One of the most talented writers occupies an important place in Russian children's literature of the twentieth century. Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein is a playwright and author of numerous books and stories for children.
Biography
A young family of doctor and public figure Yakov Iekhilevich Vygodsky and the daughter of theatrical doctor Elena Semenovna Vygotsky (nee Yadlovkin) lived in the city of Vilno of the Russian Empire. There, on August 11, 1884, their daughter was born - Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein. The biography of this girl will subsequently be filled with adversity, illness and grief. She will have to survive the death of her father, son and husband.
The girl graduated from the Bestuzhev Higher Women's Courses in St. Petersburg.
Sasha was attracted by revolutionary activity. Already while studying at the institute, she joined the organization that provided assistance to exiles and prisoners. And also taught ordinary workers to read and write.
Visited France and Zurich, where all the revolutionaries gathered. And after the revolution of 1917, Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein, along with other revolutionaries, began to build a new society. She opened more than a hundred schools and circles to eliminate illiteracy. At the same time preparing a repertoire for the children's theater.
Alexandra Yakovlevna suffered from a hearing aid disease. Over the years, her deafness intensified. About her life, the writer will later write an autobiographical book, "The Road Goes Into the Distance." She died on September 20, 1968 in Moscow.
A family
Alexandra's father was a defender of the Jews, an ascetic physician, sought to help the patient, regardless of his nationality and social status. Yakov Efimovich worked in the city hospital during the day, and helped the poor in the evenings. Tired so much that his hands were shaking.
Alexandra had a younger brother - Semyon Yakovlevich Vygotsky, who later became a hydraulic engineer, author of various monographs.
Sasha and her younger brother Semyon were brought up looking at his father. They, like Yakov Efimovich, sought to selflessly help people.
At the age of 17, the future Soviet writer married doctor-physiologist Sergei Brushtein, who was ten years older than her.
Soon, in 1904, they had a daughter, Nadezhda Sergeevna Nadezhdina. She became a choreographer and created the folk dance ensemble "Birch". Three years later, the son of Mikhail Sergeyevich Brushtein was born - a mechanical engineer, and later the chief engineer of the Red October factory. He owns a number of inventions in the confectionery.
In the family of Alexandra, everything went well. Her works were published, her husband soon headed the Institute of Physiotherapy.
War in the Brushstein Life
But World War I soon began. The Germans greatly infringed on the rights of Jews, forced to pay indemnity. Alexandra Yakovlevna’s father interceded for them, helping the innocent to get out of prison. Soon, the Germans arrested Jacob Vygotsky himself. He spent several years in the camp in hunger and cold. But there he tried to help people by providing medical care. Two years later, the father of the writer was released.
And in 1941, when the Second World War began, the 85-year-old doctor was again arrested. After a while he passed away.
Alexandra's son , Michael worked in the rear. From hard work, a severe heart disease appeared. He soon died. Daughter Nadezhda toured the front line and only miraculously survived. After the war ended, Sergey Brushtein died of heart disease. Due to the strong feelings of Alexander Yakovlevna, Brushtein very quickly began to lose her sight. But it worked even more.
Books
Alexandra Yakovlevna is the author of more than sixty plays for children. Among them, the most famous are Blue and Pink, May, It Was. She was the author of the dramatization of the famous books Don Quixote (in 1928), The Cruel World by Dickens (1954) and Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1948). Some works of the author were published under the pseudonym of Alexandra Yakovlevna Nirge.
In 1956, the autobiographical book "Road ..." was published, authored by Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein. The books of the writer are imbued with kindness, good deeds and love for people. Useful tips can be found in them.
A bit about the "Road ..."
The book consists of three parts. The first is called "The road goes into the distance." It tells about a nine-year-old girl, Sasha, whose prototype is the writer herself. Young Sasha notes a lot of injustice in life - poverty, starving children.
Once, Sasha saw in the park an armless artist painting a picture with her feet. Sasha really wanted to help and support him, so she decided to buy one of his paintings. He offered her a landscape and gave a vital parting word, which the girl remembered forever.
The book quickly gained popularity throughout the Soviet Union. It was not just a story, it was a parenting book. In "The Road" Alexandra Yakovlevna and her hometown of Vilna describe very warmly and warmly.
Continuation of a story
Two years later, in 1958, the second part of the trilogy “At Dawn Hour” was released. It tells about the years of Sasha’s studies at the institute. Despite all the difficulties of training, she became the best student. Soon her brother Semyon was born. Sasha herself is finishing her studies. The book also describes important historical events - the demise of Alexander III and the beginning of the reign of Nicholas II, the Multan case ...
In 1961, the final book of the trilogy, entitled "Spring," was released. After graduation, Sasha gets a job - she teaches English. A new twentieth century is coming. It is associated with demonstrations and widespread hunger. The book also details the case of Dreyfus.
Alexandra Yakovlevna Brushtein is a writer who has a delicate sense of child psychology, has gone through many life lawsuits, but not broken by them. Her "Road ..." is still published and read not only by children, but also by adults.