Leonid Latynin

Leonid Latynin
leonid Latynin
(photo: Darja Vorontsova)
Native name Леонид Александрович Латынин
Born 20 July 1938
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Russian
Alma mater Moscow State University
Occupation poet and writer
Years active 1968–present
Website
latynin.ru (Russian)

Leonid Latynin (Russian: Леонид Александрович Латы́нина; born 1938[1] Privolzhsk, Ivanovo Region, on the Volga near Plyos) is a Russian poet.

He is a father of Russian writer and journalist Julia Latynina

Among his first teachers was Pyotr Konstantinovich Sumarokov, a priest's son, who was in his turn a student of Vassily Vassilyevich Rozanov. His other teachers were several hundred volumes of theological literature from his family library.

In 1960-64, Latynin studied at Moscow University's Department of Philology. He attended the seminars of Nikolai Gudzy, Nikolai Liban, Sergei Radzig, which made a lasting influence on him, inspiring his interest in the theme of pre-Christian pantheon. This was later realized in his research and his literary work.

In 1962-74, he worked first at the Khudozhestvennaya Literatura Publishing House, then on the radio (in the Spanish and then in the Brazilian section) and finally at the poetry division of the Youth magazine.

In the 1970s, he spent much time in the northern parts of Russia, studying icons and local crafts.

In the 1980s, he was translating Central Asian poetry.

Also in the 1980s, he wrote the novels The Face-maker and the Muse, Sleeper at Harvest Time, Stavr and Sarah.

Since 1960, Latynin lives in Moscow.

References