Biography of I. A. Krylov. Life and work of the famous fabulist

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

The biography of I. A. Krylov began in noisy and fussy Moscow, where the future fabulist was born on February 2 (13), 1769

Krylov's childhood

Ivan Andreevich's parents were often forced to move from one place to another. At the height of the peasant uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev, Krylov and his mother were in Orenburg, and the father of the future writer was a captain in the Yaik town itself. The name of Andrei Krylov was even mentioned in the Pugachev hanging list, but, fortunately for the family, it did not come to that. However, after some time, Andrei Krylov dies, and the family is left with virtually no money. Ivan's mother is forced to earn extra money in the homes of rich people. Krylov himself began working at a very early age - from the age of nine. He was allowed to copy business papers for a small salary.

Then the boy was educated in the house of N. A. Lvov, a famous writer. Ivan studied with the children of the owner, met with artists and writers who often came to visit Lvov, listened to their conversations.

Due to some fragmentary education, the writer subsequently faced many difficulties. However, over time, he managed to learn how to write correctly, significantly expand his horizons and even master the Italian language.

First pen trials

A new stage began in the life of the future fabulist from the moment the family moved to St. Petersburg. The biography of I. A. Krylov during this period is especially interesting, because it was at this time that his first steps on the literary path took place. The fabulist's mother went to the northern capital to resolve the issue of pension, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

Krylov himself, without wasting time, gets a job in the office of the Treasury. However, business matters do not worry him too much. He spends almost all his free time on literary studies, visiting theaters, begins to closely communicate with talented famous actors, as well as with P. A. Soymonov, theater director.

Even after the death of his mother, Ivan's hobbies remain the same. Although now it is more difficult for the future fabulist: he must watch over his younger brother, who remained in his care.

Biography of I. A. Krylov in the 80s. is a constant collaboration with the theater world. During this period, the libretto for the operas “Coffee House”, “Mad Family”, “Cleopatra”, as well as a comedy called “The Writer in the Hallway” came out from under his hand. Of course, they did not bring either fame or huge fees. But on the other hand, they allowed Krylov to join the social circle of the writers of St. Petersburg.

A young man is taken under his patronage by the popular playwright Knyazhin and seeks to help Krylov promote more successfullytheir works. However, Ivan Andreevich himself not only refuses this help, but also terminates any relationship with Knyazhin, after which he writes the comedy "Pranksters", in which he ridicules the playwright and his wife in every possible way. It is not at all strange that the comedy itself was banned from being staged, and the author ruined relations with both writers and the theater management, thanks to which the works were staged.

At the end of the decade, Krylov expressed a desire to try his hand at journalism. His songs were published in the Morning Hours magazine in 1788, but they also go unnoticed. After that, Ivan Andreevich decides to publish his own journal (“The Spirit Mail”), which is published within eight months of 1789. The Spirit Mail has the form of correspondence of fairy-tale characters - gnomes and a wizard. In it, the author presents a caricature of the society of that time. However, soon the magazine was closed by censorship, explaining that the publication had only 80 subscribers.

Since 1790, Krylov retired, after which he devoted himself entirely to literary activity. At this time, the biography of I. A. Krylov is closely intertwined with the life paths of the author's friends - A. Klushin, P. Plavilshchikov and I. Dmitriev. Ivan Andreevich runs the printing house and, together with his friends, begins to publish the magazine "Spectator" (later - "St. Petersburg Mercury"). In 1793, the magazine was finally closed, and Krylov left the capital for several years.

In the service of Prince Golitsyn

Until 1797, Krylov lives in Moscow, and then begins to travel around the country,staying at the houses and estates of their friends. The fabulist was constantly looking for sources of income, and for some time he found what he wanted in card games. By the way, Krylov was known as a very successful player, on the verge of cheating.

Prince Sergei Fyodorovich Golitsyn, having met Ivan Andreevich, offered him to become his home teacher and personal secretary. Krylov lives on the prince's estate in the Kyiv province and is engaged in literature and languages \u200b\u200bwith the sons of an aristocrat. Immediately, he writes plays for staging in the home theater, and also masters the skill of playing various musical instruments.

In 1801, Alexander I ascended the throne, who had great confidence in Golitsyn and appointed him Governor-General of Livonia. Krylov, in turn, is given the place of the ruler of the office. Until 1803, the fabulist worked in Riga, and then moved to his brother in Serpukhov.

Creative fame

Creativity and biography of Krylov become especially interesting, starting from this time. Indeed, during this period, for the first time, Krylov's play ("Pie") wins the hearts of the audience and brings the author long-awaited success. He decides to continue his literary activity and returns to St. Petersburg.

In 1805, Ivan Andreevich demonstrates to I. Dmitriev, a talented poet, his first translations of fables. It becomes clear that the writer has found his true calling. But Krylov, nevertheless, publishes only three fables and again returns to dramaturgy. The next few years were particularly fruitful inthis plan. Krylov is known and loved by connoisseurs of theatrical art, and the play “Fashion Shop” was shown even at the court.

However, Krylov himself is increasingly moving away from the theater and is seriously interested in translating and composing his own fables. In 1809, his first collection appeared on the shelves. Gradually, the number of works is growing, new collections are being published, and by 1830 there were already 8 volumes of Krylov's fables.

In 1811, Ivan Andreevich became a member of the Russian Academy, and twelve years later he received a gold medal from it for achievements in literature. In 1841, Krylov was appointed academician of the department of the Russian language and literature. Since 1812, the writer has been acting librarian at the Imperial Public Library. Krylov also receives a pension for merits in Russian literature, and after the release of the eight-volume book, Nicholas I doubles the pension and appoints the writer as a state adviser.

In the winter of 1838 St. Petersburg respectfully and solemnly supported the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the author. By this time, Krylov was already put on a par with the classics of Russian literature - Pushkin, Derzhavin, Griboyedov. The last fables of Ivan Andreevich have been translated into more than 50 languages.

Recent years

In 1841, Krylov retired and settled on Vasilyevsky Island to live in peace, for his own pleasure. The writer has always liked to eat delicious food and lie on the couch, which is why some called him a glutton and a lazy person.

However, until the last days, Krylov worked on a new collectioncompositions. He died on November 9 (21), 1844 in St. Petersburg from bilateral pneumonia.

Curious facts about the writer

There are interesting facts from Krylov's biography that are worth mentioning in this article. For example, the fabulist was almost never shy and did not miss the opportunity to play a trick on the shortcomings of others.

Once he was walking along the Fontanka embankment. Seeing the massive figure of an unfamiliar old man, the resting students began to laugh, they say, “there is a cloud coming”. Passing by them, Krylov calmly replied: “… And the frogs croaked.”

Another interesting incident happened to Ivan Andreyevich in the theater. His neighbor turned out to be very noisy: he stamped his feet to the beat of the music, even sang along. Quite loudly Krylov said: “Disgrace!” The writer's neighbor insultedly asked if this applied to him, to which Krylov ironically replied that he said this "to the gentleman on the stage who prevents me from listening to you [the neighbor]".

The incident that occurred after the death of the author was indicative. Paying tribute to Krylov, Count Orlov, who was the second person after the emperor, personally carried the coffin of the fabulist with ordinary students, to the very funeral wagon.