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Телеграмма

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Тяжко Катерине Петровне доживать оставшиеся дни в одиночестве. Разве вот прибежит подсобить по хозяйству Манюшка — дочь колхозного сапожника или изредка заглянет сторож Тихон.
«Однажды в конце октября, ночью кто-то долго стучал в калитку. Катерина Петровна вышла посмотреть, но там никого не было. В ту же ночь она написала дочери письмо с просьбой приехать». 

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1946

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About the author

Konstantin Paustovsky

286 books119 followers
Konstantin Georgiyevich Paustovsky was a Russian Soviet writer nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature in 1965.

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5 stars
160 (55%)
4 stars
79 (27%)
3 stars
39 (13%)
2 stars
9 (3%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Nika.
251 reviews314 followers
April 19, 2023
4.5 stars

The Telegram is an emotional short story with quite a simple plot.
An elderly woman lives alone in the village. Her daughter lives and works in the big city and cannot find the time to visit her mother. It has already been three years since she saw her mother. One day a disturbing telegram reaches her. The woman feels that she may have lost precious time. Uncertainty looms.

The narrative explores such themes as indifference, remorse, and time. It is a reminder for us to value the people who love us and are dear to us. The very simple moments in life are precious.
Profile Image for Tamara Holden.
1 review1 follower
January 31, 2017
This short novel has a continuation.

In 1964, Marlene Dietrich was touring in Soviet Union. After a concert, still on stage, she was asked what was her favorite Russian book. She answered: Telegram by Paustovsky. The audience roared as Paustovsky himself was in the audience. He was recently released from the hospital after a heart attack and was too weak to attend her concert, but he insisted on going and his doctor offered to accompany him to the concert.

As the applause started rising like a tide in the concert hall, he would not stand up - as he was a very humble and reserved man. Eventually his doctor walked him up onto the stage. And then, the incomparable, beautiful and magnificent Marlene Dietrich got on her knees in front of the old Russian writer. You can find the photo of her and Paustovsky on the web.

I have nothing to add to the Marlene Dietrich's review of The Telegram other than to say that each time I read it, my heart sank as I was hoping for a different ending and that I always wished I could join her on that stage in expressing my deep admiration for Konstantin Paustovsky.
Profile Image for Дмитрий.
553 reviews24 followers
October 6, 2020
Какой грустный рассказ. Сюжет знакомый, но повествование всё равно пробирает.
33 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2024
Очень душевный рассказ!Трогательная….поднимает тему, что не нужно забывать о самых близких людей.

«В наши дни, говорил он, - забота о человеке становится той прекрасной реальностью, которая помогает нам расти и работать»
2 reviews
June 20, 2018
Well, I still don't know how you can cry while reading this, but Paustovsky points something really ordinary and important: why do we care so much about unknown, weakly connected to us people while completely forgetting about the closest ones? It's true that most of the children want to grow up and be finally free from school, from their boring life, from family, basically, want to start a new life. But exactly because of this fact this story is sad. It tells us a simple fact that no matter how you're done with your youth, home and parents, you will nonetheless always love them and must never forget them in order not to end up realizing this too late. Paustovsky offers a nicely done piece of literature, from which we all can learn a good life lesson.
Profile Image for Janith Pathirage.
578 reviews14 followers
September 10, 2017
This is my favorite Konstantin Paustovsky story. It was slow-burning yet sails with our emotions from start to end. Besides it's deep message, this story gives a warning to the readers. If you are doing the same mistake as the daughter does in this tale , I guess reading this will give you few chills.
Profile Image for Vlad Bezden.
247 reviews13 followers
January 1, 2025
Plot and Themes
The story "Телеграмма" (The Telegram) by Konstantin Paustovsky is a poignant narrative about the relationship between Katerina Petrovna, a lonely elderly mother, and her daughter Nastya, who lives in Leningrad working at an art gallery. The stark contrast between Nastya's busy city life helping artists and her mother's solitary existence in their rural family home creates a powerful commentary on familial duty and neglect.

Emotional Impact
The story's emotional weight comes from its masterful portrayal of loneliness and regret. Paustovsky uses autumn imagery to mirror Katerina Petrovna's declining state, with descriptions of withering gardens and falling leaves emphasizing her isolation. The old house, filled with dusty books and faded paintings, serves as a metaphor for forgotten family bonds.

Literary Significance
The narrative gained international recognition when Marlene Dietrich famously knelt before Paustovsky in 1964, moved to tears by this very story. Its impact stems from its universal theme of children growing distant from their parents, a situation that continues to resonate with readers today.

Moral Message
The story's tragic conclusion, where Nastya arrives too late to see her mother alive, serves as a powerful reminder about the importance of maintaining family connections. Through subtle storytelling rather than direct moralizing, Paustovsky illustrates how career ambitions and daily responsibilities can blind us to our most fundamental human obligations.
Profile Image for Eugene.
223 reviews
December 1, 2015
I was inspired to read this short story after my mom telling me a story of Marlene Dietrich wish to meet Paustovsky and kiss his hand.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1294081...


Катерина Петровна “доживает свой век” в селе Заборье в старом доме, построенном ее отцом, известным художником. Остались у нее только воспоминания да картины. Изредка к ней заходят помочь по хозяйству соседская дочка Манюшка и сторож Тихон. Долгими ночами Катерина Петровна думает о дочери Насте, которая живет в Ленинграде. Последний раз она приезжала к матери три года назад, времени хватает только на редкие письма и денежные переводы. Так и умерла в одиночестве Катерина Петровна, не успев увидеться с любимой дочерью.
Profile Image for Trounin.
1,917 reviews46 followers
February 15, 2019
В 1946 году Паустовский пишет рассказы “Пустая дача”, “Собрание чудес” и “Воронежское лето”. Может Константин потерялся в мире? Он больше видел себя, тогда как прочее становилось пропущенным через оторванное от обыденности мироощущение. В тот же год им написаны рассказы “Телеграмма” и “Ночь в октябре”. Действительность никак не желала восприниматься. Паустовский сам в том признавался, создавая истории о случившейся смерти и ожидании печальных последствий из-за неосмотрительности. Стремление уединиться с природой могло привести к возникновению опасности. Константин так и писал, давая представление о некоем острове, куда он забрёл, спасённый благодаря расторопности девушки, ибо остров должно было вскоре затопить.

(c) Trounin
13 reviews
December 7, 2022
замечательный рассказ, учитывая то, что я до этого совсем не читала Паустовского. он полон грусти, но, как по мне, события разворачиваются слишком быстро и очевидно. слишком очевидно то, что дочь все-таки мыслями придет к матери и поймёт, как та ее любила. но конец конечно хорош. не дать дочери доехать и оставить более менее открытый финал это круто
March 12, 2023
a very heartfelt story that does not tell us what is good and what is bad... but every reader will understand the author's thought... to date, this work has not lost its relevance, because very often in the daily routine we do not devote time to our relatives, knowing that they will always understand and forgive us...
Profile Image for Anna Azarenko.
193 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2022
Прочитала по наводці Дитрих у літаку до Мельбурна. Сумненьке, з мораллю. Мами, мами
Profile Image for Andrei.
86 reviews
November 16, 2024
Хорошая поучительная книга. Цените близких!
Profile Image for Serhii Kushchenko.
113 reviews19 followers
September 22, 2025
Сюжет ну очень банальный.

Мемуары у Паустовского потрясающие. Однако его художественная проза меня пока не впечатляет.
Profile Image for Sevinj Ehtibarova.
17 reviews
June 27, 2024
Печальный рассказ о том, как молодое поколение, вечно занятое, не пытается найти время на своих самых близких.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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