Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich - a famous domestic poet, writer, thinker and publicist. Founder of a circle of like-minded people named in his honor. This group played a rather important role in the history of social thought in Russia. Its number in different years included Vissarion Belinsky, Mikhail Bakunin, Konstantin Aksakov, Vasily Botkin.
Writer Biography: The Early Years
Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich was born in 1813 in the small town of Ostrogozhsk on the territory of the Voronezh province. His father was a wealthy and wealthy nobleman. Vladimir Ivanovich from 1837 to 1841 served as the local leader of the nobility.
The hero of our article grew up in a friendly and large family, graduated from the Ostrogozh School, after which he studied for five years in a private boarding school in Voronezh itself. Known for his younger brother Alexander, who also became a writer. Among his most famous works are the novels “Evening Visits,” “Fomushka,” “From the Notes of a Road Man,” “The Idealist,” Ipohondrik, “From the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies,” and a large number of critical articles and reviews. Alexander Vladimirovich also became famous as biographer and publisher of the complete works of the Russian historian-medievalist Timofei Nikolayevich Granovsky, who studied the Western European Middle Ages.
Education
Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich published his first work at the age of 16. These were poems that had a pronounced patriotic character.
In 1830, Stankevich entered the verbal department of Moscow University, it was there that his beliefs were formed, interest in Russian history was born. At this time he lives with Professor Pavlov, thanks to whom he is imbued with an interest in the philosophy of the German thinker Friedrich Schelling. He meets the poet Alexei Koltsov, who gives him his poems. One of them the hero of our article manages to publish in the Literary Newspaper in 1831.
Like-minded circle
Since 1831, a circle of his like-minded people began to form around Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich. Together they discuss issues of art, religion, moral concepts. The very first meetings are attended by Ivan Obolensky, Yakov Pocheka, teacher and memoirist Yanuari Neverov, poet and teacher Turgenev Ivan Klyushnikov, master of literature and Russian, poet Vasily Krasov, archaeographer and historian Sergei Stroyev. Soon this collection is called "Stankevich’s Circle".
In 1833, Neverov left him, and other participants appeared together with him. These are Alexander Efremov, Alexei Topornin, Pavel Petrov, critic and publicist, ideologist of Slavophilism Konstantin Aksakov, statesman and military leader, participant in the Patriotic War of 1812, Alexander Keller, philologist, archaeographer and historian Osip Bodyansky, literary critic Vissarion Belinsky. V. G. Belinsky generally for many years becomes one of the most striking and significant figures during these meetings.
The heyday of the circle is considered to be 1833-1837, until Stankevich leaves. After that, like-minded people gather for another two years, but not in such a large composition, by that time their influence is significantly reduced. The participants in this community discuss the problems of history, philosophy, they are particularly attracted to the idea of the complete freedom of the human person. Often in the center of disputes and discussions are issues of art.
As VG Belinsky and other members of this circle later recalled, it did not have the hierarchical relations that were so prevalent during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I. At the same time, Stankevich himself had the idea to write a textbook on world history.
Return to the Voronezh province
The Russian writer Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich leaves for some time back to the Voronezh province, having graduated from Moscow University. Then he begins to work as an honorary caretaker. He manages to introduce several important and necessary innovations, but at the same time he feels that he will not be able to realize it fully, so in 1835 he returned to Moscow.
By that time, many new significant personalities appeared among the members of his circle. The first roles are played by the historian Granovsky and critic Belinsky, whom Stankevich nicknamed "the frantic Vissarion." Under this nickname, he was known to many at that time. In mid-1835, the circle began to educate, starting to publish a magazine called "Telescope".
Health problems
In the biography of Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich there were many problems and difficulties. He never managed to realize his potential due to persistent health problems. For most of his mature life, Stankevich was tormented by tuberculosis, which was constantly progressing. At that time, the disease was called consumption.
He tried to improve his health in the Caucasus, but a trip to the resort did not bring practically any results. In 1837, the hero of our article leaves for Karlovy Vary, a resort located near the University of Berlin. There, while Neverov and Granovsky studied there. However, Stankevich left the resort three weeks after he began treatment.
Last years
The hero of our article settles with his sister, returning to student life. He again organizes a circle of like-minded people around him, composed of both old and new participants. Among the latter, the writer Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev stands out especially.
