Vladimir Lenin: truth and myths, rumors of which the image of Lenin

All of us from childhood known "canonical" image of Lenin. This part of his cult can be compared with the principles of icon painting - the image must have the characteristics or attributes to be easily recognizable. In fact, not all of these stereotypes are true, many came later, in films and literary works written after Lenin's death.

Clothing

Almost all the paintings and bronze Lenin appears to us in the very same type of clothing: a dark suit with a mandatory vest and tie, often with polka dots. I must admit that this part of the canonical image is correct. Growing up in a family of intellectuals, Vladimir Ulyanov childhood preferred business attire. In this respect he was very conservative, and indeed often wore a formal suit. Double-breasted jackets were then in vogue, and the indispensable vest was very convenient for working at a desk. Thanks to her, it was possible to defend the shirt of ink stains and mashing on the countertop. For Lenin, this was an important issue, since the lion's share of his time was spent at work. A tie with polka dots, probably also significant detail - about it then recalled many of his contemporaries Ilyich, some, however, added that most of his tie looked ridiculous, but these comments are in the canonical version not included.

are stored five jackets and vests Vladimir Ilyich in the former Central Lenin Museum. According to him, we can conclude that the leader chose a dark brown color and was really very modest in life (which, incidentally, is another well-known image of the item). All samples were very worn, especially wiped sleeves - a sign of many hours of daily work at the table. However, when a non-standard growth leader (164 centimeters), all his clothes sat well, apparently, they were fitted suits carefully tailors. But Lenin's famous cap did not immediately became his favorite hat. It is known that until 1917, Vladimir Ilyich often wore bourgeois bowler. Where did his wardrobe this proletarian detail is not clear, but it really could not be better suited to the leader of the world proletariat, so that the progress of the unknown image maker has been really successful. Over time, this headgear began to be called "Leninka" and went into the dressing room of the majority of representatives of the new Soviet elite.

Appearance

Remarkable "signs" of Lenin, it became part of the image, too, for the most part true. Most contemporaries describe him, recalled several features: a short, almost bald, ugly. The concept of "charisma" became fashionable much later, but it is clear that the people went after the man is clearly not due to the poster looks.

"His figure is low in normal kartuzike could easily get lost, not struck in any factory quarter. Pleasant brown face with a slightly oriental shade - that's about all that can be said about his appearance. With the same ease, priodevshis in some armyachok, Vladimir Ilyich could get lost in any crowd Volga peasants. "(G. Krzyzanowski)

"Low stocky figure with a large bald and convex firmly planted his head. Small eyes, big nose, a generous mouth, a massive chin clean-shaven, but already appear the beard ... Shabby suit, somewhat on the growth of long pants. Nothing that resembled an idol of the crowd. " (John Reed) "Lenin was sitting behind a large desk, littered with books and papers. I sat to the right of the table, and the little man (he sits on the edge of a chair, his feet barely touching the floor), turned toward me, leaning on a stack of papers ... Nebezukoriznenno dressed little man from the Kremlin walked Balfour both thoughts and deeds. "( Wells Herbert)

"Lenin was reddish blond, - call it a dark, no way. He was of medium growth, maybe even slightly below average; but he gave the impression of "the little man" and that he barely reached the floor his feet - it might seem only to Mr. Wells, who came to the well-being of a civilized Gulliver in Lilliput northern communist "(Trotsky).

It is interesting, however, that the description of the hair color can be found contradictions. Some remember them as a fiery red (or before the former as such), some describe him as a fair-haired blond. Here, for instance, the verbal portrait of Vladimir Ulyanov from pre-revolutionary police archives:

"Signs VIUlyanov: Growth 2 yard of 51/2 inches, the average physique, appearance gives the impression of a pleasant, the hair on the head and eyebrows light brown, straight, mustache and beard - reddish, eyes - brown, medium-sized, high forehead, nose plain, round face, his features regular, moderate mouth, round chin, medium-sized ears. "

But the canonical beard and mustache is not always adorned the person of the leader. It is known that sometimes in his youth, he was clean-shaven (often for purposes of secrecy).

And if the log has been?

Numerous scenic masterpieces of socialist realism portrayed Lenin at voluntary Sunday, famously managed with the log. Usually on these canvases leader of the world proletariat looks brave strong man, and working to help him cope with the difficult burden, treading water behind.

This episode actually took place May 1, 1920 the first all-Russian clean-up. There is a picture, which shows that the log Lenin really dragging, but it perfectly illustrates the fact that reality is often too far from the posters. Lenin in the photo - it's bent figure that supports the end of the notorious timber.

What he said, and that - no

An important part of Lenin was the leader of the iconography citations, many of which have become winged words. However, not all of them really are copyrighted.

"We'll go the other way"

According to his older sister Anna Ilinichny, Vladimir Ulyanov after the execution of his elder brother Alexander in 1887, he said a similar phrase, but in a different formulation: "No, we will not go that way. Not the way to go. "

"Every cook should learn to govern the state"

In fact, Lenin did not say that. The thought probably was taken from the article "Can the Bolsheviks Retain State Power?":

"We are not utopians. We know that an unskilled laborer or a cook can not immediately enter the state administration. At the same time, we agree with the Cadets, and

Breshkovskaya, and with Tsereteli. But we differ from these citizens in that we demand an immediate break with the prejudice that govern the state, to carry everyday, the daily management of the work in a state of only the rich or wealthy families made the officials. " "Learn, learn and learn"

But these words really belong to Vladimir Ilyich:

"(...) Among the workers stand out are the real heroes, who - in spite of the ugly situation of his life, despite the mind-numbing hard labor in a factory - are in themselves so much character and the willpower to learn, learn and learn and develop from self-conscious Social Democrats "working intelligentsia".

By the way, at this point, Lenin, probably himself quoted Chekhov, who wrote:

"We need to learn, learn and learn, and with a deep social movements prognosis: we have not yet matured to them, and, frankly, anything they do not understand." (Anton Chekhov, "My Life")