Biography and work of the writer and poet Vasily Zhukovsky.
Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky is an outstanding poet of the 19th century, the founder of romanticism in Russian literature, academician and teacher.
Childhood and education
The future poet was born in the Tula province, in the village of Mishinskoye, in 1783. At that time, he was considered illegitimate, as he was the son of a captive Turkish woman Salha and the landowner Bunin. According to the documents, he was considered the adopted son of a friend of Bunin by the name of Zhukovsky. The landowner's wife accepted Vasily Andreyevich as her own son. As was customary in the noble society, the baby was assigned to the regiment from birth, and so did the little Vasily. He was assigned to the Astrakhan regiment, and by 1789 he was promoted to warrant officer, but for mysterious reasons he was dismissed from the regiment in the same year. He graduated from two noble boarding schools, was expelled from the public school of Tula for academic failure. His first home education was given to him by a German who did not have a talent for teaching; in the noble boarding school Rode, his teacher was the famous classicist - Pokrovsky, who said that Zhukovsky had no abilities.
Love and muse
In 1801-1802 he served in the Salt Office. Then he returns to Mishenskoye, where he is engaged in the education and upbringing of his nieces. At this time, an event happened that turned the life of the poet - he fell in love with the eldest of the nieces - Maria. More poems and elegies appeared. In 1805, he confessed his forbidden feelings for Maria to her mother - Ekaterina Afanasyevna Protasova. The half-sister was disappointed in Zhukovsky and expressed her indignation.
The initial stage of literary creation and the first crisis
As a young man, Zhukovsky took up self-education, became interested in history, literature and languages. He began an active literary career in 1897. So, already in 1802 his translation - "The Rural Cemetery" by Gray - was published in the "Bulletin of Europe". In 1808 he released the famous ballad "Lyudmila", which was highly appreciated by critics. In the same year, Vasily Andreevich became the editor of Vestnik Evropy; he attracted Protasova, Yushkova, Kireevskaya to work. Some issues of the magazine consisted entirely of his writings. In 1810, cooperation with the magazine was suspended, and a deep crisis began in Zhukovsky's work. Firstly, in the summer of the same year, he visited the Protasovs, Maria had a governess and translator, so the poet was forced to forget about his feelings. Secondly, pressure from his close friend and inspirer Karamzin increased. He and his entourage believed that Zhukovsky was writing an epic poem. Zhukovsky, indeed, had a notebook with thoughts, but they remained unimportant. Thirdly, in 1811 the poet lost his own and foster mothers, who died, literally, one after another. Fourthly, in 1812, the poet made Masha an intercourse, once again bringing his love to her, but she refused, and later got married.
Patriotic War of 1812
In 1812, the Patriotic War began. Zhukovsky took part in the Battle of Borodino and the Tarutino maneuver, later fell ill with typhus and was admitted to the hospital.
Pushkin and "Arzamas"
In 1815, a meeting between Zhukovsky and Pushkin took place. Vasily Andeevich, as well as later, Alexander Sergeevich became a member of the literary society "Arzamas". Within society, everyone was given a nickname, the poet was named "Svetlana", in honor of the ballad of the same name.
Teacher at court
In 1817, Zhukovsky was invited to the court to help the wife of the future Emperor Nicholas I in learning the Russian language. Later, the poet took up the education of the future Emperor Alexander II, with whom they traveled across Russia and Western Europe. Everyone noted his positive influence on the young heir to the throne. The events of 1825 also affected the poet. At the time of the death of Alexander I, Zhukovsky was in the Winter Palace. On December 14, he was there. After the uprising, the poet was appointed a teacher of Alexander Nikolaevich, the future Alexander II, for whose training he developed a three-stage education system.
From 1830 to 1840 Zhukovsky worked on "Side", "Knight Rollon", "The Voyage of Charlemagne", etc.
The last years of life and family
Since 1841 the poet has lived in Germany. Zhukovsky traveled to Switzerland, Germany, painted what he saw. At the same time, he marries 18-year-old Elizabeth (at the age of 58). Finally, he has a family, Pavel and Alexandra are born.
Dies in Baden-Baden in 1852.
