All poets and poets of Russia can rightfully call Vasily Zhukovsky their teacher. Having the highest authority in the imperial family, he provided assistance to every petitioner as best he could. And the contribution of Zhukovsky V.A. It ’s impossible to overestimate the development of the country's culture. He not only wrote, but also talentedly translated many masterpieces of world literature.
Biography of V. Zhukovsky: birth story
During the war with the Turks, the Russified German Muffle captured two sisters. He sent them to be brought up to Russia with his friend, the wealthy landowner Afanasy Ivanovich Bunin.
The youngest girl soon became ill and died. But the 16-year-old Salha got accustomed, learned to speak Russian. She was christened and named Elizabeth Dementievna Turchaninova. Bunin, who by that time had survived 11 children with his wife, received from his wife a refusal to perform marital duties and complete freedom. Soon Salha became the mistress of the master. In 1783 a son was born to them. A ruined nobleman A. G. Zhukovsky lived in the Bunin's family. Afanasy Ivanovich begged him to adopt a child. So Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky appeared on the Mishenskoe estate. The lady saw in the boy a replacement for her deceased only son, Ivan. She promised to educate Vasya as a native and kept her word, despite the fact that her husband had not bequeathed anything to either the boy or Salha before his death.
Biography of Zhukovsky V.A .: education
Even in infancy, Bunin recorded his son in a hussar regiment in Astrakhan. By the age of six, he already had the rank of ensign, which automatically gave him the right to the nobility. First Vasya got a family education, then in a private boarding school. Next was the public school, from which he was expelled as incapable. Then his godmother Varvara Afanasyevna Yushkova took up his education. A home theater was organized in her house. Here, for the first time, the literary talent of Vasily appeared. Inspired by the praise of loved ones, he literally plunged into writing. At age 12, he was sent to the Narva Regiment to serve. However, Paul I just issued a decree prohibiting the adoption of minors.
Then Vasily in 1797 was assigned to a boarding house at Moscow University, which the young man successfully graduated with a silver medal. During this period, he met with Alexander and Andrei Turgenev. Together they organized a literary society. After graduation, Vasily was sent to work as a city secretary in a salt office. At the same time, he continued to independently study literature, in particular translations. After the death of Paul I, Zhukovsky was transferred to St. Petersburg. There he met Karamzin, who was delighted with the talent of the young man. Nikolai Mikhailovich printed one of the translations of Zhukovsky in his Bulletin of Europe. The publication brought Vasily Andreyevich truly all-Russian fame.
Biography of V. Zhukovsky: 1802-1815
The first creative period lasted six years. At this time, he referred to the fashionable school of sentimentalism at that time. Since 1808, Zhukovsky began to create ballads based on foreign sources. Thus began the second, romantic, period in his work. In May 1811, mother came to Zhukovsky with bitter news of the death of the lady, and after a few days she herself was gone. A year later, the war with Napoleon began.
Zhukovsky joined the reserve regiment with the rank of lieutenant. After the war, he decided to devote his whole life to literature. Uvarov, a good friend of the family, in order to secure a pension for Vasily Andreyevich as a court poet, introduced him to Empress Maria Fyodorovna. She appointed him a reader and her literature teacher.
Biography of V. Zhukovsky: 1816-1840
From this year began the poet's 25-year stay at court. He settled in the Winter Palace and received a lifetime pension. First, he was appointed a literature teacher for the bride of Grand Duke Nikolai, and seven years later he was the mentor of their eldest son Alexander. In 1826, Zhukovsky, having received a vacation, went to Germany, where he met Goethe. In 1831, the poet lived in Tsarskoye Selo at the same time as Pushkin. When in 1836 he found out about the upcoming duel, he spent a week trying to settle the matter with the world. And he almost succeeded, but Pushkin ruined everything by writing an abusive letter to Huckern.
Poet Zhukovsky. Biography: 1841-1842
By this time, the poet’s relationship with the imperial court had worsened. He retired honorably and left for Germany. There, the 58-year-old poet finally married the daughter of the artist Reiterna Elizabeth. The newlyweds lived in Dusseldorf. And in Germany, the creative activity of Zhukovsky did not weaken. In 1842, the couple had a daughter, and three years later - a son.
A brief biography of V. Zhukovsky: 1848-1852
In autumn, the family moved to a permanent residence in Baden-Baden. The poem Tsarskoye Selo Swan, written in 1851, was the last in the poet’s legacy. He always dreamed of returning to his homeland. In March 1852, Zhukovsky learned about the death of Gogol. After that he fell down and did not rise anymore. In April 1852, the poet died. In the summer, his servant transported the ashes of his master to Petersburg. Zhukovsky was buried next to Karamzin.