Културни живот романа Четири успеха Гуље Корољове Јелене Иљине
The Cultural Life of Yelena Ilina’s Novel The Fourth Height

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the cultural life of Yelena Ilina’s novel The Fourth Height, continuously reprinted in the USSR and Russia since 1946. It tells the story of Gulyа Korolyova—a child film star and WWII heroine—and was institutionally supported as a model of new Soviet ideology. The Yugoslav translations from 1947 and 1948 stand out, especially the latter with the author’s preface and 20 photographs. The social value of the book is affirmed by two Serbian university professors of Developmental Psychology, for whom Gulya was a personal role model in their childhood. The novel stimulated a “circulation of social energy” (Greenblatt), inspiring books, films, theater performance, monuments, museums, and internet projects. Its complex portrayal of the protagonist and documentary basis make it suitable for history and literature education, particularly in discussions of gender emancipation. In a modern educational context, the book is seen as promoting moral values, antifascist consciousness, and a culture of dialogue. The author argues that The Fourth Height can still resonate with young readers today and serves as an example of children’s literature with powerful social and pedagogical impact.

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