Marshak (English spelling) Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak

Russian poet and playwright. One of the founders of Soviet children's literature. Born on November 3rd to a family of chemical engineers working at a soap factory in Voronezh. He showed talent for poetry from an early age, and in 1902, at the age of 15, he was recognized by literary critic Vladimir Vasil'evich Stasov (1824-1906), who loved him like a son and made him acquainted with top artists in St. Petersburg, such as Repin, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Chaliapin. Later, he was invited by Gorky to study at a middle school in Yalta. His childhood is described in detail in his autobiography, The Beginning of Life (1960). From 1912 to 1914, he studied in England. During World War I, he worked in a children's shelter, and after the October Revolution (1917), he devoted himself to children's literature, creating new Soviet children's literature with Gorky, Chukovsky, and others, and nurturing young writers.

His poetry, with its unpretentious, beautiful words and refined style, is warm, intelligent and persuasive. He wrote many poems, including "Children in a Cage" (1923), "Post" (1925) and "Mr. Twister" (1933). His children's play "The Forest is Alive" (originally titled "December", 1943) is a masterpiece of Soviet children's theatre, and his other works include "Magic Goods for Sale" (1964). He was also highly regarded as a translator of works by Shakespeare, Byron, Keats, Blake and Heine. He was awarded the Soviet State Prize four times, and the Lenin Prize in 1963. He died on July 4, 1964.

[Risako Uchida]

"The Beginning of Life" translated by Shiro Murayama and Shizuko Kitahata (1968, Rironsha)" ▽ "Quiet Stories" translated by Risako Uchida (1963, Fukuinkan Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ロシアの詩人、劇作家。ソビエト児童文学の創始者の一人。11月3日、ボロネジ市のせっけん工場勤めの化学技術者の家庭に生まれる。年少のころから詩作に才能を示し、1902年15歳のとき、文芸評論家スターソフVladimir Vasil'evich Stasov（1824―1906）に認められ、息子のように愛され、レーピン、リムスキー・コルサコフ、シャリアピンなどペテルブルグの一流の芸術家の知遇を得た。のちゴーリキーに招かれてヤルタの中学に学ぶ。その少年期については自伝『人生のはじめ』（1960）に詳しい。12～14年イギリスに留学。第一次世界大戦中は、避難児童施設に働き、十月革命（1917）後、児童文学に全力を傾けて取り組み、ゴーリキー、チュコフスキーらと新しいソビエトの児童文学をつくり、若い作家を育成した。

　その詩は、けれんみのない美しいことばと、磨きぬかれた文体をもち、暖かくしかも知的で、説得力に富む。詩は『おりの中のこどもたち』（1923）、『郵便』（1925）、『ミスター・トウィスター』（1933）など多数。また児童劇『森は生きている』（原題『十二月(じゅうにつき)』1943）はソビエト児童劇の代表作で、ほかに『魔法の品売ります』（1964）などがある。また一方、シェークスピア、バイロン、キーツ、ブレイク、ハイネらの翻訳者としても高い評価を受けている。4回ソ連邦国家賞を受け、1963年レーニン賞も受賞。64年7月4日没。

［内田莉莎子］

『村山士郎・北畑静子訳『人生のはじめ』（1968・理論社）』▽『内田莉莎子訳『しずかなおはなし』（1963・福音館書店）』

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