List of Russian-language writers

This is a list of authors who have written works of prose and poetry in the Russian language.

For separate lists by literary field:

A

Alexander Ablesimov (1742–1783), opera librettist, poet, dramatist, satirist and journalist
Fyodor Abramov (1920–1983), novelist and short story writer, Two Winters and Three Summers
Alexander Afanasyev (1826–1871), folklorist who recorded and published over 600 Russian folktales and fairytales
Alexander Afinogenov (1904–1941), playwright, A Far Place
M. Ageyev (1898–1973), pseudonymous writer, Cocain Romance
Chinghiz Aitmatov (1928–2008), Kyrgyz novelist and short story writer, Jamilya
David Aizman (1869–1922), Russian-Jewish writer and playwright
Bella Akhmadulina (1937–2010), modern poet, The String
Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966), acmeist poet, Poem Without a Hero
Ivan Aksakov (1823–1886), journalist, slavophile
Konstantin Aksakov (1817–1860), playwright, critic and writer, slavophile
Sergey Aksakov (1791–1859), novelist and miscellaneous writer, The Scarlet Flower
Vasily Aksyonov (1932–2009), novelist and short story writer, Generations of Winter
Boris Akunin (born 1956), author, essayist, translator and literary critic, Erast Fandorin series
Mikhail Albov, (1851–1911), novelist and short story writer
Mark Aldanov (died 1957), historical novelist
Andrey Aldan-Semenov (1908–1985), Gulag memoirist
Sholem Aleichem (1859–1916), Russian Jewish writer, Wandering Stars
Margarita Aliger (1915–1992), poet, translator, and journalist, Zoya
Yuz Aleshkovsky (born 1929), writer, poet, playwright and performer of his own songs, Kangaroo
Boris Almazov (1827–1876), poet, translator and literary critic
Alexander Amfiteatrov (1862–1938), writer and historian, Napoleonder
Daniil Andreyev (1906–1959), writer, poet, and Christian mystic, Roza Mira
Leonid Andreyev (1871–1919), novelist, playwright and short story writer, The Seven Who Were Hanged
Irakly Andronikov (1908–1990), writer, historian, philologist and media personality
Pavel Annenkov (1813–1887), critic and memoirist, The Extraordinary Decade
Innokenty Annensky (1855–1909), poet, critic and translator, representative of the first wave of Russian Symbolism
Pavel Antokolsky (1896–1978), poet, All We Who in His Name
Aleksey Apukhtin (1840–1893), poet and writer, From Death to Life
Maria Arbatova (born 1957), novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet and journalist
Aleksei Arbuzov (1908–1986), playwright, A Long Road
Vladimir Arnoldi (1871–1924), children's author and professor of biology
Mikhail Artsybashev (1878–1927), naturalist writer and playwright, Sanin
Nikolai Aseev (1889–1963), futurist poet, Night Flute
Viktor Astafyev (1924–2001), novelist and short story writer, Sad Detective
Lera Auerbach (Averbakh) (born 1973), poet, writer and composer
Arkady Averchenko (1881–1925), satirical writer and playwright, Ninochka
Vasily Avseenko (1842–1913), writer, journalist and literary critic
Gennadiy Aygi (1934–2006), Chuvash poet and translator
Vasily Azhayev (1915–1968), novelist, Far from Moscow

B

Isaak Babel (1894–1940), short story writer, The Odessa Tales, Red Cavalry
Eduard Bagritsky (1895–1934), constructivist poet, February
Grigory Baklanov (1923–2009), novelist and magazine editor, Forever Nineteen
Mikhail Bakhtin (1895–1975), philosopher, literary critic, semiotician and scholar
Mikhail Bakunin (1814–1876), revolutionary and theorist of collectivist anarchism
Konstantin Balmont (1867–1942), symbolist poet and translator, Burning Buildings
Jurgis Baltrušaitis (1873–1944), poet and translator, The Pendulum
Yevgeny Baratynsky (1800–1844), poet, The Gipsy
Natalya Baranskaya (1908–2004), novelist and short story writer, A Week Like Any Other
Ivan Barkov (1732–1768), comic and erotic poet, Luka Mudischev
Anna Barkova (1901–1976), poet and writer, Gulag survivor
Agniya Barto (1906–1981), Russian-Jewish poet and children's writer
Alexander Bashlachev (1960–1988), poet, musician, guitarist, and singer-songwriter
Konstantin Batyushkov (1787–1855), poet, essayist and translator
Pavel Bazhov (1879–1950), fairy tale author, The Malachite Casket
Demyan Bedny (1883–1945), poet and satirist, New Testament Without Defects
Dmitry Begichev (1786–1855), writer and politician
Alexander Bek (1903–1972), novelist, And Not to Die
Vissarion Belinsky (1811–1848), writer, literary critic and philosopher
Vasily Belov (born 1932), writer, poet and dramatist, Eves, The Year of a Major Breakdown
Andrei Bely (1880–1934), symbolist poet and writer, Petersburg
Alexander Belyayev (1884–1942), science fiction author, Amphibian Man
Nina Berberova (1901–1993), novelist and short story writer, The Book of Happiness
Olga Bergholz (1910–1975), poet, playwright and memoirist
Alexander Bestuzhev (1797–1837), novelist, short story writer and Decembrist, An Evening on Bivouac
Vitaly Bianki (1894–1959), nature and children's writer
Aleksei Bibik (1878–1976), working-class novelist and short story writer
Andrei Bitov (born 1937), novelist and short story writer, Pushkin House
Nikolai Blagoveshchensky (1837–1889), writer, journalist and biographer
Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891), a founder of Theosophy and the Theosophical Society, The Secret Doctrine, Isis Unveiled
Pyotr Blinov (1913–1942), Udmurt writer and journalist
Alexander Blok (1880–1921), poet, The Twelve
Pyotr Boborykin (1836–1921), writer, playwright and journalist, China Town
Oleg Bogayev (born 1970), playwright, The Russian National Postal Service
Andrei Bogdanov (1692-1766), bibliographer and ethnographer
Alexander Bogdanov (1873–1928), novelist, physician, economist and philosopher, Red Star
Vladimir Bogomolov (1926–2003), novelist and short story writer, Ivan
Vladimir Bogoraz (1865–1936), revolutionary, writer and anthropologist
Yuri Bondarev (born 1924), novelist and short story writer, The Shore
Leonid Borodin (born 1938), novelist and journalist, The Story of a Strange Time
Genrikh Borovik (born 1929), publicist, writer, playwright and filmmaker
Vasily Botkin (1812–1869), critic, essayist and translator
Valeri Brainin-Passek (born 1948), Russian/German musicologist, music manager, composer and poet
Osip Brik (1888–1945), avant garde writer and literary critic
Joseph Brodsky (1940–1996), poet and essayist, Nobel Prize Winner
Valery Bryusov (1873–1924), poet, novelist and short story writer, The Fiery Angel
Yury Buida (born 1954), novelist and short story writer, The Zero Train
Vladimir Bukovsky (born 1942), writer and dissident
Mikhail Bulgakov (1891–1940), novelist and playwright, The Master and Margarita
Faddey Bulgarin (1789–1859), Polish-born writer and journalist
Kir Bulychev (1934–2003), science fiction author, Half a Life
Ivan Bunin (1870–1953), first Russian winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, The Village
Anna Bunina (1774–1829), poet, Though Poverty's No Stain
David Burliuk (1882–1967), illustrator, publicist and author associated with Russian Futurism

