Memorable Dates of Russia: Exhibition "From a Newspaper Reporter to the First Russian Nobel Laureate", marking the 150th anniversary Ivan Bunin, launched at the Russian State Library

The exhibition "From a Newspaper Reporter to the First Russian Nobel Laureate", marking the anniversary of Ivan Bunin, was launched on the stair platform of the Marble Staircase of the Russian State Library (Moscow).

In 2020, the literary world celebrates the 150th anniversary of Ivan Alekseevich Bunin (1870-1953), an outstanding Russian writer, poet and translator, winner of the 1933 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Russian State Library marks this significant event with an exhibition, which promotes library readers and visitors to the difficult life and career of Ivan Alekseevich.

Ivan Bunin was born on October 10 (22), 1870, in Voronezh. He was a representative of a poor noble family. Bunin began an independent life early. He had to earn money as a newspaper reporter and office clerk from youth.

The first collection of verses of the young poet was published in 1891, in Orel. In 1903, Ivan Alekseevich received the Pushkin Prize for the book "Falling Leaves" and the translation of "Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In 1909, he received his second Pushkin Prize for the 3rd volume of Collected Works. While travelling in the 1910s, he wrote such stories as "The Gentleman from San Francisco", "Chang's Dreams", and "Easy Breathing".

Bunin's diaries about the October Revolution inspired his book "Cursed Days". In 1920, Ivan Alekseevich emigrated to France, where he continued to write and publish.

Bunin was the first Russian writer, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for the novel "The Life of Arseniev". Ivan Alekseevich Bunin died on November 8, 1953, in Paris and was buried in the Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois cemetery.

The exhibition is made up of several sections. Each section spotlights a certain period of Bunin's life and career. The exposition presents the writer's lifetime publications, memoirs, as well as books in foreign languages.

A special part of the exhibition features 12 engravings from the "Crimean Album" by graphic artist Marina Viktorovna Lazareva, a member of the Russian Union of Artists and the Moscow Union of Artists.

The engravings are made in the mezzotinto technique. They illustrate and complement the poetry of Ivan Alekseevich Bunin.

The exposition, which includes the books by Ivan Bunin, as well as graphic works inspired by his poetry, allows comprehending an outstanding Russian writer, poet and translator.