Л. К. Чуковской и М. П. Бронштейну Plaque

In 1997, a memorial plaque was unveiled at 11 Zagorodny Prospekt in Saint Petersburg. The L. K. Chukovsky and M. P. Bronshteyn Plaque commemorates two remarkable individuals who once called this building home. Lidia Chukovskaya, a writer and dissident, lived here with her husband, physicist Matvei Bronshteyn, until his arrest in 1937. The plaque reminds us of their presence and the tragic events that unfolded within these walls. Lidia Korneevna Chukovsky, daughter of the famous children’s author Korney Chukovsky, was a woman of immense courage and conviction. She lived in this apartment from 1935 until 1941 when her husband, Matvei Petrovich Bronshteyn, was arrested. He was a theoretical physicist. Lidia bravely documented the injustices of the Stalinist era. She wrote “Sofia Petrovna,” a powerful account of the Great Purge’s devastating impact on ordinary lives. The apartment at 11 Zagorodny Prospekt became a haven for writers, poets, and intellectuals during this dark period. Lidia opened her doors to those persecuted by the regime. She offered solace and support amidst the fear and paranoia. But her own life took a tragic turn. Matvei Bronshteyn was a victim of Stalin’s purges. He was arrested in 1937 and executed in 1938. His name, like countless others, was erased from official records. Lidia continued to live in the apartment until 1941. She became a tireless advocate for human rights. She defied the authorities by documenting the injustices she witnessed. She challenged the official narrative, even when it meant facing persecution herself. Lidia Chukovskaya’s writing served as a powerful voice for the voiceless. The L. K. Chukovsky and M. P. Bronshteyn Plaque at 11 Zagorodny Prospekt stands as a testament to their resilience. It honors their commitment to truth and justice in the face of unimaginable adversity. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can endure.