C

Dimitrie Cantemir (1673–1723), philosopher, historian, composer, musicologist, linguist, ethnographer and geographer
Catherine the Great, (1729–1796), patroness of the arts, music and theatre, and opera librettist, Fevey
Pyotr Chaadayev (1794–1856), philosopher, Philosophical Letters
Aleksey Chapygin (1870–1937), novelist and short story writer, Stepan Razin
Lidia Charskaya (1875–1938), novelist and actress
Alexander Chekhov (1855–1913), writer and journalist
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904), short story writer and playwright, The Cherry Orchard
Nikolay Chernyshevsky (1828–1889), writer, journalist and politician, What Is to Be Done?
Evgeny Chirikov (1864–1932), novelist, short story writer and playwright, The Magician
Sasha Chorny (1880–1932), poet, satirist and children's writer
Korney Chukovsky (1882–1969), children's poet, Wash'em'clean
Lydia Chukovskaya (1907–1996), writer and poet, Sofia Petrovna
Georgy Chulkov (1879–1939), poet, editor, writer and critic

D

Denis Davydov (1784–1839), soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars
Vladimir Dal (1801–1872), writer and lexicographer, Explanatory Dictionary
Yuli Daniel (1925–1988), dissident writer, poet and translator, This is Moscow Speaking
Grigory Danilevsky (1829–1890), historical and ethnographical novelist, Moscow in Flames
Anton Delvig (1798–1831), poet, journalist and magazine editor
Grigoriy Demidovtsev (born 1960), writer and playwright
Andrey Dementyev (born 1928), poet and writer
Regina Derieva (born 1949), poet, writer and essayist
Gavrila Derzhavin (1743–1816), poet and statesman, Let the Thunder of Victory Sound!
Ivan Dmitriev (1760–1837), sentamentalist poet and Russian Minister of Justice
Valentina Dmitryeva (1859–1947), writer, doctor and teacher, Hveska, the Doctor's Watchman
Nikolay Dobrolyubov (1836–1861), literary critic, journalist, poet and essayist
Leonid Dobychin (1894–1936), novelist, The Town of N
Yevgeniy Dolmatovsky (1915–1994) poet and songwriter
Yury Dombrovsky (1909–1978), writer and Gulag survivor, The Keeper of Antiquities
Vlas Doroshevich (1864–1922), journalist, writer and drama critic, The Way of the Cross
Lyubov Dostoyevskaya (1869–1926), novelist and biographer, The Emigrant
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881), writer, essayist, journalist and editor, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov
Mikhail Dostoyevsky (1820–1864), writer, critic and editor, Vremya
Sergei Dovlatov (1941–1990), novelist, short story writer and journalist, Affiliate
Spiridon Drozhzhin (1848–1930), poet, At the Village Assembly
Yulia Drunina (1924–1991), poet and politician
Alexander Druzhinin (1824–1864), writer and magazine editor, Polinka Saks
Vladimir Dudintsev (1918–1998), novelist, Not by Bread Alone
Nadezhda Durova (1783–1866), soldier and writer, The Cavalry Maiden

E

Ilya Ehrenburg (1891–1967), novelist and WWII war correspondent, The Black Book, The Thaw
Natan Eidelman (1930–1989), author, biographer and historian
Sergey Elpatyevsky (1854–1933), novelist and short story writer, Pity Me!
Asar Eppel (born 1935), writer and translator, Red Caviar Sandwiches
Nikolai Erdman (1900–1970), playwright, The Suicide
Victor Erofeyev (born 1947), writer, literary critic and magazine editor, Russian Beauty
Alexander Ertel (1855–1908), novelist and short story writer, A Greedy Peasant
Mikhail Evstafiev (born 1963), artist, photographer and writer, Two Steps from Heaven
Nikolai Evreinov (1879–1953), director, dramatist and theatre practitioner, The Storming of the Winter Palace

F

Alexander Fadeyev (1901–1956), novelist, known for his war fiction, The Rout, The Young Guard
Konstantin Fedin (1892–1977), novelist, Cities and Years
Afanasy Fet (1820–1892), poet and translator
Vera Figner (1852–1942), revolutionary and writer, member of Narodnaya Volya
Konstantin Fofanov (1862–1911), poet, considered to be a precursor of the symbolists, Shadows and Mystery
Denis Fonvizin (1744–1792), dramatist, The Minor
Olga Forsh (1873–1961), writer, dramatist, memoirist and scenarist, Palace and Prison
Dmitry Furmanov (1891–1926), writer, known for his Russian Civil War novel Chapayev

