Alexander Pushkin was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist in the early 19th century. He was one of the literary giants during the Golden Age of Russian Poetry, a traditional description of the first half 19th century in Russian literature.
Pushkin wrote many poems, short stories, and plays. His writing style was revolutionary. He is regarded by many critics today as the founder of Russian literature.
His style was a mixture of drama, romance and satire, a style that later influenced major Russian writers. He is considered the greatest Russian poet of the Romantic era.
His works influenced later Russian authors such as the famous Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Here are the 10 top interesting things about Alexander Pushkin.
His father, Sergey Lvovich Pushkin was a descendant of an old noble family in Russia. Pushkin’s mother, Nadya Ossipovna had noble ties too. His maternal great grandfather, Abram Petrovich Gannibal, was of Abyssinian nobility.
Abram Petrovich had been kidnapped as a child, by the Ottomans. He was adopted and raised by the Russian Emperor. He rose to become a notable Russian military general and engineer. He served Peter the Great.
Pushkin later began writing a novel in his honor; The Negro of Peter the Great. He did not complete it.
The Imperial Lyceum in Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg. The town was renamed Pushkin town. Photo by Alex ‘Florstein’ Fedorov. Wikimedia Commons.
The Lyceum was established by Tsar Alexander the first as an academic institution for the privileged youths from noble families.
Alexander Pushkin was one of the very first graduates. He particularly excelled in French and literature. He began writing while still in school and had his first poem published at the age of 15.
He would compose poems for a recital on every school opening date. By the time he was graduating, he was well known by the literary society at the school.
Pushkin recites his poem “Ode to Liberty” upon graduation from the Lycee in 1817. Photo by Ilya Repin. Wikimedia Commons.
The poem openly criticizes the aristocratic tendencies of governments, Russian emperors included. Pushkin advocates for civil liberties, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of the people.
The poem was circulated in Russia, unpublished. Manuscripts were usually confiscated. Russian authorities considered it radical and dangerous to political order.
Tsar Alexander’s reaction was to have Pushkin arrested. Capo d’istrias, head of foreign office termed the poem’s ideas as, ‘that system of anarchy dishonestly called the system of human rights, freedom, and independence of nations’.
Part of the poem reads ‘O monarchs, you are crowned by will
‘And law of man, not nature’s hand.’
The poem was one of the manuscripts confiscated from some of the revolutionaries of the Decembrist uprising.
He was exiled to Southern Russia for his radical political views. He continued to write and study regardless. In 1824, he was transferred to his mother’s estate in Mikhalovskoye.
He had been accused of having an offer with the governor’s wife at Odessa. Indeed, it is said that Pushkin lived a reckless life in his youth, indulging in pleasure, gambling, and affairs with married women.
While in exile, he wrote his most famous play ‘Boris Godunov’ in 1825. The play is a historical drama whose style is inspired by that of William Shakespeare in Henry IV.
His family and friends had unsuccessfully petitioned Tsar Alexander the first for his release. When Tsar Alexander died, Nicholas, younger brother to Alexander’s rightful heir Constantine, took the throne.
Some of the military members preferred Constantine and this culminated in the Decembrist uprising. The rebels and the loyalists confronted each other but the rebels were overpowered.
It occurred while Pushkin was in exile. Tsar Nicholas, upon discovery of Pushkin’s poem, Ode of Liberty among the manuscripts in possession of the rebels, sent for him.
Pushkin went to Moscow. Nicholas released him but promised that his works would be censored. He would not be allowed to publish any controversial pieces.
Apart from articulating his libertarian ideals and advocating for civil freedoms in his poems and literary works, he actively took part in social reform activities.
At the Imperial Lyceum, he was influenced by the Kantian Liberal teachings of Alexander Petrovich, whom he credited in his 19 October poem. He also read Voltaire, a French Enlightenment philosopher.
He joined the Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends). It was a secret organization determined to overthrow Ottoman rule in Greece.
His works also inspired revolutionaries such as the Decembrists, who stood up to the Russian authoritarian regime.
Pushkin wrote in all kinds of styles. He wrote poems, novels in verse, short stories, and plays. His most famous is considered to be a novel in verse ‘Eugene Onegin.’ It is one of the most complicated Russian creations.
Although it is barely a hundred pages, its translation into English required translator Vladimir Nabokov two full volumes of material to make it possible! It was difficult to translate his works.
Other works include Ruslan and Lyudmila, his first major verse, and the Stone Guest; a drama based on the Spanish legend of Don Juan. Short stories include; The Queen of Spades, The Shot, and Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich.
Pushkin met Natalia Goncharova around 1828. She was one of the most beautiful maidens in Russia at the time. They got married in 1831 and had 4 children.
However, Natalia had many admirers and soon, rumors went around that she was having an affair outside marriage. It is said that Tsar Nicholas himself admired her. The French official, Georges d’ Anthes openly pursued her and this caused a great scandal.
In 1837, Pushkin sent an insulting letter to Georges who replied with a challenge to a duel. Pushkin accepted. The duel was to be a barrel fight, where the challengers shoot at each other from an agreed distance.
Pushkin was shot first through the abdomen and he died two days later. His death was mourned by many.
Mikhail Lermontov, a Russian poet, wrote a poem titled ‘ Death of the poet’. He blamed Russian autocracy as the real culprit of Pushkin’s death. The poem was not published. It was circulated informally.
In 1929, Leonid Grossman, a Russian author, wrote a novel; ‘the D’Archiac Papers’, describing Pushkin as a victim of the Russian authoritarian regime.
A film was released in 2006, ‘Pushkin; The last duel’. It was produced by Russian film director, Natalya Bondarchuk.
Alexander Pushkin statute at St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo by Prof- Declercq. Wikimedia Commons.
Two museums in Moscow and one in Saint Petersburg are dedicated to Pushkin. There is also a large complex at Mikhaylovskoye, where he was exiled, in his honor.
The town of Tsarskoye Selo was renamed Pushkin to commemorate him. The Duchess of Abercorn established the Pushkin Trust in 1987 in Ireland. There is a Pushkin statute in St. Petersburg, Russia, and his monument in Manila Philippines.
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Purity is a dynamic 20-something Kenyan writer, with an insatiable love for discovery. She is fascinated by travel, which she considers an open ticket to thrilling experiences. Drawing from her legal background training, she easily blends gained research prowess with her knack for storytelling. At Discover Walks, Purity seamlessly weaves her passion for travel, history and exploration into compelling pieces. She unveils travel tips, famous places to visit, brunch hotspots for your next date and quirky history facts, among other related topics. When not sharing these adventures, she is most likely engrossed in a timeless classic or having a laugh with friends over weekend drinks.