A blind poet. An Esperantist. A humanist. An egoist. A partisan. An anarchist. A “red” Russian. A “white” Russian. A Ukrainian. A childlike dreamer. A harborer of dangerous thoughts.

These are a few of the labels that have been variously applied to the fascinating yet largely forgotten personality that is Vasily Eroshenko. As a social activist and writer of political fairy tales, he sought to critique the oppressive institutions and conditions that incite violence and conflict around the world, and he urged people, young and old, to radically transform their societies.

Despite the high level of fame — and infamy — he achieved in his adopted homes of Japan and China during the early twentieth century, he remains virtually unknown to enthusiasts of world literature. Because his tales are bound up with his fascinating life, and the fascinating lives of the people he interacted with, it is necessary to take a close look at his biography.