Vladislav Titov

Vladislav Andreevich Titov (; November 7, 1934 – May 1, 1987) was a Soviet socialist realist writer. At the age of 26 he lost both arms in a coal mine accident. He became a novelist, writing with a pen held by his teeth, and produced several novels, the most famous being Defying death .

Life and accident Titov was born into a wheat farmer's family in Voronezh Oblast. After serving in the Soviet Army, he completed a course at the College of Mines in Voroshilovgrad and started working at one of the new coal mines of Donets Basin.

Defying Death was published in 1967 in the literary periodical Youth rather than as a separate book. This was a common practice at the time in the Soviet Union, especially for new writers. The novel quickly became popular. During the years following its publication, Titov received about 50,000 letters from disabled people asking for advice. His last completed novel was Old Park's Dreams , which was published by his wife after his death at the age of 53. He left an uncompleted novel entitled Rye .