G

Cherubina de Gabriak (1887–1928), pseudonymous poet
Arkady Gaidar (1904–1941), children's writer, Timur and His Squad
Alexander Galich (1918–1977), poet, screenwriter, playwright and singer-songwriter
Alisa Ganieva (pseudonym Gulla Khirachev) (born 1985), writer and essayist
Nikolai Garin-Mikhailovsky (1852–1906), writer, essayist and engineer, Practical Training
Vsevolod Garshin (1855–1888), short story writer, The Red Flower
Aleksei Gastev (1882–1939), avant garde poet
Mikhail Gerasimov (1889–1939), working-class poet
Yuri German (1910–1967), writer, playwright, screenwriter and journalist, The Cause You Serve
Vladimir Gilyarovsky (1853–1935), writer and journalist, The Stories of the Slums
Lidiya Ginzburg (1902–1990), literary critic and a survivor of the Siege of Leningrad, Blockade Diary
Yevgenia Ginzburg (1904–1977), Gulag memoirist, Journey into the Whirlwind, Within the Whirlwind
Zinaida Gippius (1869–1945), essayist, memoirist, writer, poet and playwright, The Green Ring
Anatoly Gladilin (born 1935), novelist, Moscow Racetrack
Fyodor Gladkov (1883–1958), novelist and short story writer, Cement
Nikolay Glazkov (1919–1979), poet, creator of the term "Samizdat"
Fyodor Glinka (1786–1880), poet and playwright, Karelia
Dmitry Glukhovsky (born 1979), writer and journalist, Metro 2033
Nikolay Gnedich (1784–1833), poet and translator, The Fishers
Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852), writer and dramatist, Dead Souls
Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1848–1913), poet, Songs and Dances of Death
Boris Golovin (born 1955), singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist
Ivan Goncharov (1812–1891), novelist, Oblomov
Natalya Gorbanevskaya (born 1936), poet, translator and civil rights activist
Dmitry Gorchakov (1758–1824), poet, playwright and satirist
Grigori Gorin (1940–2000), writer, playwright and screenwriter, The Very Same Munchhausen
Maxim Gorky (1868–1936), novelist, short story writer and playwright, The Lower Depths
Nina Gorlanova (born 1947), novelist and short story writer
Sergey Gorodetsky (1884–1967), poet, one of the founders of the acmeist school
Daniil Granin (born 1919), novelist, Those Who Seek
Nikolay Gretsch (1787–1867), journalist, writer and magazine editor, Northern Bee
Aleksander Griboyedov (1795–1828), dramatist and statesman, Woe from Wit
Dmitry Grigorovich (1822–1900), novelist, The Fishermen
Oleg Grigoriev (1943–1992), poet and artist
Apollon Grigoryev (1822–1864), poet, literary and theatrical critic, translator and memoirist
Alexander Grin (1880–1932), author of novels and stories set in Grinlandia, Scarlet Sails
Isabella Grinevskaya (1864–1944), poet, writer and playwright
Vasily Grossman (1905–1964), writer and war correspondent, Life and Fate
Vitali Gubarev (1912–1981), journalist and writer
Igor Guberman (born 1936), writer and satirical poet
Semyon Gudzenko (1922–1953), poet of the World War II generation
Lev Gumilev (1912–1992), historian, ethnologist and anthropologist
Nikolay Gumilev (1886–1921), poet, founder of the acmeist movement
Elena Guro (1877–1913), futurist writer and painter, The Hurdy-Gurdy
Sergey Gusev-Orenburgsky (1867–1963), novelist, The Land of the Fathers

H

Alexander Herzen (1812–1870), essayist, novelist, philosopher and magazine editor, Who is to Blame?

I

Ilf and Petrov (Ilf 1897–1937) (Petrov 1903–1942), satirical writers, The Twelve Chairs, The Little Golden Calf
Vera Inber (1890–1972), poet and writer, Lalla's Interests
Mikhail Isakovsky (1900–1973), poet and songwriter, Katyusha
Fazil Iskander, (born 1929), Abkhaz writer, Chik and His Friends
Alexei Ivanov (born 1969), novelist and screenwriter
Georgy Ivanov (1894–1958), poet and essayist
Vsevolod Ivanov (1895–1963), writer and playwright, Armoured Train 14-69
Vyacheslav Ivanov (1866–1949), poet, playwright, philosopher, translator and literary critic
Ryurik Ivnev (1891–1981), poet, novelist and translator

