Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev became famous as a talented prose writer and poet, but along with this he was a philosopher and held a good position at court. Our article presents a short biography of Radishchev (for grade 9 this information can be very useful).
Childhood. Moving to Moscow
Alexander Nikolaevich was the son of a wealthy landowner Nikolai Afanasevich Radishchev. He was born in the Saratov province, in the village of Verkhny Oblyazov in 1749. His father was a cultured man, so he tried to give his son an excellent education. The mother of Radishchev was Thekla Savvichna. She was from a family of Moscow noble intelligentsia. Her maiden name is Argamakova.
It is noteworthy that Radishchev's parents treated their serfs very well, which was also taught to their son. The childhood of Alexander Nikolaevich passed in Oblyazov. It is known that their house was rich and large, there were always a lot of people in it. Radishchev had four sisters and six brothers, children on equal terms communicated with serfs, rushed with them around the village. The teacher of Radishchev was, apparently, also a serf, his name is Pyotr Mamontov. Radishchev fondly recalled how an uncle told tales.
When the boy was 7 years old, his parents took him to Moscow. There he lived in the care of a relative of his mother. Along with the host children, he studied with a university professor and a French teacher. He was an old Frenchman who fled from his country.
The environment of the boy was unusual. He listened to lectures by leading thinkers, debates about serfdom, construction, education, and bureaucracy. The guests of the Argamakovs were unhappy with the government of Elizabeth, and even under Peter the Third, detente did not happen, on the contrary, the indignation only grew. In such an environment, Alexander Nikolaevich grew up.
Page Corps
When the boy was 13 years old, he was granted a page. This was done by Empress Catherine the Second. For a little Radishchev, his relatives Argamakova patted.
Until 1764, Catherine and the government were in Moscow, where the coronation took place, and then, together with her pages, including Radishchev, returned to Petersburg.
The Page Corps was not a “decent” educational institution in those years. All the boys were trained by only one teacher - Moramber, who was obliged to show them how to properly serve the Empress at balls, in the theater, in trains.
A short biography of Radishchev, the most important place in which is assigned to his creative successes, will not describe those experiences of the boy who, from the atmosphere of serious conversations and public interests, was transferred to the court environment. Of course, he had already absorbed all the hatred of despotism, lies, flattery, and now he saw it all with his own eyes, and not somewhere, but in the entire splendor of the palace.
It was in the Page Corps that Alexander Nikolaevich met Kutuzov, who would become his best friend for many years. And although their paths later diverge, the commander will not say a single bad word about Radishchev. A brief biography of the latter is a direct confirmation of this.
In Leipzig
Two years after moving to St. Petersburg, Radishchev, along with five more young men, was sent to Germany to study at the university. Catherine II wanted them to become educated lawyers and to serve in the court.
Gradually their small group grew. For example, Fedor Ushakov, who was at that time a young official, arrived in Leipzig. He left the service for university knowledge. Fedor was the oldest and quickly became the leader of a group of young men.
Radishchev spent almost five years on a foreign land. All this time he worked diligently and almost received a medical education, but still literature attracted him the most. A short biography of Radishchev indicates his interest in the emerging pre-romantic direction in Germany.
The country was shocked by the Seven Years War, which ended recently, so many ideological ideas developed in society, one might say, free-thinking, if not revolutionary. And Russian students were at the center of it all. Goethe studied at the university with them, they attended lectures by the outstanding philosopher Platner, who was a supporter of liberalism.
In Germany, the young men did not live very well, because their boss Bokum, appointed by the empress, was a real tyrant and greed. He took away from young people all the money sent for maintenance. And then the students decided to rebel. This decision came to their side, as they were arrested and sent to court. But the Russian ambassador intervened.
Bokum was fired much later, just before Radishchev’s departure to his homeland.
Return
A short biography of Radishchev mentions that in 1771 he came to Petersburg with Kutuzov and Rubanovsky. Young people were full of optimism and determination, saturated with advanced social ideals, they wanted to serve society.
It seems that over the years they spent in Germany, the empress completely forgot about the goal of sending pages to the country abroad. Radishchev was assigned to work in the Senate as a recorder. This caused a sea of indignation in the young man, and he soon left the service.
In 1773 he entered the headquarters of General Bruce, where he was appointed military prosecutor. This work also did not inspire Alexander Nikolaevich, but he had an outlet. Thanks to his charm and education, he became a member of the high-profile living rooms and offices of writers. Alexander Nikolaevich did not forget for a minute about his literary hobbies. Even a very short biography of Radishchev is not able to remain silent about his work. Yes, this is not necessary.
Literary path
For the first time, Alexander Nikolaevich turned to literary work in Leipzig. It was a translation of a politico-religious brochure. But his young page did not finish, because Vedomosti published another, less sharp passage.
In St. Petersburg, he met with the publisher of the magazine "Painter" Novikov. Soon there appeared an essay entitled "A fragment of a journey", but it was printed anonymously. A short biography of Radishchev, the most important of which is always on the surface, is confirmed by the fact that the writer almost never indicated his name on the works.
In the passage, the life of the fortress village, with all its gloomy events, was vividly shown. Of course, the top authorities did not like this, and the landowners were offended. But neither the author nor the publisher was afraid. And soon in the same journal an article was published, "English Walk," defending the previous edition. And then the sequel to the passage.
Actually, with this publication, the tragic creative path of Radishchev began.
A lot of Alexander Nikolaevich was engaged in translations, which Novikov also published. By order of Catherine, he translated the book "Reflections on Greek History" Mably. But in the end, he left some of his notes, thereby entering into polemics with the author, as well as several definitions (including the words "autocracy").
