Among the most famous and honored residents of St. Petersburg, a worthy place is occupied by the remarkable historian Lev Lurie. The main topic of his articles, as well as numerous radio and television broadcasts, is the history of the city - multifaceted and often presented to him in a completely new perspective. He can undoubtedly be called one of the most recognized experts on the pre-revolutionary life in St. Petersburg, which he talks about in his works with his inherent skill.
Childhood and the path to science
Lurie Lev Yakovlevich was born in 1950 in Leningrad. It should be noted right away that fate was favorable to him - he was born into the family of true Leningrad intellectuals. His father, Yakov Solomonovich Lurie, was a historian, and his mother, Irina Efimovna Ganelina, was a professor, the founder of the first cardiological resuscitation in the country. Grandfather - Solomon Yakovlevich - left a memory of himself as an outstanding Soviet Hellenist philologist and researcher of the history of the ancient world.
However, the path of the historian Lev Lurie did not immediately choose and spent his early years at the physics and mathematics school No. 30, which he graduated in 1967. Lev Yakovlevich continued his further education at the Faculty of Economics of Leningrad State University. Here he had to linger a little, as the future historian was suspended for a year for finding a draft of a leaflet of political content that he had found. Leo Lurie spent forced academic leave working as a milling machine operator.
How it all began
Lev Yakovlevich began his educational activities as a guide of the Museum of the History of Leningrad, as well as a curator of a number of exhibitions related to his history. As a researcher at this museum, in 1987 he completed graduate school and defended his dissertation, becoming a candidate of historical sciences.
Having successfully realized the opportunities that opened up during the perestroika period, Lev Lurie, together with a group of like-minded friends, founded the first classical gymnasium in our country on the basis of St. Petersburg comprehensive school No. 610. In this his brainchild, he still leads history lessons and works as head teacher. In the period from 1991 to 1993, Lev Yakovlevich served as professor of Russian history in a number of American colleges.
Articles and books on Russian history
In addition to teaching, Lurie Lev Yakovlevich conducts serious research work. Based on its results, he writes and publishes articles on Russian history. Their number has long exceeded a hundred. In addition, Lurie is the author of a number of books, which today have become real bestsellers.
His most famous works are “Ulcers of St. Petersburg”, “Pharmaceutical Island”, “Petersburg. Guidebook ”and many others. In them, the author conveys the life of a real city inhabited by living people. Lurie’s books are not a dry academic statement of facts, but a lively witty conversation that leaves no one indifferent.
Author's project of the writer
Having sufficient experience working as a journalist, Lev Lurie in 2002 became the author of the project Quarterly Overseer, which gained great popularity - an application to the journal SPb. Sobaka.RU. In each of its issues, thirty-two pages tell about one regular city quarter.
In addition to a review article on the past, present and future of the city on the Neva, the appendix contains materials on the most interesting houses, courtyards and everything else that deserves attention. Particularly fascinating is the section in which the author talks about some of a number of emerging cases that occurred in this quarter. Sometimes these are absolutely incredible stories.
Work on TV channels
Among other areas of activity of Lev Yakovlevich, an important place is occupied by his work on television, which he began in the early nineties. Many people remember the 57-series series of programs “The History of a City”, the script of which he is. Also, the historian Lurie is well known to viewers as the host of a number of programs, such as “Labyrinths of History”, “Damask Gold and Gold”, as well as “The History of One Event”. In the period 2004-2009. He heads the Directorate of Documentary Broadcasting on the channel of the SEC “Petersburg - Channel Five”. These programs have gained particular popularity. Since 2000, Lurie has become an indispensable participant in broadcasts on the radio channel Echo of St. Petersburg.
Honored Laurels
Lev Lurie, whose books are well known to the entire reading public of Russia, has been repeatedly awarded a number of prizes for his work on radio, television and in print publishing houses. In 2001, he became a laureate of the Golden Pen Competition, and in 2005, the Antsifer Prize. In 2009, Lev Yakovlevich was awarded the Grand Prix “Journalist of the Year”. But the main award, of course, is the love and appreciation of readers for whom his books and programs opened the door to a new, previously unknown world of the history of Russia and its northern capital.