When a large country experiences great upheavals, every adequate person and society as a whole needs moral beacons. Famous people to look up to. The behavior of which can be imitated. Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov lived a bright and, at the same time, modest life. He walked through the minefield of his fate, remaining a man with a capital letter.
Diligent student
When it becomes necessary to talk about the fate of a famous person, you have to choose only bright moments and fundamental circumstances. The mere enumeration of the posts, ranks and awards of Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov occupies a whole page of typewritten text. The famous poet, author of witty fables and public figure a native Muscovite. The child was born on March 13, 1913 in the family of a civil servant and a housewife. The elder Seryozha and two younger brothers, together with his mother, lived at the dacha in the Moscow Region for almost the entire year.
Since the nearest school was far away, a governess was studying with the boys at home. A very strict teacher, originally from Germany, conscientiously practiced her bread. When the family moved to Moscow, Sergei was immediately assigned to the 4th grade. It is interesting to note that from early childhood the boy stuttered. This flaw was the reason for ridicule and evil jokes that classmates did not skimp on. Thanks to his observation skills and developed intellect, Mikhalkov managed to establish good relations with others, without using physical strength.
The biography notes that Sergey wrote down the first poetic sketches when he was not yet ten years old. The father, who was a famous person in Moscow society, showed the poetry of his son to the poet Alexander Bezimensky. The expert, as it is customary to put it today, gave a positive assessment. When Mikhalkov was 14 years old, the family moved to Pyatigorsk. Here, in the magazine "On the rise", his poem "Road" was first published. For him, this event remained in his memory forever.
After graduating from school, Sergey decided to return to the capital and engage in creative work on a professional basis. The reality turned out to be much tougher than it was seen from Pyatigorsk. To live on the literary earnings of the young poet was not realistic. At that time, Mikhalkov personally experienced how the working class and the working peasantry live. Random part-time jobs did not allow starvation, and talented poems that were written regularly appeared more often in newspapers and magazines.
"Uncle Styopa"
Noting significant dates in the biography of Sergei Mikhalkov, we must pay attention to 1933. The young poet is hired by the Izvestia newspaper. And it doesn’t matter that his last name is not in the staff list. He with great pleasure and willingness performs all editorial tasks. Constant communication with different people broadens the horizons, and "throws up" topical issues. And, most importantly, he regularly writes poems that are readily published on the pages of various newspapers and magazines.
Critics puzzle over the reasons for the popularity of his works. There is no secret here. Poetic lines easily fit into the language. As in a frank conversation with a loved one. Even venerable writers are surprised at the performance of Sergei Mikhalkov. In 1935, he agrees to participate in a competition for the best song for a pioneer squad. To imbue the spirit of the younger generation, the future classic spent the whole summer working as a counselor in a pioneer camp. What is called, got accustomed to the topic.
Unfortunately, they could not write a fervent song, but another idea was born. Sergei has already written several poems about a character named Uncle Styopa. After discussing this project in the editorial office of the journal "Pioneer", the author decided to create a larger work. For many generations of Soviet children, the charming, strong and kind Uncle Styopa became an example to follow. The Soviet Union really cared about the younger generation. I don’t know of another such country where such works are created for children.
I must say that Sergei Mikhalkov in the process of working on "Uncle Styopa" regularly communicated with Samuel Yakovlevich Marshak. This communication benefited the young, but venerable poet. A year later, Mikhalkov writes and publishes the poem Svetlana in his native newspaper Izvestia. In simple and understandable words, the author spoke about how the country lives on the example of a little girl. By decision of the competent authorities, he was awarded the Order of Lenin.
