The return of the brave "Hedgehog." History repeats itself

MOSCOW. The first volume of the archive of the children’s magazine "Hedgehog" for 1928 was published by TriMag Publishing House.

Children’s literature of the 20-30s of the last century is an extremely interesting phenomenon. Despite the appearance of new heroes in it, uncompromisingly fighting the old world, the appearance of myths about the unbearable life in the West, which refused the world revolution, the brains of the younger generation were rinsed with much lower intensity. Work in children’s publications allowed many talented writers and artists to survive in the era of tightening ideological nuts and repression. Books and magazines with amazing illustrations and beautiful texts are not only a bibliographic rarity, but also a fascinating reading for today’s children. Adults, enjoying the language of good tales, find obvious allusions to the events of those years. Heroes with a minus sign are no longer small dirty tricks, but tyrants and lawless people. And positive characters are trying to resist them.

The release of the first volume of the archive of the legendary magazine “Hedgehog”, which has been published since 1928 for 7 years, is an extraordinary event. A thick book filled with texts of various subjects and wonderful drawings is prepared for reading from cover to cover and getting acquainted with the best creative units of the conflicting era. The backbone of the editorial board was made up by the authors of the monthly New Robinson, closed by the authorities - Zhitkov, Bianchi, Kapitsa. In "Hedgehog" were published Schwartz, Zoshchenko, Harms, Zabolotsky. The leader and inspirer of both magazines was Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak.

Doing without glorifications and dreary edification, the magazine developed, enlightened, prompted, entertained. Witty, informal, positive. Higher authorities could not come to terms with this. After 7 years, the magazine ceased to exist. Gabbe, Zabolotsky, Vvedensky and Harms were arrested, Oleynikov shot.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru