Lev Arkadyevich Ekonomov

1925 - 2009


Жизнеописание | Фотоальбом/Видео | Творчество | Гостевая книга | Пишите нам | English


Lev (Leo) Arkadyevich Ekonomov was born on December 19th 1925 in Yaroslavl, a large Russian industrial city and administrative capital about 250 km (155 miles) north-east of Moscow. He grew up there, and went to secondary school in the city.

In 1942, not yet 17 years old, he volunteered to join the defence forces in the Great Patriotic War. He went to the front, and became an aviation mechanic in an assault regiment. Later he served as a paratrooper. At the end of the war he was decorated with the Order of the Patriotic War, class II, as well as being awarded two special campaign medals for military merit: "For the capture of Koenigsberg" and "For victory over Germany".

Even while still in the army, Lev Ekonomov had decided to become a writer when peace returned; and in due time he made his dream a reality. In 1952 he graduated from the Literature Faculty of the Yaroslavl Pedagogical Institute. In 1954 he moved to Moscow, and lived in the capital city for the rest of his life.

Lev Ekonomov's first book, based on his experiences with the pilots in the army, was issued by the publisher Voenizdatom in 1959; it was titled "The underside of the wing". This was followed by two other books on military flyers, "Interceptors", and "Alert level: maximum", and by his story of front-line operations, "In an iron grip". He published two further essays on the air defence forces, "Time of heaven" and "Cordon in the clouds", as well as a biographical chronicle on the flying ace, "Captain Bachivandzi". He also wrote two books about the origin of aviation and astronautics in the USSR, "The quest for wings" and "Masters of fiery arrows".

After these books were published, he became a member of the Writers' Union of the USSR.

Another more recent book also deals with the war period. "Hitler's last throw" tells about the heroic exploits of the pilots and guerrilla fighters, in their struggles against the fascists behind enemy lines -- in the vital regions where Hitler's secret weapons were being developed.

But as an author he did not just write on themes connected with military matters; Lev Ekonomov was in fact an extraordinarily versatile man. Probably many readers were surprised at the popular-science topic of his book, "World of our senses". In this book, he describes each of the five senses, with the help of parallels and examples from the plant and animal world. Furthermore, he shows how we can expand the "window" through which signals from outside are transmitted to our brain -- to see, hear and feel the signals which we normally do not perceive. But, beyond this, he also explores how our senses affect our perception of reality, and our feelings. Venturing into the realm of psychology, he indicates how we can attempt to understand the incomprehensible, and feel like a fully-fledged master of life.

In his last book, "The Master without Margarita", the author recounts his relationship with his friend, the great Russian writer Victor Lihonosovim. Sincerity and lyrical narration are key characteristics of this account.

Lev Ekonomov died in Moscow in April 2009, at the age of 83.


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