The novel «Children of the Arbat» is Anatoly Rybakov’s reflection on the fate of his generation. He began writing it in the mid-fifties and first announced it in 58th year in Literaturka, answering the question of the New Year’s questionnaire “What is the writer working on”. And he repeated from year to year in other newspapers: «I continue to write Children of the Arbat, the action takes place in the thirties.»
“… From the very first steps I had to show that I do not hide what kind of novel I am writing. In the spring of 65, I had the first part of Children of the Arbat ready, and I took it to the New World. They signed a contract with me, paid an advance and announced a novel for the 67th year. But nothing came of it. “I read the manuscript in one day,” Tvardovsky told me, when I came to the editorial office some time later, “it’s impossible to tear yourself away from it… You have found your golden treasure. This treasure is your own life … “.
© A. Rybakov (heirs)
© & ℗ SP Vorobiev V.A.
© & ℗ ID SOYUZ
…