Andrei Platonovich Platonov, whose real surname was Klimentov, was born on August 16, 1899 (August 28 by the new calendar) in Yamskaya Sloboda near Voronezh. His father, Platon Firsovich Klimentov, worked as a locomotive engineer and a locksmith in Voronezh, while his mother, Maria Vasilievna, managed the household and raised the children. Andrei was the first child in the family, where eleven more children were born later.

Seven-year-old Andrei began studying at a church parish school and then at a city four-grade school. At the age of 12, he started writing poetry. After finishing four grades in 1913, when he was 13 years old, he began working to support his family and changed many jobs until 1918.

In 1918, Andrei entered the Voronezh Technical Railway School, but in 1920 he was forced to interrupt his studies due to mobilization related to the Civil War. He served as a fireman and a shooter in a railway detachment. That same year, he was sent to study at the provincial party school for a year. In 1921, he was able to continue his education and graduated from the school, changing his surname to Platonov. During this time, he met Maria Alexandrovna Kashintseva, whom he married in 1922. In 1923, they had a son, Platon, and in 1944, a daughter, Maria. Thanks to his wife and daughter, many of Platonov's works became accessible to readers.

After graduating from school, Platonov published the book "Electrification" and a collection of poems "Blue Depth," after which he focused on work in the field of electrification and land reclamation in the Voronezh region. In 1926, he was transferred to Moscow, where he again began to engage actively in creativity. In 1927, his book "Epiphany Locks" was published, followed by such well-known works as "Chevengur" and "The Pit." In 1931, a difficult period began in the writer's life.

After the publication of the novella "For the Future," Platonov faced a wave of criticism and publication bans. Despite this, his talent was recognized even by the authorities. Stalin referred to him as a "talented writer, but a scoundrel." In 1937, the novella "The Potudan River" was published. In 1938, his son Platon was sentenced to 10 years for "espionage," but thanks to the efforts of Platonov and his friends, he was released in 1940, returning with a severe form of tuberculosis. Platonov, caring for his son, contracted the disease. In 1942, he went to the front as a war correspondent and began writing on the topic of war. In 1943, his son died of tuberculosis, which was a heavy blow for the writer. In 1946, he was demobilized due to health reasons.

The last years of Platonov's life were difficult. The authorities banned the publication of his works, and on the advice of friends, he began recording Russian and Bashkir folk tales, which were published in some magazines, providing at least some income. The collection "The Magic Ring and Other Tales" was published only in 1954.

Andrei Platonovich Platonov passed away on January 5, 1951, in Moscow from tuberculosis and was buried at the Armenian cemetery next to his son.