(5.01.1842 – 29.07.1913)
Avseenko, Vasily Grigoryevich [5 (17) .I.1842, Moscow, – 29.VII (11.VIII) .1913, Petersburg] is a Russian writer. He was born into a noble family. He graduated from the History and Philology Faculty of Kiev University (1862). In 1860-61 he worked in the revolutionary-democratic magazine “Russian Word”. Author of a number of historical works. In the 1970s, he appeared with articles in the reactionary magazine Russky Vestnik, sharply attacking progressive literature. He published the antinigilistic novel The Evil Spirit (1881-1883), directed against the revolutionary democrats. The author of novels: “Because of the blessings of the earth” (1872), “Milky Way” (1875-1876), “Gnashing of teeth” (1878), etc., in which he exposed the high-society and bureaucratic environment. In 1883-1895 – editor of the newspaper “Petersburg Gazette”. In the 90 years he worked in liberal journals “Bulletin of Europe” and “Russian thought”. A short literary encyclopedia in 9 volumes. State Scientific Publishing House “Soviet Encyclopedia”, v. 1, M., 1962.