Vasily Makarovich Shukshin was born on July 25, 1929 in the village of Srostki, Altai Territory. In 1945-1947, he studied at the Biysk Automobile College, then worked as a mechanic - rigger and handyman at the factories of Kaluga and Vladimir, then served in the Navy. In 1953-1954, Vasily Shukshin was a history teacher and director of a school for rural youth in his native village of Srostki.