# Лидия Чарская

## Biography

Lidia Alekseevna Charskaya, born Voronova, on January 31, 1875, in St. Petersburg, was a prominent Russian children's writer and actress. Her mother died during childbirth, and she was raised by her father, a military engineer, and her aunts. She spent seven influential years at the Pavlovsk Institute for Noble Girls, experiences that deeply shaped her future literary works. After graduating with honors in 1893, she pursued an acting career at the Alexandrinsky Theatre, where she adopted the pseudonym Charskaya.

Charskaya became incredibly popular for her sentimental novels and stories, often exploring themes of boarding school life, friendship, and self-sacrifice, such as "Notes of an Institute Girl" and "Princess Javakha." Her books captivated young readers, making her one of the most beloved authors before the 1917 revolution. Despite her immense popularity, her work faced significant criticism, notably from Korney Chukovsky, who deemed it "vulgar." After the revolution, her books were suppressed due to their perceived bourgeois sentiments and her aristocratic background. She lived in poverty during her later years, occasionally publishing under a different pseudonym, and passed away in Leningrad on March 18, 1937.

## Books

- [Сказки](https://samolit.com/books/4793)