David Samoylov

David Samijlov was born David Samoilovich Kaufman, on July 1, 1920, in Moscow, USSR. His father, named Samuel Kaufman, was a Medical Doctor and a veteran of the First World War. Young Samojlov was raised in a highly intellectual environment and received an excellent education.

In 1938 he graduated with honors from a Moscow HS and was accepted without an admission exam to the Institute of Philosophy, Literature, and History in Moscow.

In 1941 Samojlov published his first poems and graduated from the Institute of Philosophy, Literature, and History with honors.

In June of 1941, after the Nazi invasion in the Soviet Union, Samojlov joined the army as a volunteer, then was admitted to Gomel military school. After only two months of military training he was sent to the front line to defend the city of Leningrad. He was severely wounded and spent five months in various hospitals until his wounds were cured and healed up. Then he returned to the war and was fighting at the front lines in a motorized military intelligence unit.

In the fall of 1945 he was discharged with honor and returned to his home in Moscow.

In 1958 David Samojlov published his first book of poetry. He worked at the Moscow Radio, taught literature at his 'Alma mater' Institute, and collaborated with such Moscow theatres as 'Sovremennik' and 'Taganka Theatre'. Samojlov also wrote lyrics for several popular songs. He also translated from other languages into Russian, notably the works of Yiddish poet Perets Markish. Samojlov was a friend of writer Lidiya Chukovskaya and their correspondence was published in Russia.

His collections of poetry were published in 1963, in 1970, and in 1981. David Samojlov was decorated for his courage during the Second World War.