[Тютчев]

young man of seventy-five

Grigori Baklanov - seventy-five. Jubilee! But what if the birthday boy - a man deeply jubilee? If I can not imagine him in a tie. If smeshliv surprising: three times in a row ready to laugh at the same anecdote. If awards and prizes, positions and ranks are not affected him in any way. Deserved European glory, translated into many languages, many times various crowned with laurels - and if only one sheet of lacquered stuck to the old one favorite jacket ...

In the early fifties in the Literary Institute was the protection of diplomas. One graduate was so fascinated that examiners gave a lecture on the language of Russian classics. Honorable Commission did not know what to do: time and sorry, and listen to interesting. And from the back rows of the audience crept a note: "Stop Grisha! We do not have time to miss ..."

Well, who would then assume that after a couple of decades, a connoisseur of Russian classics himself become the Russian classics, his hand would be written "inch of land", "Dead shame not imut", "July 41-year" and the novel "Forever - nineteen.

Our literary generations fantastically lucky: and the omnipotence of censorship, and from many ills of life have reliably defended the war writers. This they crossed the river and break through the wall - we went to break. Cowardly careerists of various party bodies feared war veterans: defenders, suicide, and the winners in literature and were able to stand up for themselves and for their comrades. And soon, as a matter of happened that for young writers was not the principal evil in the view of ideological elites, but the clear words of Vladimir Tendryakova, Vasil Bykov, Ales Adamovich, Victor Astaf'eva, Grigori Baklanov ...

I can not brag: I have an enviable right at least officially considered a student of Grigory Baklanov. When, after some meeting of young writers I have proposed to apply to the Writers' Union, the two recommendations I have borrowed from friends - Robert Rozhdestvensky and Maya Ganina. And the third came napryazhenka - always suffered from a lack of patrons! Familiar she suggested: "Come on, I will ask Baklanova - he is kind." I suspect that the only reason Baklanovsky recommendations proved to be his kindness. By the way, for me it was an important lesson: in the writers' actually needed and the kindness and severity, but goodness still need. Sam later wrote a lot of recommendations, and - because that's strange! - No one did not have to repent ...

By tradition, ought to say that seventy-five years is not much. But even in the jubilee day do not want to lie - something already there, a respectable figure. Consolation is that not for everyone. In particular, not for Baklanov. For all life's parameters - a lively mind, a sense of humor, passion for travel, endurance and general physical health - today Baklanov just a young man of seventy-five years.

I have long noticed that good people are living longer: they do not sharpen no malice, no envy, no fear. Under this everyday observation, fortunately, you can lead and scientific base. Fifteen years ago I read in some academicians, that by the end of the twentieth century, the youth will take up to sixty years, the maturity - up to seventy-five, old age - up to ninety. And much more - can not get away - old age. Now just Baklanov longer linger at the age of maturity and not just hang on to old age, but also to live in it for a long time and with taste.

And our literature, and all our unsustainable society desperately needs famed, wise and good elders.

Leonid Zhukhovitskii