«No iron can stab the heart with such force as a period put just at the right place.»
/Isaac Babel/
Welcome to the official website of Isaac Babel!
Mrs Antonina Pirozhkova, the wife of the author, died in September 2010.
Mrs Lidia Babel, the author’s daughter, is the only living heir. She lives in Florida, USA, preserving the invaluable memories of the father, still one of the most popular and classic writers of the Soviet era.
About copyright of Isaac Babel
If you intend to use the works of Babel, you should know that Babels copyright will enjoy protection in the former Soviet Union territories (Russia and the CIS) until Dec 31, 2024. For your information, under the Russian Laws, if the author was rehabilitated after his death (Babel was a Stalin regime prisoner), the copyright term started from that rehabilitation date, in the Babel’s case from Jan.1, 1955, and initially with the 50-year term, Babel s copyright was to expire on December 31, 2004, but the Copyright Law was amended in mid 2004 to provide for the 70-year term.
However, as of January 1, 2011, in many European and other countries most of the Babel’s works have fallen into public domain.
Isaac Babel shall be protected in Latvia until the end of 2019: 1940+70=2010 plus 9 years of restriction (1940-1954 — 5 years of Nazi).
Still protected by copyright are the works published posthumously, they are:
NOVELS:
- The 1920 Diary (Дневник 1920г.) — 1990;
- The Esfiri Ring (Кольцо Эсфири) — 2002;
- Certificate (Справка);
- My first honorarium / My first fee (Мой первый гонорар) — 1963;
- Froim Grach / Froim the Rook (Фроим Грач) — 1963;
- Sunset (the story*) (Закат) — 1964;
- Kolyvushka (Колывушка) — 1963;
- Childhood. At Grandmother’s -1965;
- They were nine (Их было девять) -1989.
* The story Sunset preceding the play was first published after Babel’s death with the last page still missing. If the story has the last page, it means it was added by Mr Lev Livshits www.levlivshits.org — he took it from the play.
3 SCREENPLAYS:
- Chinese Mill (Китайская мельница) — 1990;
- Old Square, 4 (Старая площадь, 4) — 1963;
- The Forging of Steel (Как закалялась сталь).
- some letters and speeches.
For additional info: commonly accepted expert is Efraim Sicher and his work.
Authorized Agent
For rights and permissions please contact Mr. Vladimir Kozyrev at kozyrev2006@gmail.com.
Please see my Power of Attorney: 2006-2009, 2009-2012, 2014-2019 (to see or to print SAVE AS a file on your disc).
New Documentary about the cultural heritage of Isaac Babel (USA, 2015)
«Finding Babel» is a new documentary about Isaac Babel produced and directed by David Novack, PA University professor.
Please see www.findingbabel.com.
It has participated in many festivals and won awards and it had many screenings in the US lately and positive reviews, the last one being http://atlantajewishtimes.com/2017/01/ajff-babel-towers-documentaries/.
New paperback in English is now on sale worldwide: Three Selected Stories: The Letter, The Cemetery at Kozin and Afonka Bida: Russian texts included (Short Stories) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520719817?ref_=pe_870760_150889320.
New Short Stories in English (available as paperpack): 3 Selected Stories in English
Useful Book on Russian Copyright: https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Copyright-Protection-Konstantin-Leontiev-ebook/dp/B00JOK0ANY
To watch: Documentary film in Russian — http://russia.tv/brand/show/brand_id/10303