K

Gavril Kamenev (1772–1803), poet, writer and translator
Vasily Kamensky (1884–1961), poet, playwright and artist, one of the first Russian aviators
Antiochus Kantemir (1708–1744), writer and poet, On the Envy and Pride of Evil-Minded Courtiers
Nikolay Karamzin (1766–1826), poet, writer and historian, Poor Liza
Nikolay Karazin (1842–1908), painter and writer, The Two-Legged Wolf
Nikolay Karonin-Petropavlovsky (1853–1892), narodnik writer, First Storm
Vladimir Karpov (1922–2010), novelist and magazine editor, The Commander
Vasily Kapnist (1758–1823), poet and playwright, Chicane
Lev Kassil (1905–1970), writer of juvenile and young adult literature
Ivan Kataev (1902–1937), novelist and short story writer, Immortality
Valentin Kataev (1897–1986), writer and playwright, Time, Forward!
Pavel Katenin (1792–1853), classicist poet, dramatist and literary critic
Mikhail Katkov (1818–1887), journalist and publicist, Moscow News
Veniamin Kaverin (1902–1989), novelist, The Two Captains
Emmanuil Kazakevich (1913–1962), writer, poet and playwright, The Blue Notebook
Yury Kazakov (1927–1982), short story writer, Going To Town
Rimma Kazakova (1932–2008), poet, Let's Meet in the East
Dmitri Kedrin (1907–1945), poet, Confession
Yuri Khanon (born 1965), novelist and eccentric, Skryabin As a Face
Mark Kharitonov (born 1937), writer, poet, and translator, Lines of Fate
Yevgeny Kharitonov (1941–1981), writer, poet, playwright and theater director
Daniil Kharms (1905–1942), absurdist writer, The Old Woman
Ivan Khemnitser (1745–1784), satirical poet, The Rich Man and the Poor Man
Mikhail Kheraskov (1733–1807), poet, writer and playwright, Vladimir Reborn
Velimir Khlebnikov (1885–1922), futurist poet and author, Incantation by Laughter
Vladislav Khodasevich (1886–1939), poet and literary critic
Aleksey Khomyakov (1804–1860), poet, co-founder of the slavophile movement
Nadezhda Khvoshchinskaya (1824–1889), writer, critic and translator, The Boarding-School Girl
Ivan Kireyevsky (1806–1856), writer, co-founder of the slavophile movement
Vladimir Kirshon (1902–1938), playwright, The Miraculous Alloy
Marusya Klimova (born 1961), writer and translator
Nikolai Klyuev (1884–1937), peasant poet, A Northern Poem
Yakov Knyazhnin (1740/42–1791), playwright, poet and translator, The Braggart
Vsevolod Kochetov (1912–1973), novelist and journalist, The Zhurbin Family
Pavel Kogan (1818–1942), poet and military interpreter
Ivan Kokorev (1825–1853), short story writer and essayist
Alexandra Kollontai (1872–1952), writer, feminist and important political figure, Love of Worker Bees
Aleksey Koltsov (1809–1842), poet, An Old Man's Song
Mikhail Koltsov (1898–1940/42), journalist and satirist
Lev Kopelev (1912–1997), writer, journalist and dissident
Vladimir Korolenko (1853–1921), writer and memoirist, The Blind Musician
Arkady Kots (1872–1943), poet and translator, Proletarian Songs
Yury Koval (1938–1995), writer and artist
Sofia Kovalevskaya (1859–1891), writer and mathematician, Nihilist Girl
Vadim Kozhevnikov (1909–1984), novelist and short story writer, Shield and Sword
Nadezhda Kozhevnikova (born 1949), writer and journalist, Attorney Alexandra Tikhonovna
Ivan Kozlov (1779–1840), poet and translator, The Monk
Eugene Kozlovsky (born 1946), writer, journalist, theatre director and film director
Vasili Krasovsky (1782–1824), poet, Scrolls of the Muse
Vsevolod Krestovsky (1840–1895), writer, Knights of Industry
Peter Kropotkin (1842–1921), writer and anarchist theorist, In Russian and French Prisons
Aleksei Kruchenykh (1886–1968), futurist poet, co-creator of the literary concept "Zaum"
Ivan Krylov (1769–1844), major fabulist and dramatist
Gleb Krzhizhanovsky (1872–1959), poet, author of the Russian version of the Warszawianka
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky (1887–1950), short story writer, Quadraturin
Anatoly Kudryavitsky (born 1954), poet and novelist
Nestor Kukolnik (1809–1868), playwright, poet and librettist, A Life for the Tsar
Aleksandr Kuprin (1870–1938), novelist and short story writer, The Duel
Wilhelm Küchelbecker (1797–1846), poet and magazine editor, Mnemozina
Ivan Kushchevsky (1847–1876), writer, Nikolai Negorev
Alexander Kushner (born 1936), poet and essayist, The First Impression
Dmitry Kuzmin (born 1968), poet, critic and publisher
Mikhail Kuzmin (1872–1936), poet and novelist, Wings
Anatoly Kuznetsov (1929–1979), novelist, Babi Yar: A Document in the Form of a Novel

L

Lazar Lagin (1903–1979), satirist and children's writer, The Old Genie Hottabych
Yulia Latynina (born 1966), journalist, writer and radio host, The Insider
Boris Lavrenyov (1891–1959), writer and playwright, Such a Simple Thing
Pyotr Lavrov (1823–1900), prominent theorist of narodism, philosopher, publicist and sociologist.
Ivan Lazhechnikov (1792–1869), historical novelist, The Heretic
Vasily Lebedev-Kumach (1898–1949), poet and lyricist, Serdtse
Leonid Leonov (1899–1994), major novelist and short story writer, The Thief
Konstantin Leontiev (1831–1891), philosopher and essayist
Mikhail Lermontov (1814–1841), major poet, playwright and novelist, A Hero of Our Time
Nikolai Leskov (1831–1895), writer and journalist, Lady MacBeth of the Mtensk District
Alexander Levitov (1835–1877), short story writer, Leatherhide the Cobbler
Nikolay Leykin (1841–1906), writer and publisher, Fragments Magazine
Vladimir Lichutin (born 1940), writer and essayist
Viktor Likhonosov (born 1936), writer and editor, Unwritten Memoirs. Our Little Paris.
Eduard Limonov (born 1943), writer and dissident, Memoirs of a Russian Punk
Dmitri Lipskerov (born 1964), writer and playwright, The Forty Years of Changzhoeh
Mirra Lokhvitskaya (1869–1905), poet and playwright
Mikhail Lomonosov (1711–1765), polymath, scientist, writer and linguistic reformer
Vladimir Lugovskoy (1901–1957), constructivist poet
Sergey Lukyanenko (born 1968), popular science-fiction and fantasy author, The Stars Are Cold Toys
Anatoly Lunacharsky (1875–1933), journalist and publicist
Lev Lunts (1901–1924), writer, playwright, essayist and critic, member of the Serapion Brothers

