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Sadoveanu Mihail
(1880—1961)

Mihail Sadoveanu was a Romanian novelist and political figure; one of the most prolific Romanian language writers, he is remembered mostly for his historical novels.

Sadoveanu was born in Paşcani (west-central Moldavia). After attending school in Paşcani, Fălticeni and Iaşi, he left for Bucharest in 1904, where he intended to study law. He started writing for the journal Viaţa nouă in 1898, and his articles were featured alongside those of Gala Galaction, N.D. Cocea, and Tudor Arghezi (he signed his contributions with his real name, or sometimes as M.S. Cobuz); Sadoveanu also contributed works to Sămănătorul.

1904 was his effective debut year, as he published four books, including Povestiri ("Stories"), which was awarded a prize by the Romanian Academy. Nicolae Iorga (as cited by literary critic George Călinescu) called 1904 "Sadoveanu's year", and it was the beginning of a prolific literary career covering more than a half century.

During his life Sadoveanu published over a hundred books, novels and short novels. Sadoveanu also worked on a number of literary journals, including Însemnări literare, on which he collaborated with his friend, the remarkable poet and writer George Topîrceanu. In 1910, he became head of the National Theater of Iaşi.

After the Soviet Union-union backed advent of the Communist system in Romania, Sadoveanu supported the new authorities, and turned from his own version of realism to officially-endorsed socialist realism. In 1947-1948, he was, alongside Ştefan Voitec, Constantin Ion Parhon, Gheorghe Stere, and Ion Niculi, a member of the Presidium of the People's Republic.

His literary stature but also his communist allegiance[citation needed] earned him the Lenin Peace Prize, which he received shortly before his death. He was also elected a full member of the Romanian Academy. One of his novels, Mitrea Cocor, was an open propaganda for the forced collectivisation of agriculture.

Rumania, 1980, Mihail Sadoveanu

Moldova, 2005.11.05, Chisinau. Mihail Sadoveanu

Moldova, 2005, Mihail Sadoveanu