The biography of I. Krylov began in a noisy and bustling Moscow, where the future fabulist writer was born on February 2 (13), 1769.
Krylov’s childhood
Parents of Ivan Andreevich were often forced to move from one place to another. In the midst of a peasant uprising led by Yemelyan Pugachev, Krylov and his mother were in Orenburg, and the father of the future writer was captain in the town of Yaitsky. The name of Andrei Krylov was even mentioned in the Pugachev’s hanging list, but, fortunately for the family, it didn’t come to that. However, after some time, Andrei Krylov dies, and the family remains almost without money. Ivan’s mother is forced to earn extra money in the homes of wealthy people. Krylov himself began to work at a very early age - from the age of nine. He was allowed to rewrite 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 owner’s children, met with artists and writers who often came to visit Lviv, 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.
The first samples of the pen
A new stage began in the life of the future fabulist from the moment the family moved to St. Petersburg. The biography of Krylov I.A. during this period is especially interesting, because it was at this time that his first steps on the literary path took place. The mother of the fabulist went to the northern capital to solve the pension problem, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
Krylov himself, without wasting time in vain, gets a job in the office of the Treasury. However, official affairs do not worry him too much. He spends almost all his free time on literary classes, visiting theaters, and begins to communicate closely with talented famous actors, as well as P. A. Soimonov, the director of theaters.
Even after the death of his mother, Ivan's hobbies remain the same. Although now the future fabulist is more difficult: he must follow the younger brother, who remained in his care.
Biography of I. Krylov in the 80s. - This is a permanent collaboration with the world of theater. During this period, the libretto for the operas Coffeepot, Mad Family, Cleopatra, as well as the comedy called The Writer in the Hallway, come out from under his hands. Of course, they brought neither fame nor huge fees. But on the other hand, they allowed Krylov to join the circle of communication of writers of St. Petersburg.
The young man is taken under his protection by the popular playwright Knyazhin and seeks to help Krylov more successfully promote his 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 makes fun of the playwright and his wife in every possible way. It is not at all strange that the comedy itself was forbidden to be staged, and the author spoiled relations with both writers and the theater directorate, thanks to which the compositions were put on stage.
At the end of the decade, Krylov expresses a desire to try his hand at journalism. In the magazine "Morning hours" in 1788 his songs were published, but they also go unnoticed. After that, Ivan Andreevich decides to engage in the publication of his journal (“Mail of Spirits”), which is published for eight months of 1789. “Mail of Spirits” takes 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, the magazine soon closes censorship, explaining that the publication had only 80 subscribers.
Since 1790, Krylov resigned, after which he devoted himself entirely to literary activity. At this time, the biography of I. Krylov is closely intertwined with the life paths of the author's friends - A. Klushin, P. Plavilshchikov and I. Dmitriev. Ivan Andreyevich 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 in the houses and estates of his friends. The fabulist was constantly looking for sources of income, and for some time he found the desired 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 with Ivan Andreevich, suggested that he become his home teacher and personal secretary. Krylov lives in the estate of the prince in the territory of the Kiev province and is engaged in literature and languages with the sons of the aristocrat. Here he writes plays for staging in the home theater, and also masters the mastery of playing various musical instruments.
In 1801, Alexander I ascended the throne, who had great confidence in Golitsyn and appointed him the Livonian Governor General. Krylov, in turn, is given the place of 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 work and returns to Petersburg.
In 1805, Ivan Andreevich demonstrated to I. Dmitriev, a talented poet, his first translations of fables. It becomes clear that the writer has found his true calling. But Krylov, however, publishes only three fables and returns to drama. The next few years were particularly fruitful in this regard. Krylov is known and loved by lovers of theatrical art, and the play “Fashionable Shop” was shown even at 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, 8 volumes of Krylov's fables were already typed.
In 1811, Ivan Andreevich became a member of the Russian Academy, and after twelve years received from her a gold medal 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 as a librarian at the Imperial Public Library. Krylov also receives a pension for his merits in Russian literature, and after the publication of the eight-volume book, Nikolai I doubles his pension and appoints the writer as a state adviser.
In the winter of 1838, St. Petersburg with respect and solemnity supported the celebration of the author's fifty-year creative anniversary. By this time, Krylov was already put on a par with the classics of Russian literature - Pushkin, Derzhavin, Griboedov. The latest fables of Ivan Andreevich have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Last years
In 1841, Krylov resigned and settled on Vasilyevsky Island to live in peace, for his pleasure. The writer was always averse to eating and lying 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 collection of essays. He died on November 9 (21), 1844 in St. Petersburg from bilateral pneumonia.
Curious Facts About the Writer
There are interesting facts from the biography of Krylov, which are worth mentioning in this article. For example, almost never a fabulist was not shy and did not miss the opportunity to play a joke on the shortcomings of others.
Once he walked along the Fontanka embankment. Seeing the massive figure of an unfamiliar old man, the students who were resting, began to laugh, saying, "the cloud is coming." Passing by them, Krylov calmly replied: "... And the frogs began to croak."
Another interesting case occurred with Ivan Andreyevich in the theater. His neighbor was very noisy: stamped his feet to the beat of the music, even singing along. Krylov said loudly enough: “Disgrace!” The writer’s neighbor insultedly asked if this applies to him, to which Krylov ironically replied that he said “to that gentleman on the stage who is stopping me from listening to you [the neighbor]”.
The case 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 a fabulist with ordinary students until the funeral cart.