Ivan Gorbunov-Posadov


Ivan Ivanovich Gorbunov-Posadov was a Russian, Soviet writer, poet, editor and publisher.
An avid Tolstoyan since 1884, Gorbunov-Posadov often served as an intermediary between Tolstoy and contemporary writers, notably Anton Chekhov. Throughout its history he was the key figure at the Posrednik publishing company which he became the head of in 1897.
An advocate of the so-called Free Upbringing theory, he edited the radical pedagogical journal Svobodnoye Vospitaniye, in which Nadezhda Krupskaya and Vladimir Bonch-Bruyevich were also involved, as well as the Library for Free Upbringing of Children, illustrated by Elisabeth Boehm. In 1907-1918 he published the magazine for children Mayak.
An ardent pacifist, Gorbunov-Posadov became noted for his passionate anti-war poems, some of which featured in Brothers, Come to Your Senses! 1900-1917 and Songs for Brotherhood and Freedom. 1882-1913. In the Soviet times he was credited mostly as a publisher of compilations, book series and illustrated almanacs for children.