Talented writer, screenwriter and playwright, war journalist and poet. The popularity of Valentin Kataev in the Soviet years was incredible. Already becoming a famous author, Kataev admitted: from his boyhood, he believed that he would become a writer. For his dream to come true, it took years of creative effort.
From the biography of Valentin Kataev
Valentin Petrovich Kataev was born in 1897 in Odessa. He left the most ordinary family. The father of the future writer, Pyotr Vasilyevich, was closely associated with Orthodoxy - he taught at the diocesan school. Behind the father was not only a theological seminary, but also the historical and philological faculty of Novorossiysk University.
Mom Valentin Petrovich came from a general's family. Kataev was brought up in a very cultured family, where love and mutual respect reigned. Love for parents was reflected in the writer's work: subsequently, the main character of his story “The sail turns white” Kataev gave his father's name and mother's surname.
Mom Valentina did not live up to the maturity of her children: in her youth she died of pneumonia. Concerns about the upbringing of two children fell on the shoulders of the mother's sister.
The father did his best to develop his sons' interest in reading. The family had an impressive library. Kataev had at his disposal books of various genres.
Kataev's younger brother, Eugene, was a gifted boy. Subsequently, he was actively engaged in literary activities under the pseudonym Petrov. He is known to readers as a co-author of two immortal works: The Golden Calf and The Twelve Chairs.
Mentors Valentin Kataev in the field of literature became I.A. Bunin and A.M. Fedorov, with whom he managed to get acquainted even before the start of the imperialist war. Soon, the circle of acquaintances of the writer expanded: it included Eduard Bagritsky and Yuri Olesha.
During the First World War, Kataev served as an ensign, in 1917 he was seriously injured on the Romanian front and even received gas poisoning. For his service, Kataev was awarded the St. George Cross and the Order of St. Anne. Moreover, Kataev was granted the title of nobility. True, he could not pass it by inheritance.
The writer was married twice. His first wife died of pneumonia. The second wife of Kataev was Esther Brenner. In this marriage, in 1936, the daughter of Kataev was born - Eugene, and two years later - son Pavel.
Valentin Kataev and his work
From his youth, Valentin Kataev was fascinated by classical literature.
Kataev created his first poem, Autumn, in 1910. It was published by Odessa Messenger. The interest shown by readers to his poem fueled Kataev’s desire for creativity. In two years, he wrote another two and a half dozen wonderful poems.
In 1912, Valentine tried himself in a different genre: humorous stories began to come out from under his pen. At the same time, voluminous books appeared: Awakening and The Dark Person.
Kataev was engaged in creativity even during the war years. His essays and stories tell of the hardships of army everyday life. Military fate in 1918 brought Kataev to the ranks of the troops of the hetman Skoropadsky. After that, the writer managed to serve the Volunteer Army. He had a chance to fight against Petliurites. In 1920, the writer nearly fell into the grave of typhoid. He could recover only thanks to the cares of his relatives.
