Nikolai Nikolaevich Aseev (1889, 1963) was a Russian Soviet poet, translator, and screenwriter, as well as an active participant in the Russian Futurism movement. In 1941, he was awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree.

Aseev was born on June 28 (July 10) 1889 in the city of Lgov, which is now in the Kursk region, to an insurance agent from the nobility. Until 1911, his surname was spelled as Asseev. Some sources, based on the first volume of I. F. Masanov's "Dictionary of Pseudonyms," claim that Aseev's real surname was Shtalbaum. However, this is refuted in the fourth volume of the dictionary, published during Aseev's lifetime: "The indication that Aseev, N., pseud. N. N. Shtalbaum, is not true. Aseev, N. N., real surname."

The poet's mother, Elena Nikolaevna Pinskaya, died when he was not yet eight years old. His father soon remarried. Nikolai spent his childhood in his grandfather's house, Nikolai Pavlovich Pinsky, who was fond of hunting, fishing, and folk tales. His grandmother Varvara Stepanovna Pinskaya, a former serf, was bought out by his grandfather when he fell in love with her. She remembered much from the life of the old village, which influenced Aseev.

Aseev studied at the Kursk Real School, graduating in 1907, then continued his education at the Moscow Commercial Institute and the historical and philological faculties of Moscow and Kharkov universities, graduating in 1913. His first publications appeared in the children's magazine "Protalinka" in 1914 and 1915.

In 1915, he was drafted into the army but was discharged due to tuberculosis. In 1917, he was drafted again and served in a reserve regiment in Gaysin. During the Civil War, he found himself in the Far East, where he managed a labor exchange and worked for a newspaper.

In 1922, Aseev was summoned to Moscow by a telegram from A. V. Lunacharsky. He participated in the "Creativity" group and was one of the leaders of the LEF and REF groups. He was acquainted with V. V. Mayakovsky and B. L. Pasternak. V. Kataev featured him in his novel "My Diamond Crown" under the nickname "comrade."

Since 1931, Aseev lived in the "House of the Writers' Cooperative" on Kamergersky Lane. During the war, he was evacuated to Chistopol. Marina Tsvetaeva's daughter, Ariadna Efron, accused Aseev of her mother's suicide, believing he did not help her during the evacuation. However, Georgy Tsvetaev wrote that Aseev was shocked by her death and helped him register in Moscow.

Aseev actively supported young poets during the Khrushchev "thaw." His letters to Viktor Sosnora, full of concern for his work, have survived to this day.

Nikolai Aseev died of pneumonia on July 16, 1963, and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

He was married to Ksenia Mikhailovna Sinyakova, one of the Sinyakov sisters, who were muses of Russian Futurism. He dedicated the poem "For her golden braids, for her young shoulders" to her. Velimir Khlebnikov dedicated part of his poem "Blue Shackles" to her.

Aseev began publishing in 1909. Since 1914, he was one of the leading representatives of the "Lyric" circle and later joined the "Centrifuge" group. His first collection "Night Flute" (1914) reflected the influence of symbolism. His acquaintance with Khlebnikov's works and his fascination with folklore were reflected in the collections "Zor" and "Letorey."

Creative communication with Mayakovsky contributed to the formation of his talent. Revolutionary motifs intensified in his poetry. The poem "Sentimental Journey of the Famous Cat Bubera" (1920) and the collection "Bomb" (1921) became important milestones in his work. "March of Budyonny" from the poem "Budyonny" (1922) became a popular song.

Aseev participated in the literary group "LEF" and wrote the poem "Lyrical Retreat" (1924), where he critically reflected on changes in the political situation. He also created works on revolutionary themes, such as "Sverdlovsk Storm" and "Semyon Proskakov."

A special place in his work is occupied by the poem "Mayakovsky Begins" (1940), where he recalls the figures of Futurism and the atmosphere of the era. Throughout his life, Aseev published about 80 collections of poetry and translated poems by Mao Zedong.