Stepan Fedorovich Anikanov

Background

Stepan Fedorovich Anikanov was born on December 23, 1863 in Tula, Russian Federation. His grandparents were Mayors.

Education

Stepan Fedorovich worked as a shepherd boy at the age of nine. When he was 10 he walked to Moscow with a group of nuns where he started working at a tobacco factory. He learned how to read on his own.

He started attending a Sunday school when he was 14. After finishing it he lived in Saint Petersburg for about a year.

Career

Before the October Revolution Stepan Fedorovich changed a lot of professions. He worked as a mason, as a coachman and as a clerk. In 1898 he was arrested for reading political books.

Starting from 1904 his poetry was published in the press. He also wrote agricultural and socio-political articles. After the October Revolution Stepan Fedorovich Anikanov was the Chairman of the Committee of Poor Peasants in his village.

In 1921 he became a rural Commissioner. At the beginning of 1919 Stepan Fedorovich went to the Eastern Front and became one of the best Front agitators.

From 1919 to 1928 his works were mainly published in provincial periodical press.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Anatoly Vasilyevich Lunacharsky: "His poetry is naive but extremely touching."

References

• Russian writers. 1800-1917. Biographical Dictionary. Volume 1
  1989