Arkadiy Gaydar was born on January 22, 1904 in Lgov, Kursk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kursk Oblast, Russia]. He was a writer, known for
Timur i yego komanda (1940),
Sudba barabanshchika (1956) and
The Ballad of Cossack Golota (1937). He died on October 26, 1941 in Leplyavo, Kanev Raion, Kiev Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Lyuplyava, Kaniv Raion, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine].