Mihail Sadoveanu

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"Sadoveanu" redirects here. For other persons of the same name, see Sadoveanu (surname).

Mihail Sadoveanu

Sadoveanu in 1929, portrait by tefan Dimitrescu

Born

November 5, 1880 Pacani

Died

October 19, 1961 (aged 80) Vntori-Neam

Pen name

Mihai din Pacani, M. S. Cobuz

Occupation novelist, short story writer, journalist, essayist, translator, poet, civil servant, activist, politician

Nationality Romanian

Period

18961952

Genres

historical novel, adventure novel,biographical novel, political novel,psychological novel, crime fiction,memoir, travel literature, nature writing, fantasy, reportage,biography, sketch story, children's literature, lyric poetry

Literary movement

Realism, Social realism,Naturalism, Smntorul,Poporanism, Socialist realism

Mihail Sadoveanu (Romanian:

; occasionally referred to as Mihai Sadoveanu;

November 5, 1880 October 19, 1961) was a Romanian novelist, short story writer, journalist and political figure, who twice served as acting head of state for thecommunist republic (19471948 and 1958). One of the most prolific Romanian-language writers, he is remembered mostly for hishistorical and adventure novels, as well as for his nature writing. An author whose career spanned five decades, Sadoveanu was an early associate of the traditionalist magazine Smntorul, before becoming known as a Realist writer and an adherent to thePoporanist current represented by Viaa Romneasc journal. His books, critically acclaimed for their vision of age-old solitude and natural abundance, are generally set in the historical region of Moldavia, building on themes from Romania's medieval and early modern history. Among them are Neamul oimretilor ("The r t F y"), Fraii Jderi ("The Jderi Brothers") and Zodia Cancerului ("Under the Sign of the Crab"). With Venea o moar pe Siret... ("A Mill Was Floating down the Siret..."), Baltagul ("The Hatchet") and some other works of fiction, Sadoveanu extends his fresco to contemporary history and adapts his style to thepsychological novel, Naturalism and Social realism. A traditionalist figure whose perspective on life was a combination of nationalism and Humanism, Sadoveanu moved between right-and left-wing political forces throughout the interwar period, while serving terms in Parliament. Rallying with People's Party, theNational Agrarian Party, and the National Liberal Party-Brt , he was editor of the leftist newspapers Adevrul and Dimineaa, and was the target of a violent far right press campaign. After World War II, Sadoveanu became a political associate of the Romanian Communist Party. He wrote in favor of the Soviet Union and Stalinism, joined the Society for Friendship with the Soviet Union and adopted Socialist realism. Many of his texts and speeches, including the political novel Mitrea Cocor and the famous

slogan Lumina vine de la Rsrit ("The Light Arises in the East"), are also viewed as propaganda in favor of communization. A founding member of the Romanian Writers' Society and later President of the Romanian Writers' Union, Sadoveanu was also a member of the Romanian Academy since 1921 and a recipient of the Lenin Peace Prize for 1961. He was also Grand Master of theRomanian Freemasonry during the 1930s. The father of Profira and Paul-Mihu Sadoveanu, who also pursued careers as writers, he was the brother-in-law of literary critic Izabela Sadoveanu-Evan. luna bate-n lunci i tremur pe lacuri, Totui mi pare c de-atunci Sunt veacuri. Cu ochii serei cei denti Eu n-o voi mai privi-o... De-aceea-n urma mea rmi Adio!