Mukhtar Auezov

Mukhtar Omarkhanuli Auezov (Kazakh: Мұхтар Омарханұлы Әуезов, Muxtar Omarxanulı Äwezov, مۇحتار ومارحانۇلى اۋەزوۆ, Kazakh pronunciation: [mʊχtʰɑr uʊmɑrχɑ́nʊlə æwi̯ɘ́zəf]; Russian: Мухта́р Омарханович Ауэ́зов, Muchtar Omarchanovič Auezov) (September 28, 1897 — June 27, 1961) was a Kazakh writer, a social activist, a Doctor of Philology, a professor and honored academic of the Soviet Union (1946). He was born on September 28, 1897 in the old town of Semey in Kaskabulak, where he spent all his childhood.

He grew up under the spiritual influence of the poet Abai. His father and grandfather Omarkhan Auez both highly revered the poet, a neighbor and friend of the family. His grandfather was a storyteller of folk tales, and taught his grandson to read and write; he also instilled within Mukhtar a love of literature, and the poetry of Abai.

Auezov was born into a nomadic family from what is today Abay District, in East Kazakhstan Province. His grandfather taught him to read and write. Auezov was then educated at the Semipalatinsk Teacher's Seminary and Leningrad State University.

Auezov is best known for his plays. The first play he authored was Enlik-Kebek, a story of two young lovers which bears a great resemblance to Romeo and Juliet. He authored more than twenty plays which dealt with issues relevant to Socialism in Kazakhstan.

After writing plays, Auezov changed his focus to writing novels. Two novels – Abay and The Path of Abay – dealing with the life of Kazakh poet Abay Qunanbayuli were the product of the last twenty years of his life.

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