Biography of Saltykov-Shchedrin
Saltykov-Shchedrin Mikhail Evgrafovich – Russian writer-realist, critic, author of sharp satirical works, known under the pseudonym Nikolai Shchedrin.
Childhood and Education
Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin was born on January 15, 1826 in the village of Spas-Ugol of the Tver Province in an old noble family. Primary education the future writer received at home – with him engaged serf painter, sister, priest, governess. In 1836, Saltykov-Shchedrin studied at the Moscow Nobility Institute, from 1838 – at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum.
Military service. Link to Vyatka
In 1845, Mikhail Evgrafovich graduated from the Lyceum and joined the military chancellery. At this time, the writer is fond of French socialists and George Sand, creates a series of notes, novels.
In 1848, in a brief biography of Saltykov-Shchedrin, there comes a long period of exile – for free-thinking he was sent to Vyatka. There, the writer lived for eight
Government activity. Mature creativity
Returning in 1855 from exile, Saltykov-Shchedrin joined the Ministry of the Interior. In 1856-1857 his “Provincial Sketches” were published. In 1858, Mikhail Evgrafovich was appointed vice-governor of Ryazan, and then Tver. In parallel, the writer was published in the journals Russky Vestnik, Sovremennik, The Library for Reading.
In 1862, Saltykov-Shchedrin, whose biography had previously been associated more with career than with creativity, was leaving public service. Stopping in Petersburg, the writer is arranged to work as an editor in the journal Sovremennik. Soon there are his collections “Innocent stories,” “Satire in prose.”
In 1864, Saltykov-Shchedrin returned to the service, taking up the post of manager of the treasury chamber in Penza, and then in Tula and Ryazan.
The last years of the writer’s life
Since 1868, Mikhail Evgrafovich resigns, is actively engaged in literary activity. In the same year, the writer becomes one of the editors of “Otechestvennye zapiski”, and after the death of Nikolai Nekrasov occupies the post of the responsible editor of the magazine. In 1869 – 1870, Saltykov-Shchedrin creates one of the most famous of his works – “The History of a City”, in which he raises the topic of relations between the people and the government. Soon the collections “Signs of the Times”, “Letters from the Province”, the novel “The Lord of Holovlevs” are published.
In 1884, “Otechestvennye zapiski” were closed, and the writer begins to be published in the journal “Bulletin of Europe”. In recent years, the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin culminates in a grotesque. The writer publishes collections of “Fairy tales”, “Little things of life”, “Peshekhonskaya antiquity”.
Mikhail Evgrafovich died on May 10, 1889 in St. Petersburg, was buried at Volkovsky Cemetery.
Interesting Facts
- While studying at the Lyceum, Saltykov-Shchedrin published his first poems, but quickly became disillusioned with poetry and left it forever. Mikhail Evgrafovich popularized the literary genre of a social and satirical fairy tale aimed at exposing human vices. Reference in Vyatkino was a turning point in Saltykov-Shchedrin’s personal life – there he met his future wife EA Boltina, with whom he lived for 33 years. Staying in the Vyatka exile, the writer translated the works of Tocqueville, Vivienne, Cheruel, and took notes on Beccari’s book. In accordance with the request in the will, Saltykov-Shchedrin was buried next to the grave of Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev.
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