Gerold Karlovich Belger (pseudonym Harry Carlson) - a famous Kazakh writer, translator. Born in the city of Engels, in the Saratov region. Date of birth - October 28, 1934. He died in his 81st year of life on February 7, 2015 in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Herold Belger: biography
Born in a family of German immigrants of the Volga region. Father - German Karl Friedrichovich (since 1931 - Fedorovich), worked as a military medical assistant, was the head of the medical assistant-obstetric center. It is noteworthy that the name Belger became a common noun, the locals said so - they were at the regional belger (= doctor). Mom Anna Davydovna worked as a nurse in the medical center. Gerold Karlovich had 3 sisters: Elma, Rosa and Alma. Alma Karlovna now lives in Germany.
In July 1941, the mass exile of Germans to special settlements began under the supervision of the NKVD. The family of Gerold Karlovich was deported to "fertile lands" and ended up on the banks of the Ishim River. Settle them on the farm to them. Lenin of the Oktyabrsky district of the North Kazakhstan region. The little boy went to study in a Kazakh high school, and over time he perfectly mastered the local language. Love for the Russian language was brought to Belger by his Russian teacher Egorova Maria Petrovna.
He left for Alma-Ata to enter a university. Herald Belger did not want to be admitted to the university for national reasons. He entered him twice. And he was expelled the next day. But there was a teacher - a Turkologist Sarsen Amanzholov, who intervened and helped the young talent to enroll in the Faculty of Philology. Belger studied exclusively in the library, he had free attendance at lectures. In 1958, Belger graduated from the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University (formerly the Kazakh Pedagogical Institute). I went to work as a teacher of the Russian language in the Baikadam secondary school, which was located in the Dzhambul region.
In 1963 he graduated from graduate school and got a job in the socio-political and literary and artistic journal "Zhuldyz". In 1964, begins to engage in creative work - publishes his translations and articles. In 1971 he became one of the members of the Writers Union of Kazakhstan. In 1995 he came to the post of chief editor of the German almanac "Phoenix".
Herold Belger books
Belger knew three languages perfectly: German, Russian and Kazakh. Published over 1800 translations from different languages. Herald Belger created 53 books, the leitmotifs of which are completely different, but at the same time intertwined.
- Storybook “Pine house on the edge of the village” - 1973. Stories about ordinary people and common values. Nostalgia for the home, childhood. Bright melancholy envelops after reading this collection.
- Philosophical reflections on poetry, the unity and harmony of souls, the magic thread of the spiritual closeness of two geniuses - this is the book "Earthly Chosen (Goethe. Abay)." 1995 year.
- “Remember your name” - 1999. The book contains articles by the author about the literature and culture of Russian Germans over the past 12 years. The main idea of the author is to remind ethnic Germans of their roots. Belger against the assimilation and loss of moral guidelines of his people. This topic has become the main motive, which runs through the red line through many of his essays and articles.
- “Kazakh word” - 2001. Belger describes the speech of the Kazakhs. It directly speaks of the fact that the culture of this people has become native to him, and he is grateful for this.
- The novel “Tuyuk su” - 2004. In his book, Herold Belger pushes and juxtaposes two cultures - Kazakh and German. The common theme unites the novels “Discord”, “Call”, “House of the Wanderer”. Belger constantly discusses the literary connection between the Kazakh and world.
He is the editor, compiler and co-author of more than 100 collections and 20 books.
Personal life
Belger married Khismatulina Raisa Zakirovna, they met back in college years. She is also a teacher by education, she worked at the school for more than 50 years. In 1959, on August 9, a daughter, Irina, was born, who later became an actress and film director, since 1976 she has been living in Moscow. Herold Belger has a grandson Vsevolod, born in 1988, and Julian, a great-granddaughter, was born in 2005.
Merits
Gerold Karlovich Belger was awarded several orders, 8 medals, 6 prizes. Among these awards, it is worth noting the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany, the Presidential Prize for Peace and Spiritual Accord, and also became a laureate of the Prize of the Writers Union of Kazakhstan named after B. Mailina.
Gerold Belger proved himself not only as a high-class translator, excellent writer and fair critic, but also stood out in political and public activities. A deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan dealt with the problems of modern corruption, met personally with voters and helped them solve their vital issues.
One of the most important tasks as a person, writer and politician was the task of telling the truth, not promising that it was impossible to accomplish. By his work and service to people, he proved that the former USSR countries and their peoples should not be separated from each other. Life and literature are closely related. Russian culture consists of the collective creativity of different peoples. If they are divided, not only culture but also the person will become poorer.
