Quote by Isaac Babel: “I have invented nothing. I have imagined nothing. I write down what I saw.”

This quote emphasizes Babel's commitment to realism and direct observation in his writing. He suggests his work is a truthful representation of lived experience, not a product of pure fantasy, highlighting his role as a meticulous observer of the world around him.

Writing during a period when the Soviet state began to demand "socialist realism," Babel's assertion underscores his dedication to portraying reality, however harsh, as he experienced it.

Russian-Jewish writer known for his Red Cavalry stories based on his experiences riding with Cossack forces during the Russo-Polish War, and for his Odessa Tales, a rich cycle of stories about a Jewish gangster. He was arrested by the NKVD in 1939 and executed in 1940; his work was suppressed for decades.