Russian poet Konstantin Fofanov: biography, creativity

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

A poet not of this world, constantly in a vague mood and a world of ghostly visions, today almost forgotten - Konstantin Fofanov. His slightly sloppy appearance, giving a resemblance to a rogue, holy fool or beggar, did not give any reason to believe in a brilliant inside. This duality confused many, but only until the poet began to read poetry…

Unhappy childhood

Konstantin Fofanov was born in St. Petersburg in 1862, on May 30th. My father was a small merchant who came from peasants, but being ignorant of trade affairs, he very quickly lost his entire fortune. The future poet was one of ten children. Due to family circumstances, Konstantin Fofanov did not receive a systematic education. For several months he studied in various private boarding schools, a little longer in the city school of St. Petersburg. In total, there were only three classes of education.

Test pen

The first poems he wrote, imitating Nekrasov. Poet inthis time is not yet 14. By the age of sixteen, he is fond of the Bible, sublime folk lines come out from under his pen. In 1881, a similar poem under an assumed name was published in the Russian Jew newspaper. Written in 1885, "The Sacrament of Love" and published in the journal "Observer" in 1888, led to a lawsuit, as a result of which the journal was closed. By that time it was already the hundredth publication. The poet's poems have already been published in almost all illustrated publications and even in the Novoye Vremya newspaper under the leadership of Suvorin.

In 1887, the first book of the poet with the unpretentious title "Poems" was published. The publication went almost unnoticed by either readers or critics. Nor was it awarded the Pushkin Prize, the nomination for which was initiated by Polonsky. But on the other hand, the collection aroused violent delight in I. Repin. He painted a portrait of Fofanov and was his close friend until his death.

But then suddenly Nadson dies, who called the young poet "a great literary talent of a purely artistic shade." And the poetic style of Fofanov, a man who suffered disappointment in life, but did not lose faith, was perceived as a continuation of Nadson's melody. Moreover, during his lifetime, Nadson supported the poet's debut collection in print.

Incorrigible Romantic

Against the background of the ever-increasing revolutionary movement, the traditions of Russian verse are collapsing and the topical “revolutionary-democratic” poetry is rising. During this period, the poetry of Konstantin Mikhailovich becomes a romantic outlet. G. Byaly wrote,that this is an amazing poetry of halftones and halftones, that it can convey the state of the soul, rushing between grief and joy. It was precisely such lines that were so lacking in that troubled time in which one had to live. For this, Fofanov was highly appreciated by Leskov, Polonsky, Tolstoy, Maikov. And the symbolists Balmont and Bryusov invited him to collaborate with them in the almanac "Northern Flowers".

Suvorin, who promoted the poet, publishes the second collection of his poems. All under the same uncomplicated name. The third book by Konstantin Fofanov had the title "Shadows and Secrets". She left in 1892. It is followed by the poetic story "Baron Klaks", according to critics, this is a light parody of "Eugene Onegin".

Love story

In 1887, Konstantin Fofanov marries Lidia Konstantinovna Tupoleva. She was not just a beauty, she was endlessly in love. Their relationship was very romantic. Lida met her future husband at the age of 14, being a schoolgirl, enthusiastically carried away by his poems. A little later, the poet dedicates the lines “The stars are clear, the stars are beautiful” to her.

Prince Charmed

In literary circles, Fofanov Konstantin Mikhailovich was ranked among the decadents. Partly because of the detachment and refusal to accept reality in favor of illusions and fantastic ideas, but also because of the search for new ways in literature and deep urbanism.

Literary critics believe that the poet had a huge impact on the development of Russian poetry. There is even a definition"Fofanov period". This is a ten-year period between the mid-1880s and 1890s. Konstantin Fofanov, whose poems found a very wide response among poetry lovers and were in tune with the mood of society, found many imitators.

Harbinger of symbolism

The poet's contemporaries believed that he surprisingly cleverly contrasts low reality with high ideals, that his poems are distinguished by declarativeness, stylistic and linguistic negligence and at the same time picturesque expressiveness. And the reader perceived the liberties in his lines as a manifestation of sincerity. There is an opinion that the poet is a symbolist. But in fact, experts trace in his poems the features of the transition from the traditional form to modernism. It is not for nothing that the “Fofan” period stands out, consonant with the “twilight” era of timelessness.

Among his famous admirers, one can distinguish A. Chekhov, I. Repin, A. Maikov, and the Symbolist poet V. Bryusov spoke especially favorably of Fofanov. By the way, the leaders of this trend spoke with pride about the influence that the two-worldly lyrics of Fofanov's poems had on them.

He treated them with slight dislike. The reason is simple. After the publication in 1895 of several collections of symbolists, the poet's era began to decline. There was no need for it anymore. Fofanov Konstantin tries to redirect his creativity. There are poems about the excommunication of Leo Tolstoy, about the famine…

My lamp is burning out

Leo Tolstoy, who considered the poet the best poet of his time,noticed that he lived all his life in poverty, surrounded by a large number of children. It is not surprising that Konstantin Fofanov, a romantic poet, became addicted to alcohol. You can't earn much by writing. But trouble does not come alone. The poet's two children die, and against this background he has a nervous breakdown.

After a severe mental illness he suffered in 1890 and a long treatment, Konstantin Fofanov continues to write. By this time, the whole family has moved to Gatchina. The poet loves these places. Here he is visited by V. Bryusov and I. Repin. I. Severyanin repeatedly visits his “teacher and king” here. He has many poems dedicated to the poet and his beloved city: “Here the tsar wrote his decrees and writes Fofanov’s poems…”

Poems, poems, fairy tales and ballads by Fofanov are published in mass editions. The poet even prepared two collections for publication: "Ethers" (poems from 1901-1906 were included) and "Wings and Tears" (poems written from 1907 to 1911). They failed to publish.

For some reason, only the collection "Illusions" and two poems saw the light: "After Golgotha" and "An Extraordinary Romance" (again, a remake of Pushkin's favorite, "House in Kolomna").

The 1905 revolution, not accepted by the poet, deprives him of his last readers. Poverty reaches its limit and presses so hard that in one of the newspapers Fofanov prints an advertisement about his desire to be hired as a janitor, doorman, and even a floor clerk. And a year later, driven into a corner, he makes an attempt to sell fifteen volumes of his works for only a thousand rubles.

His life dissatisfaction and disorder sometimes resulted insarcastic impromptu. Which did not remain without consequences. A joke with an open allusion to Alexander III drives him to a local prison for two weeks as politically unreliable.

And then a new attack of a seemingly cured disease. Perhaps that is why Konstantin Fofanov loses his strong-willed qualities, drinks, constantly changes his place of residence and begs during this period. The biography of the poet is not so long. In 1911, a new round of ailments begins, new ones are added to the old ones.

Wife, in despair, asks the editors who publish his books to raise funds for treatment in one of the St. Petersburg hospitals. But all in vain. May 30, 1911 Konstantin Fofanov dies.

My poems, like precious wines, will have their turn

Surprisingly romantic, the poet wrote out a lyrical landscape, was a singer of spring and May. His lines were crystal clear and melodious. Many of them have been set to music.

Realistic poems "Poetess", "Wolves", "The Enchanted Prince", "Spring Poem" evoke a storm of emotions in the reader.