5 most PRODUCTIVE Russian writers
In this list, modernity is already catching up with the classic writers of the past. So, who out of all the Russian authors has written the most?
5. Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)
The leader of the Russian Revolution did not write any fiction novels, however, endless volumes of his writings occupied and still occupy the shelves of many homes and libraries. The complete collection of his works consists of 55 volumes — more than 3,000 manuscripts and articles and another 6,000 different documents. These were mainly philosophical and economic works (for example, the book ‘The Development of Capitalism in Russia’), as well as journalism, Bolshevik propaganda, letters to the party congress, as well as transcripts of speeches and decrees.
4. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)
Most likely, you thought that this writer would be in first place? His novel ‘War and Peace’ is worth it alone! During the 82 years of his life, Tolstoy wrote about 17 novels and 174 works of fiction. The entire legacy of the writer, including diaries and letters, is 90 volumes, or 46,000 pages. By the way, the descendants of the writer have since digitized everything and made it publicly available. This is exactly the idea that Tolstoy himself had – to completely renounce the rights to his works, so that they belonged to the people.
3. Pyotr Boborykin (1835-1921)
Today, this name is known only to literary critics, but, in the 19th century, he was one of the most famous and popular writers in Russia. Boborykin wrote over 100 novels, novellas and plays. As well as a huge amount of journalism, literary and artistic criticism and philosophical works and on a wide range of topics. By the way, it was him who brought the word ‘intelligentsia’ into mass use.
Read more about Boborykin here.
2. Darya Dontsova (b. 1952)
To date, Dontsova has written more than 270 detective novels, with a total circulation of 200 million copies! She was listed in the Russian Book of Records as the most prolific author in the detective genre for having written 100 detective stories in 10 years. Many of her stories have been adapted into movies and her name has fast become a household name. She is still very popular and in demand, despite rumors that ghostwriters are creating novels instead of her and that her books are low-quality fiction.
1. Andrei Bolotov (1738-1833)
You’ve probably never heard of this author, but experts have estimated that all his works roughly amount to about 350 volumes (however, not all of his manuscripts were printed and not all have survived to this day)!
Bolotov was a nobleman, a military man, and worked as a translator. He was an enthusiast and had lots of hobbies, including science and philosophy. The self-taught scientist was also a record holder among long-lived writers: Over the 95 years of his life, he lived through the reigns of seven emperors, from Anna Ioannovna to Nicholas I.
