Arkadiy Gaydar

Arkady Petrovich Gaidar (his real surname was Golikov) was born on January 9 (22), 1904, in the town of Lgov, Kursk Governorate. His father was a teacher. During the First World War, when his father was taken to the front, Arkady tried to follow him, but was caught and brought back home.

During the Civil War, from the age of 14 he served in the Red Army. At 15 he commanded a platoon, and at 16 a company; in October 1920 he was sent to Moscow to attend command courses. He then studied at the “Vystrel” courses (Higher Officer Courses) and in February 1921 graduated from them ahead of schedule. In March 1921, not yet 18, he took command of the 23rd Reserve Rifle Regiment. In 1924 he left the army because of a concussion and began writing books. His first work, R.V.S., was published in 1925. From that time on he became known as a children’s writer who extolled military camaraderie, friendship, and honesty.

His best-known works are School, Timur and His Squad, Chuk and Gek, The Destiny of a Drummer, and Military Secret. Many of his books entered the school literature curriculum, were adapted for film, and were translated into foreign languages.

The novella Timur and His Squad became iconic and gave rise to the so-called “Timur movement,” whose aim was to help elderly people and veterans. Arkady Gaidar died on October 26, 1941, and was buried in the city of Kanev. Schools and libraries, streets in cities and towns, are named after Gaidar. Arkady’s son, Timur Gaidar, became a rear admiral, and his grandson, Yegor Gaidar, became the youngest prime minister in Russia’s history.