M

Grigori Machtet (1852–1901), novelist, short story writer and poet
Vladimir Makanin (born 1937), novelist and short story writer, Antileader
Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak (1852–1912), novelist, The Privalov Fortune
Nadezhda Mandelstam (1899–1980), writer and memoirist, Hope Against Hope, Hope Abandoned
Osip Mandelstam (1891–1938), poet and writer, member of the acmeist school, The Stone
Anatoly Marienhof (1897–1962), novelist, poet and playwright, A Novel Without Lies
Alexandra Marinina (born 1957), writer of detective stories
Maria Markova (born 1982), poet
Samuil Marshak (1887–1964), writer, translator and children's poet, The Twelve Months
Vladilen Mashkovtsev (1929–1997), poet, writer and journalist
Mikhail Matinsky (1750–1820), scientist, dramatist, librettist and opera composer.
Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893–1930), futurist poet, writer and playwright, Mystery-Bouffe
Apollon Maykov (1821–1897), poet and translator
Valerian Maykov (1823–1847), literary critic, brother of Apollon Maykov
Lev Mei (1822–1862), poet and playwright, The Tsar's Bride
Pavel Melnikov (1818–1883), ethnographical novelist, In the Forests
Dmitry Merezhkovsky (1865–1941), poet and novelist, founder of the symbolist movement in Russia, Christ and Antichrist
Aleksey Merzlyakov (1778–1830), poet, critic, translator and professor
Arvo Mets (1937–1997), poet and translator, Resemblance
Alexander Mezhirov (1923–2009), poet, translator and critic
Sergey Mikhalkov (1913–2009), children's writer, satirist and song-writer, author of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union
Nikolay Mikhaylovsky (1842–1904), publicist, literary critic, sociologist and narodnik theoretician
Nikolai Minsky (1855–1937), poet, writer and translator, From the Gloom to the Light
Daniil Mordovtsev (1830–1905), writer and historian of Ukrainian descent
Yunna Morits (born 1937), poet and artist, The Vine
Viktor Muyzhel (1880–1924), writer and painter
Viktor Muravin (born 1929), novelist, The Diary of Vikenty Angarov

N

Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977), poet and novelist, wrote first in Russian, then in English, author of Lolita
Nikolai Nadezhdin (1804–1856), literary critic and ethnographer
Semyon Nadson (1862–1887), poet, Pity the Stately Cypress Trees
Yuri Nagibin (1924–1994), novelist, short story writer and screenwriter
Vladimir Narbut (1888–1938), acmeist poet and magazine editor
Vasily Narezhny (1780–1825), novelist, A Russian Gil Blas
Sergey Narovchatov (1919–1981), writer and magazine editor, Novy Mir
Nikolay Naumov, (1838–1901), essayist and short story writer, Cobweb
Nikolay Nekrasov (1821–1878), major poet and magazine editor, Who Can be Happy and Free in Russia?
Viktor Nekrasov (1911–1987), novelist, Front-line Stalingrad
Viktor Nekipelov (1928–1989), poet, writer and dissident
Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko (1845–1936), novelist, essayist and war correspondent
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (1858–1943), theatre director, writer and playwright, co-founder of the Moscow Art Theatre
Löb Nevakhovich (1776/78–1831), Russia-Jewish writer and playwright
Alexander Neverov (1886–1923), writer and playwright, City of Bread
Friedrich Neznansky (born 1932), crime novelist, Red Square
Ivan Nikitin (1824–1861), poet and writer, Kulak
Nikolai Nikolev (1758–1815), poet and playwright
Nikolay Nosov (1908–1976), children's writer, Neznaika
Osip Notovich (1849–1914), publisher, playwright and essayist
Alexey Novikov-Priboy (1877–1944), novelist and short story writer, The Captain

O

Vladimir Obruchev (1863–1956), science fiction writer, Sannikov Land
Olga Obukhova (1941), journalist, writer and translator
Alexander Odoevsky (1802–1839), poet and playwright, activist of the Decembrist Revolt
Vladimir Odoevsky (1803–1869), philosopher, writer, music critic, philanthropist and pedagogue, The Living Corpse
Irina Odoyevtseva (1895–1990), poet, novelist and memoirist
Nikolay Ogarev (1813–1877), poet, historian and political activist
Bulat Okudzhava (1924–1997), poet, writer and singer-songwriter, The Art of Needles and Sins
Yury Olesha (1899–1960), satirical novelist, Envy
Nikolay Oleynikov (1898–1937), editor, avant-garde poet and playwright
Mikhail Osorgin (1878–1942), journalist, novelist, short story writer and essayist
Alexander Ostrovsky (1823–1886), major playwright, The Storm
Nikolai Ostrovsky (1904–1936), socialist realist writer, How the Steel Was Tempered
Valentin Ovechkin (1904–1968), writer, playwright, journalist and war correspondent, Greetings from the Front
Vladislav Ozerov (1769–1816), playwright, Dmitry Donskoy

