Rainhard Krumm, German historian and journalist, finished the research. Not journalistic but almost detective. In Almaty was published the first fiction biography of "Russian Maupassant" Isaac Babel, whose "Odessa stories" and "Konarmia" were popular in 30th in Soviet Russia, Germany, France, and also in United Kingdom and USA.

  "Our literature enriched with one more, true writer", told about him Maxim Gorky after the first meeting and blessed him. Probably, Isaac Babel could become in 1933, in opinion of authoritative German critic Marsel Raikh-Ranitzky, winner of the Nobel Prize in the field of the literature, as Ivan Bunin. Babel has "the special approach to journalism". The social analysis of products of this "extraordinary author" and man of brilliant mind, lambent humour was remarkable. They were, according to critic Vyacheslav Polonsky "sharp as spirit, florid as jewels". Nowadays his creation is known and wins respect, but about Babel himself, his vital way is still known a little.

  Isaac Babel was the public man, he had many friends, "he was known and in the theatrical world, and in the world of cinema, and, certainly, he knew the people on the highest posts of the state not only in Moscow, but also in Ukraine, on Caucasus and in Paris". By the biography of Babel till now nobody was engaged. "The Life of my father is impossible to be described", the daughter of the writer from the first marriage Natalie Babel has exclaimed, when Rainhard Krumm told to her about the intention. To write for Isaac Babel was "vital passion".

  The same feeling was motivated the author of the biography of the writer. Rainhard Krumm conducted researches in twelve archives of Germany, France, Belgium, USA, Ukraine and Russia (including archive of FSS), analysed thirteen interviews with native and close of the writer. He studied 177 researches and 70 clauses. And more was casual (or nevertheless natural?) meeting with the man who has brought the historian Rainhard Krumm to the researcher, in a case bought archive of the writer. Babel's wife sold it, not desiring more to keep his archive. And everything began, certainly, from products of Babel himself, in Russian and German languages. So this book … arose

  It is easily possible to feel the atmosphere of Odessa in last decade of tsarist Russia, the warmness of Babel’s native home, his aspiration with study and especially French language, deep learning of Torah and religion and also appeared desire to write and to open the world for himself, since the first pages. Further to reader the noise from the Neva prospectus penetrating into halls of library is literally heard. It was a beginning of the realized creation in Petrograd. And all these events occur on vivid background of socio-political life and economic development of the Russian empire.

   For those who considers that they are quite familiar with the biography of the writer, will be reasonably interesting to read the foreword of Rainhard Krumm to "Konarmia" and "Konarmia diary of 1920" under the name "a Riddle of Isaac Babel- task of a detective", issued also by publishing centre "Interligal".

  Isaac Babel’s code of life, which tried to open the author, was based on events of his life. And he tried "to find these thin keys and to deduce their meaning". The task Rainhard Krumm consists in it. Creation Code of life Isaac Babel, which tried to open the author, was based on events of his life. And he tried "to find these thin keys and to deduce their meaning". The task of Rainhard Krumm consists in it. Creation of Isaac Babel projected on his destiny.

  His tutor was Maxim Gorky, his friend was Leonid Utesov, he was on a visit at Ezhov, and he had freedom of movement along USSR and Europe in 20-th 30-th years of "extreme" 20th century. Konarmy, contacts with People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, GULAG. Babel sincerely believed, "that only he was able to document extraordinary changes, which were experienced by Russia", and he "documented a history of the young state by means of the literature". One of marks of his surprising life became Konarmy, "he joined to Red Cavalry of Semen Budeny as the military correspondent to test life".

  However he became that writer, "who indirectly documented Stalin's failure". He was not forgiven for that. In January 1940...

  After his rehabilitation in 1954 many clauses and books about creation of the writer were written, his stories about civil war, about life of the Jews in Odessa and Galicia (historical name of a part West Ukrainian and Polish territory) again are published, but his person was ignored. "His works were rehabilitated, but not author".

  The book "Isaac Babel. The biography" will serve a good service for wishing to review the person of Isaac Babel more close. Also begins an occasion once again to return to his works. And some lucky beggars will read them for the first time. In a kind way.

Aygul Zhilkishina
"Knigolub" № 5, 2006