Background
OLYOSHA, Yuriy was born on February 19, 1899 in Yelisavctgrad.
OLYOSHA, Yuriy was born on February 19, 1899 in Yelisavctgrad.
Studied at Novorossiysk University, Odessa.
Spent his childhood and youth in Odessa. Together with V. Katayev and I. Il’f member, Poets Collective. Wrote verse; after establishment of Soviet regime in Odessa worked for Ukraine Press Bureau.
From 1922 worked for railroad newspaper “Gudok” in Moscow, contributing biting verse feuilletons. 1934 berated by Party critics, who even detected “elements of fascism” in his play Strogiy yunosha (A Strict Youth). Arrested several times during Yezhov Terror.
Then for 20 years wrote only articles on lit themes, book reviews, reminiscences of writers and the occasional story. Not until 1956 was he again mentioned in the Soviet press 1957 saw the republication of his Izbrannyye sochineniya (Selected Works).
His works have been translated into many for languages.