The reconstructed study of Nikolai Pavlovich Zadornov is rightfully considered one of the main attractions of the Penza Literature Museum. All the items from the writer’s study in Riga were donated by his daughter, Lyudmila Nikolaevna.
The furniture in the study was made to order according to the writer’s sketches. Particularly notable is the writing desk composed of separate wood blocks. It has two built-in cabinets with metal mortise locks. There is also a narrow pullout drawer in the center between the cabinets. The tabletop is characterized by a lighter shade of wood. The writing materials on the desk were also custom-made from birch wood with amber inserts, brought from the Urals.
According to the memoirs of the writer’s daughter, her father’s study was a quiet place, with the doors tightly closed to ensure that nothing distracted Nikolai Zadornov from work. The study served as a space not only for creative work, but also for serious conversations with his children, Mikhail and Lyudmila, who sometimes misbehaved. At the same time, it was a place where the children could play with their parents. As a result, the large desk often featured not only numerous manuscripts but also toys, children’s books, and albums. Sometimes, the wide tabletop was transformed into a “battlefield” where armies were assembled from improvised materials such as corks, bottles, paper, and cardboard. The games were so exciting for both the adults and the children that soon the entire study would become a “war zone”, with “fierce battles” taking place between the cabinets, under the desk, and behind the chair, with the floor lamp serving as an observation post. The family tradition of playing soldiers continued with the arrival of Nikolai Zadornov’s grandson Alexey.