In 1789, the book "The Life of F. Ushakov" was published, which raised a lot of noise. It was again published anonymously, but no one doubted Radishchev’s authorship. Everyone noticed that the book has many dangerous expressions and thoughts. However, the authorities ignored her exit, which served as a signal for the writer to further action.
Radishchev’s short biography for grade 9 is not so informative, but it also says that not only the authorities, but also members of the Russian Academy and many nobles were dissatisfied with the work of this person.
Radishchev did not calm down. He wanted some kind of radical action. Therefore, he began to speak at the Society of Friends of Verbal Sciences, which included many writers, as well as sailors and officers. And he got his way: they listened to his speeches.
The society began to publish the magazine "Chatting Citizen", which published works infused with radio ideas. There was published an article by the philosopher himself, more like a propaganda speech ("Conversation about the son of the Fatherland). By the way, he had to try very hard to send it to the press. Even his like-minded people realized how dangerous this could be.
The writer, it seemed, did not even notice how clouds were gathering over him. But this clearly describes the biography. Radishchev Alexander Nikolaevich, whose work served him unkindly, was under the gun of the authorities. The next publication added fuel to the fire.
"Travel from Petersburg to Moscow"
A short biography of Radishchev contains one surprising fact. His main work passed the censorship test without any problems. It would seem impossible, but it was. The thing is that the Chief Police Officer of the Council of Piety was simply too lazy to read it. Seeing the title and table of contents, he decided that it was just a guide. The book was printed in the author’s home printing house, so no one knew about its contents.
The plot is pretty simple. A certain traveler travels from one settlement to another and, passing by villages, describes what he saw. The book very loudly criticizes autocratic power, talks about oppressed peasants and permissiveness of the landowners.
In total, six hundred copies were printed, but only twenty-five went on sale. For a long time, readers who wished to hold a revolutionary publication in their hands went to the seller.
Of course, such a work could not but resonate with either the readers or the ruling elite. The empress compared the writer with Pugachev, and it was the rebel who won in comparison.
In addition to the authorities, there were other persons who did not appreciate the work of Radishchev. For example, Pushkin responded very coldly about the book, noting that it was a "mediocre work" written by a "barbaric syllable."
Arrest and exile
By order of Catherine II, Radishchev was arrested. This happened on June 30, 1790. According to official documents, the reason for the detention was only the authorship of "Travel". But, since the empress had long been aware of the nature of the ideas and activities of her subject, his other literary works were also attached to the case.
Due to the connection with the disgraced, the Society of Friends was dispersed. The investigation was entrusted to the head of the secret police Stepan Sheshkovsky, who was the personal executioner of the empress. Alexander Radishchev somehow found out about this. A brief biography (9th graders consider this topic as part of the school curriculum) indicated the fact that the remaining copies of the book were personally destroyed by the author, who was really scared.
Radishchev was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. He escaped the terrible torture only because his wife's sister took all her jewelry to the executioner. When the “rebel” realized how dangerous the game he got into was horror. The threat of the death penalty loomed over him, the stigma of traitors over his family. Then Radishchev began to write letters with repentance, though not very sincere.
They sought from the writer that he give the names of accomplices and like-minded people. But Radishchev did not utter a single name. As a result of the trial, a death sentence was passed on July 24. But since the writer was a nobleman, approval of all state structures was required. Radishchev waited until August 19. But for some reason, the execution was postponed, and on September 4, Catherine replaced the hanging with a link to Siberia.
Information on the ten years spent in the Ilmensky prison could be supplemented by his brief biography. Alexander Radishchev, whose writer-friends turned their back on the exiled, lived there for only six years. In 1796, Emperor Paul, known for his confrontation with his mother, freed the writer. And in 1801 he was amnestied.
Last years
Alexander the First called the writer to St. Petersburg and appointed him to the position of the Law Commission.
After the exile, Radishchev wrote several poems, but he no longer enjoyed literature. It was difficult for him to drown in himself freedom-loving thoughts. In addition, life in Siberia greatly undermined his health, he was already middle-aged and unhappy. Perhaps all these moments made the writer die.
A short biography of Radishchev contains information that there are two options for his death. The first is related to work. Allegedly, he proposed introducing laws that equalize the rights of citizens, and the chairman reprimanded him by threatening Siberia. Alexander Nikolaevich took it to heart and was poisoned.
The second version says that he mistakenly drank a glass of royal vodka and died in front of his son. But in the funeral documents, natural death is indicated as the cause of death.
To this day, the writer's grave has not been preserved.
The fate of literary heritage
Until the twentieth century, the writer's books were not found. He was known only as a resident ("fellow countryman") of the Penza region - Radishchev. The writer, whose biography (short in summary, but so eventful) which was very tragic, was not appreciated by contemporaries. All his books were burned. Only in 1888 a small circulation of Travel was released in Russia. And already in 1907 - the collected works of a prose writer and poet.
A family
The writer was married twice. With his first wife, Anna Rubanovskaya, he had four children. But the woman died during the birth of the last son of Paul. To look after the children left without a mother, Anna's sister Ekaterina agreed.
She also became the second wife of Radishchev, following him in exile. In their marriage, three more children were born. On the way back to Petersburg, Catherine fell ill and died. This loss was seriously experienced by all the children and Radishchev.
A brief biography and the writer's work is truly dramatic. Despite all the events of his life, he did not give up his views and followed them until his last breath. This is the manifestation of the strength of the human spirit!