It has discussions and discussions on the Moscow model. All this time, the disease continues to progress. In mid-1840, Stankevich went to Italy in the hope that the climate in this country would have a beneficial effect on his condition. But this does not help, on the night of June 25, 1840 he dies in a dream, practically in the arms of the sister of Mikhail Bakunin - Varvara. The cause of the death of Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich is tuberculosis. He died in the small town of Novi Ligure, which at that time was in the territory of the Sardinian kingdom, now it is located in the Piedmont region, in the province of Alessandria.
Personal life
The personal life of Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich was not easy. His main passion was Bakunin's sister, whose name was Love. They met in Moscow when the girl attended a philosophical circle. After some time, Mikhail invited the hero of our article to visit them on the estate in Pryamukhino, where young people talked to each other.
Relations between them did not stop even after Nicholas left for Moscow. Their romance continued in correspondence, they sent each other messages full of tenderness. However, the nature of their relationship was very complex, which did not allow this union to resolve happily. Stankevich left for treatment abroad, and Love died of consumption in Pryamukhino. A few years later, the same disease caused the death of the hero of our article. By that time he was sure that he had fallen out of love with a girl who remained for him a spiritual ideal.
Characteristic
Descriptions of the appearance and character of Stankevich were preserved by many members of his circle. Turgenev notes that he was of medium height, and so well built that it was impossible to assume that he had a serious illness. A sloping forehead, black hair, brown eyes, a cheerful and affectionate gaze - all this always distinguished Stankevich from those around him.
Contemporaries emphasize that he knew how to inspire the people around him, was a good mentor for them. In addition, he loved and knew how to play a trick, was a very artistic person. Moreover, his character was quiet and dreamy.
He especially loved contemplation; practical questions did not interest him much. Stankevich was a romantic, carried many into the image of idealism. He was addicted, hot in nature. If he became disillusioned with one philosophical system, he immediately took up another with interest. Moreover, he was deeply religious.
His hallmark was the lack of authority. During the absence of Stankevich, when he was abroad, Bakunin began to claim his place at the head of the circle, but Belinsky was indignant at this, noting that it was Stankevich who was always an authority.
The value of the activity
Stankevich wrote many poems that most critics and contemporaries rated as mediocre. His play “Vasily Shuisky” was not very popular either; he had to buy up almost all of its circulation himself. Moreover, the influence of the hero of our article on the development of Russian literature and philosophy cannot be underestimated.
He managed to unite all the outstanding thinkers of that time, even if they held different views. Stankevich stood out for his idealism, the ability to always direct the conversation in the right direction, to delve into the very essence of any dispute or conversation, and, together with his charm, this made the hero of our article an unspoken leader.
The circle that formed around it was the focus of domestic cultural life at that time. Stankevich himself sought to captivate his friends with German philosophy, which he succeeded with many. So he carried the idea that the human mind is capable of knowing the truth, awakening nobility in people, indicating the purpose, calling for good. Moreover, he himself, by any means, sought to find ways for the practical application of his theories. All that he never managed to bring to life was done by his friends and followers. They became the generation that actually prepared the reforms of the 1860s with their activities.
Among those influenced by Stankevich are Granovsky, Belinsky, Herzen, Bakunin, Aksakov, Botkin, Keller, Turgenev, Klyushnikov, Bodyansky, Stroyev. Granovsky, recalling Stankevich, wrote that for many of them he was a teacher and benefactor.
Stoppard Trilogy
An interesting fact about Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich is connected with the work of the English director and playwright Tom Stoppard. Stankevich became one of the characters in his play Coast of Utopia.
This dramatic trilogy tells about Russia of the 19th century, among the characters there are a large number of real historical figures - Chernyshevsky, Belinsky, Chaadaev, Herzen, Marx, among them is Stankevich.
Creation
Among the works of Stankevich there are a large number of poems, including “Watch Fight on the Spasskaya Tower”, “Consolation”, “On the Grave of a Rural Maiden”, “Feat of Life”.
In 1830, he wrote the tragedy in five acts, “Vasily Shuisky,” and in 1834 he released a collection of short stories. Among them are "A few moments in the life of Count T.", "Three artists." In collaboration with Nikolai Melgunov, a romantic poem "Prisoner of the Caucasus" was written.