P

Marina Palei (born 1955), scriptwriter, publicist, novelist and translator, Rendezvous
Liodor Palmin (1841–1891), poet, translator and journalist
Ivan Panaev (1812–1862), writer, critic and publisher/editor of Sovremennik magazine
Avdotya Panaeva (1820–1893), novelist, short story writer and memoirist
Vera Panova (1905–1973), novelist, short story writer, journalist and playwright, Seryozha
Valentin Parnakh (1891–1951), poet, translator, choreographer and musician, founder of Russian jazz music
Sophia Parnok (1885–1933), poet, playwright and translator
Boris Pasternak (1890–1960), poet and novelist, not permitted by the Soviet Union to accept the Nobel Prize, Doctor Zhivago
Pyotr Patrushev (born 1942), writer and dissident
Konstantin Paustovsky (1892–1968), writer, Nobel Prize nominee, Story of a Life
Pyotr Pavlenko (1899–1951), writer, Happiness
Oleg Pavlov (born 1970), novelist and short story writer
Karolina Pavlova (1807–1893), poet and novelist, A Double Life
Vladimir Pecherin (1807–1885), poet and writer, Notes from Beyond the Tomb
Victor Pelevin (born 1962), modern writer, Omon Ra
Yakov Perelman (1882–1942), science writer, Physics for Entertainment
Nick Perumov (born 1963), fantasy and science fiction writer
Mariya Petrovykh (1908–1979), poet and translator
Lyudmila Petrushevskaya (born 1938), modern writer and playwright, The Number One
Valentin Pikul (1928–1990), novelist, At the Last Frontier
Boris Pilnyak (1894–1938), novelist, The Naked Year
Dmitry Pisarev (1840–1868), critic and publicist
Aleksey Pisemsky (1821–1881), novelist and dramatist, A Bitter Fate
Andrei Platonov (1899–1951), novelist, The Foundation Pit
Georgi Plekhanov (1857–1918), writer, revolutionary and Marxist theoretician
Aleksey Pleshcheyev (1825–1893), radical poet, Step Forward! Without Fear or Doubt
Pyotr Pletnyov (1792–1866), poet, dedicatee of Pushkin's Eugene Onegin
Mikhail Pogodin (1800–1875), historian and journalist
Nikolai Pogodin (1900–1962), playwright, journalist and magazine editor
Antony Pogorelsky (1787–1837), fantasy fiction writer, Dvoinik
Boris Polevoy (1908–1981), writer and journalist, The Story of a Real Man
Nikolai Polevoy (1796–1846), writer, historian and magazine editor, The Moscow Telegraph
Elizaveta Polonskaya (1890–1969), poet, translator, and journalist, the only female member of the Serapion Brothers
Yakov Polonsky (1819–1898), poet, Georgian Night
Nikolay Pomyalovsky (1835–1863), novelist, Seminary Sketches
Mikhail Popov (1742–1790), writer, poet, dramatist and opera librettist, Anyuta
Nikolay Popovsky (1730–1760), poet and translator
Vasili Popugaev (1778/79–1816), poet, novelist and translator
Ignaty Potapenko (1856–1929), writer and playwright, A Russian Priest
Alexander Preys (1905–1942), playwright and librettist, The Nose
Dmitri Prigov (1940–2007), writer and artist, Live in Moscow
Zakhar Prilepin (born 1975), writer and dissident, member of the National Bolshevik Party
Mikhail Prishvin (1873–1954), journalist and writer
Alexander Prokhanov (born 1938), writer and newspaper editor
Alexander Prokofyev (1900–1971), poet and war correspondent
Iosif Prut (1900–1996), playwright and screenwriter
Kozma Prutkov, satirist, pseudonym of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy and his cousins
Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837), poet, novelist and dramatist, Eugene Onegin
Vasily Pushkin (1766–1830), poet, uncle of Alexander Pushkin

R

Alexander Radishchev (1749–1802), radical writer and social critic, Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow
Edvard Radzinsky (born 1936), writer, playwright, TV personality, screenwriter and historian
Vladimir Rayevsky (1795–1872), poet and Decembrist
Valentin Rasputin (born 1937), novelist, Farewell to Matyora
Irina Ratushinskaya (born 1954) dissident poet and writer, Grey is the Color of Hope
Yevgeny Rein (born 1935), poet and writer, The Names of Bridges
Aleksey Remizov (1877–1957), modernist writer, calligrapher and folklore enthusiast, The Clock
Fyodor Reshetnikov (1841–1871), novelist, The Podlipnayans
Robert Rozhdestvensky (1932–1994), poet, Flags of Spring
Helena Roerich (1879–1949), philosopher, writer and public figure
Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947), painter, philosopher, scientist, writer, traveler and public figure
Konstantin Romanov (1858–1915), poet and playwright, The King of the Jews
Panteleimon Romanov (1884–1938), writer, Without Bird-Cherry Blossoms
Mikhail Roshchin (1933–2010), playwright, screenwriter and short story writer
Yevdokiya Rostopchina (1811–1858), poet and writer, Forced Marriage
Vasily Rozanov (1856–1919), writer and philosopher
Robert Rozhdestvensky (1932–1994), poet, Flags of Spring
Dina Rubina (born 1951), novelist and short story writer, The Blackthorn
Anatoly Rybakov (1911–1998), novelist, Children of the Arbat
Vladimir Rybakov (born 1947), novelist and journalist, The Afghans: A Novella of Soviet Soldiers in Afghanistan
Vyacheslav Rybakov (born 1954), science fiction author and orientalist, The Trial Sphere
Maria Rybakova (born 1973), novelist and short story writer
Kondraty Ryleyev (1795–1826), poet, publisher and a leader of the Decembrist Revolt
Yuri Rytkheu (born 1930), Chukchi writer, A Dream in Polar Fog

