Eduard Georgievych Bagritsky was a poet, translator, and playwright, one of the most striking representatives of the Odesa literary school of the 1920s. His work left a significant mark on the poetry and cultural life of the city, and his books and poems are still studied by literary scholars today.
Early YearsEduard Bagritsky was born on 3 November 1895 in Odesa into a middle-class family. His real surname was Dziubin, but from an early age he became known under the pseudonym Bagritsky. He was passionate about reading, poetry, and biology, and also drew well. He studied first at St. Paul’s School and later at Zhukovsky Real School, where he demonstrated literary and artistic talents. Odesa, with its rich cultural atmosphere, greatly influenced the formation of his poetic taste and interest in literary life.
Creative PathBagritsky’s first poetic publications appeared in 1914 in the almanac Akkordy (Chords) under the pseudonyms Dezi and E.D. That same summer, he first appeared under the name “Bagritsky,” which he chose together with his friend Natan Shor. In the following years, his works were published in the almanacs Silver Trumpets, Car in the Clouds, The Seventh Veil, and A Miracle in the Desert. Bagritsky actively participated in Odesa’s literary scene and belonged to literary circles such as The Collective of Poets, Khlam, Mebos, and The Streams of October, where he mentored young authors and helped shape the city’s poetic school.
In 1925, the poet moved to Moscow, where he continued his literary career. His first collection, South-West (1928), included poems first published in Odesa, and in 1932 two books appeared — The Victors and The Last Night. One of his most famous works was the poem The Ballad of Opanas, for which he also wrote the libretto for the opera of the same name. Bagritsky actively translated Ukrainian, Belarusian, Jewish, French, English, American, Turkish, and Polish authors. He also translated the poetry of Yakub Kolas, Mykola Bazhan, Robert Burns, and Arthur Rimbaud.
Later Years and LegacyEduard Bagritsky died on 16 February 1934 of pneumonia. His creative work left a notable trace in the history of the Odesa literary school, and his students and contemporaries continued the poetic and translation traditions he established.
Interesting Facts• The pseudonym “Bagritsky” is linked to color: he and his friend Shor chose “crimson” and “violet” for their literary names.
• From childhood, he suffered from asthma and alleviated attacks by reading poetry aloud.
• He had a phenomenal memory and could compose a sonnet on a given topic in just a few minutes.