The exhibition of the Penza Literature Museum features a photograph of the writer Alexander Georgiyevich Malyshkin (1892–1938).
Alexander Malyshkin was born in the village of Bogorodskoye, Mokshan District, Penza Governorate. His childhood was spent in the small town of Mokshan, where the future writer finished a three-year parish school. Malyshkin studied with honors, finishing each grade with certificates of merit. Having learned to read, he spent all his free time reading. His father, admiring his son’s fondness for reading, brought him “lubok” editions — books with pictures — from the fair instead of toys. Little Alexander carefully collected them and hid them in a small chest, which was kept in the family for a long time. After finishing his parish school, Malyshkin entered the Penza men’s gymnasium (1902–1910), which he eventually finished with a silver medal. “One day, I was pulled out from under the blanket and taken to the big world, to Penza, to study in the gymnasium, ” Alexander Georgiyevich recalled later. The boy’s move to the big city left in his memory vivid emotions, which he would later write about in his novel “People from the Backwoods.” His favorite subject in the gymnasium was Russian literature. In addition to literature, Alexander Georgiyevich spent a lot of time studying the French language. This gave him the opportunity to read French authors in the original.
“There are people who immediately draw attention and, from the very first meeting, leave an abiding imprint in the soul. Alexander Georgiyevich Malyshkin was one of these. Lively, cheerful, and impressionable, he was at the same time a surprisingly gentle and soulful person. He was able to warm anyone whom he considered his comrade or for whom he felt liking with his heart, his affection, his ever-vibrant word,” recalled Fyodor Gladkov, a friend of Alexander Georgiyevich.
