his parents and did very little to help his family, who were persecuted as kulaks (prosperous peasants). However, at the end of his life he did render some assistance.
I have read the memoirs of Ivan Tvardovsky Родина и чужбина (The Motherland and Foreign Lands). He was a brother of Alexandr Tvardovsky, a well-known Soviet poet.
During the Second World War Ivan was taken prisoner by Finns and lived in Finland. Afterwards he moved to Sweden and worked there as a woodcutter, then as a joiner and carver. He learned both Finnish and Swedish languages well enough for daily life, and he in his profession earned a good salary and respect.
After the war Ivan decided to return to the Soviet Union, where his wife lived, even though he knew that most probably he would be put to prison. And so this happened: he got a very hearty welcome at the Soviet embassy in Stockholm, but as soon as he reached the first Soviet town, Vyborg, he was arrested.
Ivan spent over five years in prisons and camps, mainly in Chukotka (in the Far East). Due to his precious skills, he was not put to hard labour as other prisoners, but worked as a professional, which probably saved his life. He made exquisite furniture (for camp officials), various items of wood and bone, but his main profession in the camp was pattern-making for a foundry.
In the last part of the book Ivan tells how he restored the native house of their family in Smolensk region, where also his brother Alexandr, the poet, lived as a child.
As for Alexandr, during Stalin’s reign he achieved a very high position in the Soviet hierarchy, but in order to advance, he renounced his parents and did very little to help his family, who were persecuted as kulaks (prosperous peasants). However, at the end of his life he did render some assistance.