Mikhail Sholokhov
Russian novelist and Nobel laureate known for Cossack epics.
Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov was a Russian novelist and winner of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is known for writing about the life and fate of Don Cossacks during the Russian Revolution, the civil war, and the period of collectivization, primarily in his most famous novel, *And Quiet Flows the Don*.
- born
- 24 May [O.S. 11 May] 1905
- died
- 21 February 1984
- field
- Literature
- nationality
- Russian
- known_for
- Writing about Don Cossacks; author of *And Quiet Flows the Don*
Lore & Background
Sholokhov was born in the Kruzhilin hamlet, part of stanitsa Vyoshenskaya, in the land of the Cossacks. His father was a Russian of the lower middle class, and his mother came from Ukrainian peasant stock. His family were considered inogorodnye ('outlanders') by the Don Cossacks. He attended schools in several towns until 1918, when at age 13 he joined the Bolshevik side in the Russian Civil War. He began writing at 17 and completed his first literary work, the short story 'The Birthmark', at 19. After moving to Moscow in 1922, he worked as a stevedore, stonemason, and accountant while participating in writers' seminars. In 1924 he returned to Veshenskaya and devoted himself entirely to writing, marrying Maria Petrovna Gromoslavskaia that same year.
Reader's Guide
Sholokhov's significance lies in his epic portrayal of the Don Cossacks during a transformative period in Russian history. His novel *And Quiet Flows the Don*, which took fourteen years to complete, earned him the 1941 State Stalin Prize and later the 1965 Nobel Prize in Literature. His work *Virgin Soil Upturned* reflected life during collectivization and was heralded as a powerful example of socialist realism, influencing socialist literature in China. Sholokhov's authorship of *And Quiet Flows the Don* was disputed from 1928 onward, with allegations of plagiarism resurfacing in the 1960s. However, manuscript discoveries in 1987 and subsequent analysis by the Russian Academy of Science in 1999 concluded that Sholokhov was the true author. His political activity included correspondence with Joseph Stalin about conditions in the kolkhozes, and he interceded on behalf of arrested colleagues. His legacy remains tied to both his literary achievements and the controversies surrounding his work.
Did You Know?
- Sholokhov's mother did not become literate until later in life, when she wanted to correspond with her son.
- His first published work was a satirical article titled *The Test* on 19 October 1923.
- The manuscript of *And Quiet Flows the Don* was held by the widow of his friend Vassily Kudashov before being obtained by the Institute of World Literature in 1999.
- Sholokhov's mother was killed when Veshenskaya was bombed in 1942.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mikhail Sholokhov?
He was a Russian novelist (1905–1984) best remembered for his sweeping portrayals of Don Cossack life. His literary career earned him the 1965 Nobel Prize in Literature.
What is Mikhail Sholokhov's most famous novel?
His signature work is *And Quiet Flows the Don*, a multi-volume epic that tracks a Cossack family through the Russian Revolution, the civil war, and the era of collectivization. It remains his most widely read and celebrated book.
What subject matter does Sholokhov focus on in his writing?
His novels center on the lives, conflicts, and fates of Don Cossacks across several turbulent decades of the early twentieth century. He explored how revolution, war, and Soviet collectivization upended their community and identity.
What major literary award did Sholokhov receive?
In 1965 he was granted the Nobel Prize in Literature for his vivid and powerful depiction of Cossack life during a critical period of Russian history. The award solidified his reputation as one of the foremost novelists of the Soviet era.
Why is Sholokhov considered important in Russian literature?
He gave a deeply human, insider's literary voice to the Cossack communities of the Don region during one of Russia's most chaotic periods. His work shaped how generations of readers understand the social upheavals of the 1910s through the 1930s.
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