Rapier. Bronze bird.

Anatoly Naumovich Rybakov's name (1911-1998), a classic of Russian literature and the author of epochal novels such as "Children of the Arbat" and "Heavy Sand," is known worldwide. His works have been translated into dozens of languages. However, Rybakov gained widespread recognition long before the publication of his major novels. The most popular were his adventure books, with a special place occupied by the stories about Misha Polyakov, particularly "The Dagger" and "The Bronze Bird." The heroes of these works belong to the generation of brave, honest, straightforward "children of the revolution," and the sharp twists of the plot reflect the aftermath of the Civil War, the New Economic Policy (NEP), and the uncompromising class struggle. Alongside the books by Kassil and Gaidar, Rybakov's adventure stories formed a golden fund of Soviet literature for young people and were repeatedly adapted for the screen with the author's participation as a screenwriter.