Russian poet Ivan Kozlov: biography, literary activity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Ivan Kozlov is a Russian poet who worked in the era of romanticism. Ivan did not receive such widespread fame as his friend Vasily Zhukovsky, but Kozlov's works also belong to Russian classical literature. Ivan Kozlov was not appreciated during his lifetime, but he left an unforgettable mark on literature. Today he is honored and remembered as the most talented poet of the golden age of Russian classical literature.

Biography of Ivan Kozlov

The poet was born on April 22, 1779 in Moscow.

By origin, Ivan Kozlov was a nobleman, whose roots go back to the deep past.

The father of the future poet was a high-ranking civil servant, and his mother was the aunt of the Cossack chieftain. In addition, Ivan Kozlov's mother had good mental abilities and a wide range of knowledge. This allowed her to give a good education to her son.

The family had a large fortune that could provide for Ivan in the future. It was this that saved the poet,a patient with paralysis, which took away from Ivan Ivanovich not only the ability to walk, but also the ability to work. However, the family fortune was enough for only a few years, despite the fact that the poet himself was responsible for money, “not squandering” it unnecessarily.

Poet's military service

As a child, the Russian poet and translator was already enrolled in the army and received the rank of sergeant. At that time, Kozlov was only six years old. Already at the age of sixteen, Ivan received the rank of ensign. Kozlov served in the Life Guards for three years, after which he resigned and began civil service as secretary of the province.

After almost fifteen years, Ivan Kozlov was transferred to collegiate assessors, he was sent to the office of Prosecutor General Pyotr Lopukhin.

In 1799, Ivan began his service in the heraldry. It was there that the poet had the opportunity to work in the office of the provincial commander-in-chief Tutolmin. For his service, Kozlov received the rank of court adviser. This rank later served as a good chance for the poet to climb further up the career ladder.

Private life

In 1809, the poet and translator Kozlov connected his life with a beautiful girl - Sofya Davydova. Soon the young couple had two children. Nothing is known about how the life of the son and daughter of one of the famous poets of the golden age of literature developed in the future.

War years

In the summer of 1812, Kozlov held a good position in the committee that was responsible for the entire militarypower of the Moscow province. Together with other well-known officials of that time, Ivan went into dismissal just three days before Napoleon Bonaparte launched an attack on Moscow. Together with his family, the poet left the capital and went to a small village to visit relatives on his mother's side.

The end of the war

After the Russian Empire won, the poet decided not to return to Moscow, which was burned to the ground. Instead, Ivan, after talking with his wife, decided to try to settle in St. Petersburg. There he also began working in government agencies.

Severe illness of the poet

In 1818, Ivan Kozlov could no longer walk: paralysis, which could not be cured, caused paralyzed limbs. A year later, the poet began to lose his sight, and by 1821 he was completely blind. It was at this time that Ivan Ivanovich began to engage in literary activities. He became interested in poetry. In addition, Kozlov translated from Italian, German, French and English.

It is important to emphasize that Ivan knew Italian and French from childhood, but he learned English and German during his illness on his own. Speaking about the poet's work, it should be noted that the writer's archive contains several works that were originally written in French, because this language was, one might say, native to Ivan.

Literary activity of Ivan Kozlov

Literary activity, as a poet, Kozlov began to engage not only because he hadtalent, but also because of the difficult financial situation - during the years of his illness, Ivan Ivanovich lost his ability to work, and all the money was spent on household items necessary for life. Having met Vasily Zhukovsky, who began to provide constant support to the patient, Ivan Kozlov began writing his legendary poems.

The work of Zhukovsky undoubtedly had a strong influence on the works of Kozlov. But to call Ivan a copy of Vasily is impossible. There are significant differences in the work of talented poets. If Zhukovsky became a prominent representative of romanticism, then Kozlov became the pioneer of such a trend as “real romanticism”. His works were distinguished by the way the author reliably described the inner experiences of his lyrical characters.

In 1821, Ivan Kozlov's poems appeared for the first time in print. The poet's work "To Svetlana" was dedicated to Ivan's girlfriend, who, despite his illness, still remained close by and provided all kinds of support.

Speaking about this poem, I would like to emphasize how Ivan managed to convey all the tenderness and cordiality that reigned in his soul. The work is filled with comparisons, personifications, which helps to recreate that magnificent image of the girl the poet wrote about.

Looking at the kind of love the author brought to the lines dedicated to his girlfriend, you might think that Svetlana was his lover. However, we know that Ivan was happily married to Sophia. Svetlana was the native niece of Vasily Zhukovsky, presentThe girl's name was Alexandra. Being engaged in literary and journalistic activities, the girl took a pseudonym.

A little later, a poem-message "To Zhukovsky" is published, with which they worked at about the same time. The poem "Byron" was published simultaneously with a message to Pushkin's future teacher. Already after the first poems, fame came to the poet.

In 1824 Ivan's poem "The Chernets" was published. Readers liked this work so much that Kozlov immediately joined the ranks of the most famous and widely read poets of the nineteenth century.

Translator activities

Speaking of the poet's activities as a translator, it is important to say that he translated the works of such famous authors as George Byron, W alter Scott, Dante Alighieri, Thomas Moore, Charles Wolf and many others.

His translation of Moore's "Evening Bells" has become a classic of Russian folk song. Another well-known translation, which was carried out by Kozlov, was the work of Wolf "The drum did not beat under the vague regiment …".

Memories of a poet

The illness severely crippled the poet. But despite the fact that Ivan himself could hardly move, he took care of himself as best he could. There was no sloppiness that is inherent in seriously ill patients. Kozlov was distinguished by his bright and expressive speech. In addition, the poet did not give rest to his brain: he constantly memorized poems by European poets, and from memory Ivan could recite them in several languages.

Looking at somethinghow the poet behaved among friends and relatives, no one ever guessed that Ivan endlessly suffered from terrible and excruciating pain.

About Kozlov's work

The first poem "To Svetlana", as mentioned above, was a triumph for Ivan Kozlov. After the publication of this work and his other poems, such famous and talented people as Ivan Turgenev, Alexander Pushkin and even Vasily Zhukovsky himself wanted to meet the poet.

Speaking of the works of the poet

Kozlov's poem "Chernets" greatly influenced the manner of writing Mikhail Lermontov. As Mikhail Yuryevich himself said, this can be seen from the poem "Mtsyri". It was in this work that something new was reflected, which was created under the influence of the work "Blackie".

Death of a poet

Russian poet Ivan Kozlov died on February 11, 1840 at the age of 60. Ivan Ivanovich was buried in the cultural capital of Russia - in St. Petersburg.

Today the poet's grave can be seen at the Tikhvin cemetery in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Another great writer, Karamzin, is buried not far from Kozlov.