Few of the people who succeeded inliterature, music, or other endeavors, can remain untouched by fame. However, the Ukrainian writer, poet and translator Athanasius Rudchenko (better known under the pseudonym Panas Mirny) was not that kind. He was able to remain a modest and unpretentious person even after his novels and stories gained popularity.
Afanasy was born (Panas in Ukrainian) Yakovlevich Rudchenko in May 1849 in the glorious Mirgorod.
From the very childhood, the future Panas Mirny knew thatto count him, except his own forces, there is nothing more. Therefore, after finishing his studies at the district school of Gadyach, at the age of fourteen he got a job in the same city - in a district court.
Having inherited intelligence and diligence from his father, Rudchenkosoon proved himself well and was able to make a career. In just a few years of work, he secured the assistant accountant's seat in the county treasury.
Athanasius was not yet twenty-five when hewas appointed to the Poltava State Chamber, where he held various positions at various times. Over time, Rudchenko rose to the prestigious title of a real state councilor.
Despite the excellent reputation and highthe post of an official, Rudchenko in many respects did not agree with the political situation in the Russian Empire. Especially in relation to the newly freed from serfdom and left with virtually no land and the possibility of earning a farmer whose problems he knew not by hearsay. Therefore, even at the beginning of his career, the official Afanasy Rudchenko took up his pen. Inspired by his act on this act, his elder brother, already known to many in literary circles under the pseudonym Ivan Bilyk. However, unlike his brother, who actively collects and publishes Ukrainian folklore, Afanasy was more interested in writing his own works.
Despite the fact that later became famousPanas Mirny as a prose writer, the first published work of his was the poem "Ukraine". But soon Rudchenko realized that in prose he was much better able to express his ideas. And the second published work of the author was the story "A lumpy assortment".
After the successful debut of the stories and the story of Mirnyhave often appeared in periodicals abroad (mainly in Lviv and Geneva). This was due to the fact that in those years in the Russian Empire there was a ban on printed publications in the Ukrainian language. Therefore, such literature was printed in the nearest countries, where the laws did not prohibit this, and after it was secretly transported across the border and distributed. This prohibition is also related to the fact that both Athanasius and his brother Ivan, being officials, wrote under pseudonyms (a photo of Panas Mirny and his older brother Ivan Bilyk - below).
In the seventies and eighties of the XIX century Afanasy Rudchenko's small prose began to be published quite often.
In 1880, the Rudchenko brothers publish the novel "Hіbato roar of will, like a yasla? ”A little later, Panas Mirny independently takes on the new novel“ Povіya ”. It is translated into Russian as “Prostitute” or “Walker”. The first two parts of the new novel were published in the almanac “Rada” already in Ukraine, the third in 1919 in the Literary and Scientific Gazette.
In the second half of the eighties Panas Mirnybecomes more famous, and soon publishes a collection of stories "Zbiranitsya from the local field." In parallel, his works continue to be printed in a variety of publications on both sides of the Dnieper.
During these years, the play was published “Limyrevna”, “Kazka about the Truth and Kryvda”, “Overmind”, “Catch” and other works.
Кроме тайной, но очень активной литературной activity, also participated in the public life of the society Panas Mirny. A brief biography of the writer usually mentions his participation in the secret Poltava revolutionary circle “Unia”, and also that he was a member of the commission of the city duma in Poltava. However, in addition, Athanasius Rudchenko actively advocated for the equality of women, who, in his opinion, should also have the opportunity to earn their living on their own.
Despite the writer's fame and success incareer, Athanasius Rudchenko always remained a man of rare modesty. Many of his close people for a long time did not know that he is the very mysterious Panas Mirny. The writer believed that all forces must be given to help ordinary people, and not to spend them on self-promotion.
Perhaps it is because of his modesty marriedRudchenko at a rather mature age. In the writer's diary there were mentions of his failures in relations with women in earlier years. However, having met the beautiful Alexander Sheideman, who was about to marry a Petersburg doctor, at thirty-nine, the writer lost his head and did his best to conquer his beloved.
One month before the fortieth anniversary of the writer in lovemodestly celebrated the wedding. From this marriage, Athanasius Rudchenko had three sons. Unfortunately, two of them died during the First World War and the Civil War.
During his seventy years of life, Panas Mirny wrotemany works. The most famous are his short stories “Morozenko”, “The Dashing Litter”, the stories “P” Janitsa ”,“ Lih people ”,“ Hungry Will ”, short stories“ Catch ”,“ Dream ”and the play“ Limirivna. ”Also the writer is the author of two novels : “What about reviving the will, how did you find it?” (Together with the elder brother) and “Povia”.
Among other things, Panas Mirny tried his hand at writing poetry. His poems are known: “Before the Day of the Muse”, “Before the Brothers and Zasants”, “Ukraine” and others.
Another writer and translated into Ukrainiantongue. He is the author of the translation “Dumi about Gayyavatu”, “Tsarivni Polunichka”, as well as Shiller's “Orleans divniki” (on which he worked until his death).
In 1961, based on the second novel by Panas Mirny “Povіya” at the Dovzhenko Film Studio, the movie “Walker” was shot. Ludmila Gurchenko starred in the title role.
Writer Panas Mirny managed to achieve almostall that people dream of: he made a great career in the service, became famous as a writer, married a woman he loved and lived with her for thirty years. There were sorrows in his life, but, unlike most of his heroes, he was able to overcome everything and remain a worthy person.
