Sokolov-Mikitov, I. S. 1892-1975

Ivan Sergeyevich Sokolov-Mikitov (Russian: Ива́н Серге́евич Соколо́в-Микито́в; May 30, 1892 – February 20, 1975) was a Russian/Soviet writer and journalist who took part in numerous journeys and expeditions (including the famous Otto Schmidt-led trip to the Arctic Circle on icebreaker Georgiy Sedov in 1929-1930). Sokolov-Mikitov, best known for his engaging traveller's sketches, was also regarded as a fine nature-observing stylist, in the line of Konstantin Paustovsky and Mikhail Prishvin. Following the tradition of Russian realism (that of Tolstoy, Chekhov and Bunin), but still influenced by 1900s modernist authors (mostly Aleksey Remizov, his good friend and mentor), Sokolov-Mikitov developed his individual style of writing, incorporating elements of traditional Russian folk tales, bylinas and fables. Autobiographical novel Childhood (1931) is regarded as one of his finest.