Eduard Uspenskiy
Encyclopedia
Eduard Nikolayevich Uspensky is a Soviet and Russia
n writer
and author of several children's books. Among his most beloved characters are a serious but adventurous boy known, for his serious disposition, by the sardonic nickname of Uncle Fyodor (Дядя Фёдор), from Uncle Fyodor, His Dog and His Cat; and the anthropomorphic duo of Crocodile Gena
(Крокодил Гена) and Cheburashka
(Чебурашка), featured in a children's novel by Uspensky about the adventures of the two animal friends.
, in Moscow Oblast
. After graduating as an engineer
, he earned his living by writing and producing animation
s.
Besides writing and producing, Uspensky has enjoyed a professional role as a long-lasting figure in radio and television: he was instrumental in the creation of the popular radio programme Radio Nanny (Радионяня; Radionyanya), produced with the aim of featuring songs and humorous dialogue as integral elements of an educational radio programme explaining concepts in grammar, mathematics, scientific subjects, and courteous behaviour to children. In recent years, he has been working as host of the musical TV show V Nashu Gavan' Zahodili Korabli, dedicated to bringing old popular songs, performed by talented amateur singers, to nostalgic older audiences.
In addition to children's books, Uspensky's creative output also includes plays
and poems.
, Простоквашa). After finding a treasure
, Uncle Fyodor can afford to buy a tractor
that runs on soup and potatoes, and a portable sun to do the heating during the winter. The book was made into a successful animated film
, Three from Buttermilk Village
(and its two sequels). Uspensky continued with Uncle Fyodor in other books which have not, however, been as successful.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and author of several children's books. Among his most beloved characters are a serious but adventurous boy known, for his serious disposition, by the sardonic nickname of Uncle Fyodor (Дядя Фёдор), from Uncle Fyodor, His Dog and His Cat; and the anthropomorphic duo of Crocodile Gena
Crocodile Gena
Crocodile Gena is a fictional, friendly crocodile in the series of animation films “Gena the Crocodile”, “Cheburashka” and “Shapoklyak” by Roman Kachanov ....
(Крокодил Гена) and Cheburashka
Cheburashka
Cheburashka , also known as Topple in earlier English translations, is a character in children's literature, from a 1966 story by the Russian writer Eduard Uspensky. In Estonian the character is called Potsataja...
(Чебурашка), featured in a children's novel by Uspensky about the adventures of the two animal friends.
Biography
Uspensky was born in YegoryevskYegoryevsk
Yegoryevsk is a town and the administrative center of Yegoryevsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Guslitsa River southeast of Moscow. Population: 68,000 ; 56,000 ; 29,700 . It is known since 1462 as the village of Vysokoye...
, in Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
. After graduating as an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, he earned his living by writing and producing animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
s.
Besides writing and producing, Uspensky has enjoyed a professional role as a long-lasting figure in radio and television: he was instrumental in the creation of the popular radio programme Radio Nanny (Радионяня; Radionyanya), produced with the aim of featuring songs and humorous dialogue as integral elements of an educational radio programme explaining concepts in grammar, mathematics, scientific subjects, and courteous behaviour to children. In recent years, he has been working as host of the musical TV show V Nashu Gavan' Zahodili Korabli, dedicated to bringing old popular songs, performed by talented amateur singers, to nostalgic older audiences.
In addition to children's books, Uspensky's creative output also includes plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
and poems.
Uspensky's work in literature
Uspensky's first book about Uncle Fyodor, Uncle Fyodor, His Dog and His Cat, was first published in Russian in 1974. The main character is a six-year-old boy who is called Uncle Fyodor because he is very serious. After his parents don't let him keep Matroskin, a talking cat, Uncle Fyodor leaves his home. With the dog Sharik, the three set up a home in the country, a village called Prostokvashino (Простоквашино, from the Russian for buttermilkButtermilk
Buttermilk refers to a number of dairy drinks. Originally, buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream. It also refers to a range of fermented milk drinks, common in warm climates where unrefrigerated fresh milk otherwise sours quickly...
, Простоквашa). After finding a treasure
Treasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
, Uncle Fyodor can afford to buy a tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
that runs on soup and potatoes, and a portable sun to do the heating during the winter. The book was made into a successful animated film
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, Three from Buttermilk Village
Three from Buttermilk Village
Three from Prostokvashino is a 1978 Soviet iconic animated film based on the children's book Uncle Fyodor, His Dog and His Cat by Eduard Uspensky...
(and its two sequels). Uspensky continued with Uncle Fyodor in other books which have not, however, been as successful.
Selected books
- Crocodile Gena and His Friends (1966)
- Uncle Fyodor, His Dog and His Cat (1974)
- The Little Warranty People (1975)