S

Irina Saburova (1907–1979), writer, poet, translator, and magazine editor
German Sadulaev (born 1973), Chechen writer, I am a Chechen!
Yuri Samarin (1819–1876), publicist and critic
Genrikh Sapgir (1928–1999), poet and novelist
Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826–1889), satirical writer, The Golovlyov Family
Boris Savinkov (1879–1925), writer and revolutionary terrorist, What Never Happened
Ilya Selvinsky (1899–1968), poet, leader of the constructivist school
Sergey Semyonov (1868–1922), peasant writer, Gluttons
Yulian Semyonov (1931–1993), writer of spy fiction and crime fiction, Seventeen Instants of Spring
Osip Senkovsky (1800–1858), Polish-Russian orientalist, journalist, writer and entertainer.
Alexander Serafimovich (1863–1949), writer, The Iron Flood
Sergei Sergeyev-Tsensky (1875–1958), writer and academician, Brusilov's Breakthrough
Efraim Sevela (1928–2010), writer, screenwriter, director and producer
Igor Severyanin (1887–1941), ego futurist poet, The Cup of Thunder
Marietta Shaginyan (1888–1982), writer of Armenian descent, Mess-Mend
Varlam Shalamov (1907–1982), writer and Gulag survivor, The Kolyma Tales
Olga Shapir (1850–1916), writer and feminist, The Settlement
Tatiana Shchepkina-Kupernik (1874–1952), poet, writer, playwright and translator, Deborah
Stepan Shchipachev (1889–1980), poet, Lines of Love
Vadim Shefner (1915–2002), poet and writer
Nikolay Sherbina (1821–1869), poet, To the Sea
Vadim Shershenevich (1893–1942), futurist poet, writer and screenwriter, A Kiss From Mary Pickford
Stepan Shevyryov (1806–1864), poet, writer, critic and philologist
Mikhail Shishkin (born 1961), modern writer, The Taking of Izmail
Vyacheslav Shishkov (1873–1945), writer, known for his descriptions of Siberia
Maria Shkapskaya (1891–1952), poet and journalist
Ivan Shmelyov (1873–1850), novelist, The Stone Age
Mikhail Sholokhov (1905–1984), Nobel Prize winning writer, And Quiet Flows the Don
Gennady Shpalikov (1937–1974), poet and screenwriter, I Step Through Moscow
Vasily Shukshin (1929–1974), actor, writer, screenwriter and movie director, Roubles in Words, Kopeks in Figures
Pavel Shumil (born 1957), science fiction author
Evgeny Shvarts (1896–1958), writer, playwright and screenwriter, The Dragon
Konstantin Simonov (1915–1979), novelist and poet, Wait for Me
Andrei Sinyavsky (1925–1997), writer, publisher and dissident, Pkhentz
Alexander Skabichevsky (1838-1911), writer and literary critic
Stepan Skitalets (1869–1941), poet and writer, The Love of a Scene Painter
Vasily Sleptsov (1836–1878), writer and social reformer, The Ward
Konstantin Sluchevsky (1837–1904), poet and magazine editor
Boris Slutsky (1919–1986), representative of the War generation of Russian poets
Sofia Soboleva (1840–1884), writer and journalist, Pros and Cons
Sasha Sokolov (born 1943), novelist, A School for Fools
Ivan Sokolov-Mikitov (1882–1975), author, journalist and short-story writer, Childhood
Vladimir Sollogub (1813–1882), writer and poet, The Snowstorm
Fyodor Sologub, symbolist poet, playwright and novelist, The Petty Demon
Vladimir Soloukhin (1924–1997), writer, journalist and poet, Verdict
Leonid Solovyov (1906–1962), writer and playwright, Tale of Hodja Nasreddin
Vladimir Solovyov (1853–1900), philosopher, poet, pamphleteer and literary critic
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (born 1918), Nobel Prize winning writer, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Orest Somov (1793–1833), writer, journalist, literary critic and translator, Mommy and Sonny
Vladimir Sorokin (born 1955), popular postmodern writer and dramatist
Konstantin Staniukovich (1843–1903), known for his sea stories, Maximka
Ksenya Stepanycheva (born 1978), playwright, Pink Bow
Sergey Stepnyak-Kravchinsky (1851–1895), writer, publicist and revolutionary, King Stork and King Log
Dmitry Strelnikov (born 1969), poet, essayist and novelist
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (Arkady 1925–1991) (Boris born 1933), science fiction writers, Hard to Be a God
Aleksandr Sukhovo-Kobylin (1817–1903), playwright, The Case
Alexander Sumarokov (1717–1777), early poet and playwright
Mikhail Sushkov (1775–1792), writer, The Russian Werther
Alexei Suvorin (1834–1912), publisher and journalist
Viktor Suvorov (born 1947), writer and historian
Mikhail Svetlov (1903–1964), poet and journalist, Song of Kakhovka

T

Yelizaveta Tarakhovskaya (1891–1968), poet, playwright, translator and children's writer
Alexander Tarasov-Rodionov (1885–1938), writer, Chocolate
Arseny Tarkovsky (1907–1989), poet and translator
Valery Tarsis (1906–1983), novelist and dissident, Ward 7
Nadezhda Teffi (1872–1952), humorist writer, All About Love
Nikolay Teleshov (1867–1957), writer and memoirist, organizer of the Moscow Sreda
Vladimir Tendryakov (1923–1984), novelist and short story writer, Three, Seven, Ace
Sergey Terpigorev (1841–1895), writer and essayist
Nikolai Tikhonov (1895–1979), writer and poet, member of the Serapion Brothers
Vladislav Titov (1934–1987), novelist who lost both arms in a coal mine accident, Defying Death
Pyotr Tkachev (1844–1886), publicist, writer and critic
Viktoriya Tokareva (born 1937), screenwriter and short story writer
Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817–1875), poet, dramatist and novelist, The Death of Ivan the Terrible
Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1882–1945), novelist and science fiction writer, The Garin Death Ray
Ilya Tolstoy (1866–1933), author of a memoir about his father Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist and public figure, War and Peace, Anna Karenina
Tatyana Tolstaya (born 1951), writer, TV host, publicist, novelist and essayist
Edward Topol (born 1938), novelist and journalist, Red Square
Vasily Trediakovsky (1703–1768), poet, essayist and playwright
Konstantin Trenyov (1876–1945), playwright and short story writer, Lyubov Yarovaya
Sergei Tretyakov (1892–1937), playwright, I Want a Baby
Yury Trifonov (1925–1981), novelist and short story writer, The Long Goodbye
Gavriil Troyepolsky (1905–1995), novelist, White Bim Black Ear
Marina Tsvetaeva (1892–1941), poet and essayist, The Rat-Catcher
Alexei Tsvetkov (born 1947), poet, novelist and journalist
Evgenia Tur (1815–1892), writer, critic, journalist and publisher, Antonina
Ivan Turgenev (1818–1883), novelist and playwright, A Sportsman's Sketches, Fathers and Sons
Veronika Tushnova (1915–1965), poet and translator, Memory of the Heart
Aleksandr Tvardovsky (1910–1971), poet, war correspondent and editor of Novy Mir, Vasily Tyorkin
Yury Tynyanov (1894–1943), writer, literary critic, translator, scholar and screenwriter
Fyodor Tyutchev (1803–1873), poet, The Last Love

