Author. His work often dealt with feminism, corruption, and intellectuals coming to grips with communism, hot topics in the Soviet Union during the 1920’s but later considered suspect under Stalinism. In his famous novel “Locusts” (1927),  a plague of the insects symbolizes malevolent forces trying to stop the Russian people from building a new society.  His tale “Zhena” (1927) and the novel “Woman Writer” (1936) depict women rejecting subservient roles and trying to find themselves in a male-dominated world. Budantsev was born in Ryazan,  Russia.  His early style was influenced by writer Boris Pilnyak,  but on the advice of Maxim Gorky he turned more towards straight realism.  After 1936 Budantsev fell under increasing official attack and he ceased publishing. He was arrested by the NKVD in late 1937 and shot on April 21, 1938, the same day Pilnyak was executed. His books were not republished in the Soviet Union until the late 1950’s. (bio by: Bobb Edwards)