Alexey Varlamov is a famous Russian prose writer. He was born on June 23, 1963 in Moscow in the family of an employee of Glavlit and a teacher of the Russian language. Varlamov Alexey Nikolaevich from childhood was fond of reading, fishing, travel. This is reflected in the autobiographical novel Kupavna, created in 2000. Alexei Nikolayevich traveled a lot around the world and Russia - he visited the middle zone of our country, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Urals, Baikal, the Carpathians, the Far East, the USA, Europe and China.
The first literary experiments
A. Varlamov, whose biography interests us, in 1985 he graduated from Moscow State University (Faculty of Philology). From early childhood, his first literary experiments belong. The writer recalls that he always liked to invent various stories and write them down. In 1987, in the magazine "October" (No. 12) his first work was published (the story "Cockroaches"). Already in the early works of this writer, his orientation towards classical Russian literature is visible. The works of Varlamov were greatly influenced by the prose of Chekhov, Pushkin, Bunin, and also Yu.P. Kazakova and A.P. Platonov.
The path from short stories to novels and short stories
Alexey Varlamov is a writer whose path in literary creation lies from stories to more voluminous genres - novels and short stories. In 1991, the stories “Sacrament” and “Veil” were published in the “Banner”, and in 1992 in the “New World” - “Galasha” and “Christmas Eve”. Then followed the story "Hello, Prince!", "Mountain." In 1995, Varlamov’s first novel, “Loch,” appeared. At the same time, essays, literary and journalistic articles, and critical essays were written. The writing of two plays dates back to the same time. One of them was highly appreciated by M. Roshchin and was put on stage at the festival of young drama.
The story "Birth"
Varlamov gained fame in literature after the novel "Birth" was published (in 1995 in the "New World"). In it, the life of one married couple is compared with the ups and downs of the history of Russia. The author will often use the technique of conjugation. A difficult pregnancy, the subsequent difficult birth, and then a newborn’s disease are presented against the background of the October 1993 execution of the White House in Moscow. The finale of the story is safe: a new life begins in the family. This makes it possible to optimistically interpret the author’s forecasts about the new life of our country.
Novel "Loch"
In the novel "Loch", written in 1995, the theme of Russia is continued. The work is built according to the canons of a famous folk tale, the main character of which is Ivan the Fool. In the novel, this is Alexander Tezkin - the third son who was born in a prosperous family from Moscow. Almost 30 years covers the duration of the action (from 1963 to 1993). The geographical space of the work (Moscow, Munich) in it is complemented by a spiritual space - earthly and heavenly. This novel uses a wandering motive, traditional for Russian literature. The hero likened the earthly world to a well-guarded zone, and the heavenly one to freedom, to which the human soul breaks. The story of the life and love of Alexander Tezkin is given against the background of the history of our country, which is experiencing, according to Tezkin, the last days before the end of the world. G. Mikhailova noted that Varlamov told in the space of the national continent the story of the collapse of the once great empire and the death of all mankind.
Sunken Ark
These topics are developed in further works. In 1997, the novel The Sunken Ark was published. In the center of the narrative in it are the life and death of one sect of eunuchs, living in a remote corner of the North. Ilya Petrovich is in love with Masha, his student. He prophesies about what awaits Russia, and appears in the work as “the fortress of the Lord” (this is how the name of this hero is translated). Luppo portrays the messiah. He turns out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, a kind of werewolf. "Luppo" in translation from Latin - "wolf". Mary is a heroine bearing a Christian name, a righteous one, without whom no city, as you know, is worth it.
"Dome"
The trilogy completes the novel "Dome". It was published in 1999 in the journal October. 35 years cover events - from 1965 to 2000. The “Dome” is a confession of color blind who longs to see the world in color. His illness explains the events that are fantastic in the work. This is a novel about Russia during perestroika and subsequent years, when a unique natural phenomenon arises over the country - a dome made of fog. The dome is a symbol of isolation of Russia.
"Warm islands in the cold sea"
In 2000, a story appeared entitled “Warm Islands in the Cold Sea”. Her theme is the journey of two friends to the Russian North. The islands in the cold White Sea are lit with the prayers of the monks for Russia.
"The Mental Wolf" by Alexei Varlamov
This is the last novel of the writer to date, which was published in 2014. The work of "The Mental Wolf" by Alexei Varlamov begins 100 years ago and lasts 4 years. The writer is interested in the Silver Age - “rich,” “saturated,” “muddy,” “fascinating time.” Alexey Varlamov analyzes the First World War and the revolution that followed.
The main characters of the work are Vasily Komissarov (small engineer) and Pavel Legkobytov (writer). They strive to survive and hunt the wolf. Tender and sensitive daughter Vasily Ulya and his wife are seized with anxiety, trying to escape from a predator. However, it is impossible to hide from him or defeat him: according to Varlamov, the “mental wolf” is the diagnosis of the Silver Age. This is his mental epidemic. The Mental Wolf is the title metaphor for the work. This is the personification of the thought that gives rise to all sin. This image was taken from ancient Orthodox prayers in which the desire to be hunted by the “mental wolf” is expressed. And the heroes of Varlamov, who really existed and are fictitious, fight the mental wolf that dominates the whole country, furiously, but in vain.
Alexey Varlamov. Our days
Since 1993, Varlamov is a member of the Union of Writers of Russia. He lives in Moscow. Today, Alexei Varlamov is a doctor of philology, professor, permanent author of the series of ZhZL, laureate of Solzhenitsyn’s awards, Big Book, Antibooker, etc. Representing the Writers Union of Russia as a secretary, he speaks at various events and festivals.
His work is well known not only in our country, but also abroad. The works of Alexei Nikolaevich Varlamov have been translated into several foreign languages. As part of official delegations, he represents our country at international book salons and fairs. In 1997, Alexei Nikolaevich participated in the American international writing program. He gave lectures at Stanford, New York, Yale, Boston and other leading universities in the United States. Varlamov also taught at universities in Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, France, and others.