U

Vladimir Uflyand (1937–2007), poet, The Working Week Comes To An End
Lyudmila Ulitskaya (born 1943), novelist and short-story writer, Medea and Her Children
Eduard Uspensky (born 1937), children's writer, Cheburashka series
Gleb Uspensky (1843–1902), writer and essayist, The Power of the Land
Nikolay Uspensky (1837–1889), short story writer, A Good Existence
Joseph Utkin (1903–1944), poet and journalist, Dear Childhood

V

Konstantin Vaginov (1899–1934), poet and novelist, Journey to Chaos
Pyotr Valuyev (1815–1890), statesman, novelist, poet and essayist
Alexander Vampilov (1937–1972), playwright, Elder Son
Mikhail Veller (born 1948), writer and journalist, The Guru
Alexander Veltman (1800–1870), writer, one of the pioneers of Russian science fiction
Dmitry Venevitinov (1805–1827), philosophical poet
Anastasiya Verbitskaya (1861–1928), novelist, playwright, screenplay writer, publisher and feminist, The Keys to Happiness
Vikenty Veresaev (1867–1945), writer and medical doctor, Memoirs of a Physician
Lidia Veselitskaya (1857–1936), writer, translator and memoirist, Mimi's Marriage
Tony Vilgotsky (born 1980), horror and fantasy writer, columnist
Nikolai Virta (1906–1976), writer and playwright, Alone
Vsevolod Vishnevsky (1900–1951), playwright, Optimistic Tragedy
Igor Vishnevetsky (born 1964), poet and music historian
Georgi Vladimov (1931–2003), dissident writer, Faithful Ruslan
Dmitry Vodennikov (born 1968), poet and essayist
Vladimir Voinovich (born 1932), satirical novelist, The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin
Zinaida Volkonskaya (1792–1862), writer, poet, singer, composer, salonist and lady in waiting
Alexander Volkov (1891–1977), novelist and mathematician, The Wizard of the Emerald City
Maximilian Voloshin (1877–1932), poet, translator and Freemason,
Vatslav Vorovsky (1871–1923), Marxist revolutionary, literary critic, diplomat and publicist
Marko Vovchok (1833–1907), novelist, translator and writer of folk tales
Julia Voznesenskaya (born 1940), novelist, The Women's Decameron
Andrei Voznesensky (1933–2010), poet and writer, First Frost
Alexander Vvedensky (1904–1941), poet, co-founder of OBERIU
Pyotr Vyazemsky (1792–1878), poet, representative of the Golden Age of Russian poetry
Vladimir Vysotsky (1938–1980), singer, songwriter, poet and actor

Y

Alexander Yakovlev (1886–1953), writer and essayist, The Peasant
Pyotr Yakubovich (1860–1911), poet and writer, member of Narodnaya Volya
Alexander Yashin (1913–1968), writer associated with the Village Prose movement
Ieronim Yasinsky (1850–1931), novelist, poet, essayist and memoirist
Nikolay Yazykov (1803–1846), poet and slavophile
Ivan Yefremov (1908–1972), paleontologist, science fiction author and social thinker, Andromeda
Dmitri Yemets (born 1974), author of fantasy literature for children and young adults, Tanya Grotter
Venedict Yerofeyev (1938–1990), writer and playwright, Moscow-Petushki
Pyotr Yershov (1815–1869), fairy tale writer, poet and playwright, The Humpbacked Horse
Sergei Yesenin (1895–1925), poet, Land of Scoundrels
Tatyana Yesenina (1918–1992), writer and daughter of Sergei Yesenin, Zhenya, the Wonder of the Twentieth Century
Yevgeny Yevtushenko (born 1933), poet, novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor, and film director
Semyon Yushkevich (1868–1927), writer and playwright

Z

Nikolay Zabolotsky (1903–1958), poet, children's writer and translator, one of the founders of the absurdist group OBERIU
Boris Zakhoder (1918–2000), poet, children's writer and translator
Mikhail Zagoskin (1789–1852), historical novelist, Tales of Three Centuries
Boris Zaitsev (1881–1972), writer and playwright, Anna
Mark Zakharov (born 1933), theatrical director, playwright and actor
Sergey Zalygin (1913–2000), novelist and magazine editor, The South American Variant
Yevgeny Zamyatin (1884–1937), science fiction writer and political satirist, We
Mikhail Zenkevich (1886–1973), poet and translator, Wild Porphyry
Yulia Zhadovskaya (1824–1883), poet and writer, Apart from the Great World
Vera Zhelikhovsky (1835–1896), novelist and children's writer, The General's Will
Aleksey Zhemchuzhnikov (1821–1908), poet and dramatist, co-creator of Kozma Prutkov
Boris Zhitkov (1882–1938), children's writer and historical novelist
Maria Zhukova (1804–1855), writer, Evenings on the Karpovka
Vasily Zhukovsky (1783–1852), poet, translator and magazine editor
Felix Ziegel (1920–1988), author of more than 40 books on astronomy and space exploration
Zinovy Zinik (born 1945), novelist and broadcaster, The Mushroom-Picker
Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal (1866–1907), writer and playwright, The Tragic Menagerie
Nikolai Zlatovratsky (1845–1911), novelist and short story writer, Old Shadows
Mikhail Zoshchenko (1895–1958), satirical short story writer, The Galosh

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E

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G

H

I

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M

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Y

Z

See also