We invite you to a literary salon dedicated to Alexander Tvardovsky’s poem Vasily Tyorkin — a work that became the voice of the soldier on the front line and a symbol of the people’s courage.
Tvardovsky called it a “book about a soldier,” because it is more than just a poem — it is a living chronicle of war, where each chapter is a story filled with humor, pain, hope, and faith in victory.
The main character, Vasily Tyorkin, embodies the image of the ordinary Russian soldier: brave, clever, with a kind smile and an accordion in his hands.

What to expect:
• Discussion of the poem’s creation and publication history
• Analysis of Tyorkin as a collective hero and symbol of national spirit
• Reading and discussion of key chapters: The Crossing, Death and the Soldier, Before the Battle
• Conversation about the role of humor and folklore in the poem
• Listening to selected passages performed by members of the literary salon
Language of the event: Russian

Illustration by Orest Vereysky for the poem “Vasily Tyorkin” (1970)