Konstantin Yakovlevich Logunov (1924-2001)

The life and creative work of Konstantin Lagunov were inseparably connected with the most important pages in the Tyumen history of the XXth century. He began his career at an early age. At the age of 17 he was appointed Director of the orphan asylum in the Golyshmanovo village, and at the age of 19 he became the first secretary of the regional Komsomol organization. He got historic education, which determined his particular attitude towards the fate of his native land. In his works Lagunov tried to re-vive historical events and people, whom he considered of special importance to his contemporaries. In his documentary essay called ‘Ireanarch’ he reconstructed the life of Ivan Shemanovski (abbot Ireanarch), a prominent Siberian enlightener and abbot of the Obdorsk mission. Historical documents, turned into vivid literary images, brought to life the name of this prominent researcher and hermit.

Important was Lagunov’s contribution into re-constructing the truth about drastic events of the peasants’ rebellion in 1921. In the book ‘And Snow falls heavily…’ the innermost nature of this largest and cruelest revolt was deeply outlined. Creativity of Lagunov was of a varied nature and displayed the history of Tyumen from new and sometimes unexpected angles.

His children books ‘A Small Town on the Hill’ and ‘Romka Romazan’ enjoyed great love of readers from different parts of the country. Lagunov thoroughly documented and conceived the latest history of industrial development of Tyumen, which was reflected in his novels and essays. Many sharp moral and sometimes insoluble problems became key-topics of his books. Konstantin Lagunov was a founder of the Tyumen regional writers’ organization, of which he was head over twenty years. Since 1992 Lagunov worked as chairman of the journalist department at the Tyumen State University. He was elected an honourable citizen of Tyumen for his significant contribution to development of the cultural life in Tyumen.