Apollon Alexandrovich Grigoriev is an outstanding critic and poet. This person became one of the brightest in Russian literature of the XIX century. But his theories remained a mystery to contemporaries and aroused interest among poets and prose writers only at the beginning of the last century. The life and work of Apollo Grigoriev is the topic of this article.
Origin
The biography of Grigoriev Apollon Alexandrovich began in 1822 in Moscow. His father was a civil servant, and his mother was the daughter of a serf. For obvious reasons, the parents of Apollo Grigoriev to get permission to get married was not easy. The future literary critic turned one year old when his mother was able to pick him up from an educational home.
Education
The early years of Apollo Grigoriev were cloudless. He received a good home education. Father paid a lot of attention to his education. A brief biography of Grigoryev Apollon Alexandrovich includes many moving from one city to another, constant searches and the desire to realize himself in various fields of activity. So, becoming an adult, he was able, without parental assistance, to receive a law degree. But to follow in the footsteps of his father, the future poet refused. Even after he managed to get a secretary position on university board, he suddenly left the capital.
Petersburg
In the Northern capital, Apollo Grigoriev’s attempts to make an official’s career ended in failure. He was able to get a job in the Council of the Deanery, then - in the Senate. But in none of the posts did Grigoryev manage to stay for a long time. The reason for this was the restless and artistic disposition.
The first poems in 1845 were published by Apollo Grigoriev. The biography and work of this poet and critic during this period are not particularly noteworthy. In one of the Petersburg literary magazines during these years several poems and critical articles by a little-known author appeared. Literary scholars remember about their existence only thanks to a later stage in the work of Grigoriev.
In 1946, the first collection of poems was published. But the young poet Apollon Grigoriev did not cause much interest among his contemporaries. Subsequently, he created little original poetic works. Grigoriev achieved greater success in literary translation.
Even as a student, the hero of this article led a hectic and rambling lifestyle. During his stay in St. Petersburg, he did not change his habits. And therefore, perhaps, he did not achieve what he was striving for here. Soon Grigoriev had to return to his hometown and settle down for a while.
Moscow
In the capital, Apollon Grigoriev began to teach law. In parallel, he collaborated with one of the Moscow periodicals. During these years, Apollo Grigoriev led a relatively correct lifestyle. His personal life is associated with the name Korsh. Lidia Fedorovna - the wife of Grigoriev - was the sister of a famous literary figure. The marriage with this woman somewhat streamlined the life of Apollon Alexandrovich. In 1850, he led one of the most popular literary circles. But the activities in this organization brought criticism of sad popularity.
His main idea was that art should grow exclusively on national soil. Acute criticism of Apollo Grigoriev was directed at supporters of Byron and other foreign authors. At the same time, he often stated his ideas in poetic, but mediocre form.
The creative activity of Apollo Grigoriev grew in proportion to his unpopularity. Ultimately, vague discussions about national art so weary contemporaries that his articles simply stopped reading. One of the few admirers of Grigoryev’s work - Fedor Dostoevsky - suggested he sign with a pseudonym. Only this step allowed the unlucky critic to draw attention to his work.
"Time"
Work in the journal, the editor-in-chief of which was Dostoevsky, allowed Grigoriev to occupy a relatively advantageous position in the literary field. In the second half of the nineteenth century, a philosophical movement known as “soil science” began to gain momentum. The journal Vremya published works mainly by those authors who were adherents of this trend. One of them was Apollo Grigoriev.
The photo of the building where the editorial office of the Vremya magazine was located is located above. A significant period in the biography of Apollo Grigoriev was associated with this institution. But, as already mentioned, this personality was not distinguished by constancy. And therefore, the extremely romantic poet soon went to the Orenburg province. Leaving their like-minded people was compelled by the conviction of their biased attitude towards his work.
Orenburg
Arriving in this city, Grigoryev was imbued with the confidence that his true calling is teaching. The literary critic decided to devote his life to teaching Russian language and literature. He took up a new business not without passion. But not even a year had passed before life in the province bored Grigoryev, and he again went to Petersburg.
Literary and theatrical bohemia
In St. Petersburg, Apollon Grigoriev began to lead a hectic life again. The consequence of his many frivolous acts was a stay in a debt prison. After liberation, this addicted nature wandered from one magazine to another. "Time" in 1963 was banned. And throughout the year, Grigoriev worked in the editorial offices of other literary publications, primarily as a theater critic. In this area, he unexpectedly gained recognition. When considering the next theatrical premiere, Grigoriev demonstrated deep knowledge of the German and French schools. He composed theatrical notes without the dryness that was usual for that time. Grigoryev's critical articles in St. Petersburg cultural circles gained wide popularity.
Sudden death
In 1964, the magazine Vremya resumed its existence. However, the name was different now. Work in the journal, with which a significant period in the work of Grigoryev is associated, again inspired him. But alcoholism - the disease that the poet suffered - by this time seriously undermined mental and physical health. Apollo Grigoriev passed away in his forty-third year of life.
The psychological portrait of Apollo Grigoriev, created by later authors, suggests that this person was extremely prone to depression. The spleen that accompanied him all his life was an integral part of his nature. He was extremely impractical and was constantly possessed by indefatigable passions. All this did not allow Grigoriev to improve his personal and professional life. He could, but did not seek to attach his ideas to any particular literary movement. And so he felt sharp loneliness all his life. Indiscipline, which was inherent in the life of Grigoriev, was transferred to his work. That is why it was so difficult for contemporaries to perceive the literary works of this author.
Organic criticism
This is the name Apollo Grigoriev gave his philosophical thought. Over his entire career, he was unable to formulate the foundations of his own worldview. They were unknown even to close friends and admirers. The last article of this extraordinary personality is called The Paradoxes of Organic Criticism. The essay was, as usual, not finished. In it, the author tried to state his main idea. But here, he didn’t succeed. In the last article, the author spoke about everything except the main subject.
"Organic criticism" aroused interest in Dostoevsky. The great writer proposed criticism to express his thoughts in a single literary article, because he saw in them something new, talented and unique. However, the chaotic thoughts of an employee of the Epoch magazine did not want to line up with theoretical doctrine. And therefore, the ideas of Apollo Grigoriev gained popularity much later, after the death of the critic.