Oct 22, 2020
Ivan Bunin's 150th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the 150th birthday of Russian poet, novelist, and translator Ivan Bunin, who in 1933 became the first Russian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Widely acclaimed for his rare mastery of both prose and poetry, Bunin carried the tradition of classical Russian literature into the 20th century, establishing his legacy as one of the nation’s most revered stylists of his time.
Ivan Alekseyevich Bunin was born on this day in 1870 in the western Russian city of Voronezh. He grew up with a passion for painting—an early creative expression he later credited as an influence on his writing style. Bunin began to publish poetry and stories as a teenager, leading to the 1891 release of his first book, “Stikhotvoreniya: 1887–1891” (“Poetry: 1887–1891”).
In 1901, Bunin won the prestigious Academy of Sciences’ Pushkin Prize for his book of poetry titled “Listopad” (“Falling Leaves,” 1901). Around this time he began to turn his focus towards prose, establishing himself as one of Russia’s most popular writers. Known for his understated and musical writing style, Bunin went on to craft vivid portraits of Russia through works like “Derévnya” (“The Village,” 1910), the autobiographical novel “Zhizn Arsenyeva” (“The Life of Arseniev,” 1930), his diaries “Okayánnye Dni” (“Cursed Days: A Diary of Revolution,” 1936), and the book of short stories “Tyomnye allei” (“Dark Avenues,” 1943).
An opponent of the Russian Revolution, Bunin left the country in 1920, ultimately settling in France, where he continued to publish novels and poetry for the rest of his life.
Happy birthday, Ivan Bunin!
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