Russian poet Konstantin Fofanov: biography, creativity

The poet is not from this world, constantly in a vague mood and a world of ghostly visions, today he is almost forgotten - Konstantin Fofanov. His slightly sloppy appearance, giving a resemblance to a rogue, a fool, or a beggar, did not give any reason to believe in a genius inside. This duality confused many, but only until the poet began to read poetry ...

Unhappy childhood

Konstantin Fofanov was born in St. Petersburg in 1862, on May 30. My father was a small merchant who came out of the peasants, but being not knowledgeable in commercial matters, he very quickly lost all his fortune. The future poet was one of ten children. Due to family circumstances, Konstantin Fofanov did not receive a systematic education. For several months he studied at various private boarding houses, a little longer at the city school of St. Petersburg. In total, only three classes of education were obtained.

Attempt at writing

He wrote the first poems, imitating Nekrasov. At that time the poet was not yet 14. By sixteen he was fond of the Bible, and exalted lines of folk came out from under his pen. In 1881, a similar poem under an assumed name was published in the newspaper Russian Jew. Written in 1885, “The Sacrament of Love” and published in the journal “Observer” in 1888, led to a trial, following which the magazine was closed. By that time it was already the hundredth publication. Poems of the poet were already published in almost all illustrated publications and even in the newspaper "New Time" under the leadership of Suvorin.

In 1887, the poet’s first book was published with the simple title “Poems”. The publication was almost unnoticed by readers or critics. It was not awarded the Pushkin Prize, the nomination for which was initiated by Polonsky. But on the other hand, I. Repin aroused violent delight in the collection. He painted a portrait of Fofanov and was a close friend to him until his death.

But then Nadson suddenly died, who called the young poet "a great literary gift of a purely artistic connotation." And the poetic syllable of Fofanov, a man who was disappointed in life, but who did not lose faith, was perceived as a continuation of Nadzon’s melody. Moreover, during his life, Nadson in print supported the poet's debut collection.

Incorrigible romantic

Against the backdrop of an ever-growing revolutionary movement, the traditions of the Russian verse collapse and the topical “revolutionary democratic” poetry rises. During this period, the poetry of Konstantin Mikhailovich becomes a romantic outlet. G. Byaly wrote that this is an amazing poetry of half-tones and half-sounds, that she can convey the state of the soul, rushing between grief and joy. It was such lines that lacked the vague time in which one had to live. For this, Fofanov was highly appreciated by Leskov, Polonsky, Tolstoy, Maykov. And the Symbolists Balmont and Bryusov invited him to cooperate with them in the almanac "Northern Flowers".

Suvorin, who promoted the poet, publishes a second collection of his poems. All under the same uncomplicated name. The third book of Konstantin Fofanov had the title “Shadows and Secrets”. She came out in 1892. Following her appears the poetic novel “Baron Klax”, as critics say , this is a light parody of “Eugene Onegin”.

Love story

In 1887, Konstantin Fofanov marries Tupoleva Lydia Konstantinovna. She was not just beautiful, she was infinitely in love. Their relationship was built very romantic. Lida met her future husband at the age of 14, being a schoolgirl enthusiastically keen on his poems. A little later, the poet devotes her the line "The stars are clear, the stars are beautiful."

"The Enchanted Prince"

In literary circles, Fofanov Konstantin Mikhailovich was ranked among the decadents. Partly because of the detachment and refusal to accept reality in favor of illusions and fantastic ideas, as well as because of the search for new ways in literature and deep urbanism.

Literary scholars believe that the poet had a huge influence on the formation of Russian poetry. There is even a definition of "Fofanovsky period." This is a ten-year period between the mid-1880s and 1890s. Konstantin Fofanov, whose poems found a very wide response from lovers of poetry and were in tune with the mood of society, found many imitators.

Harbinger of Symbolism

The contemporaries of the poet believed that he surprisingly deftly contrasts low reality with high ideals, that his poems are distinguished by declarative, stylistic and linguistic negligence, and at the same time with picturesque expressiveness. And the reader perceived liberties in his lines as a manifestation of sincerity. It is believed that the poet is a symbolist. But in fact, experts trace in his verses the features of the transition from the traditional form to modernism. No wonder the “Fofanovsky” period is consonant with the “twilight” era of timelessness.

Among his famous admirers, A. Chekhov, I. Repin, A. Maykov can be distinguished, and the symbolist poet V. Bryusov spoke especially approvingly of Fofanov. By the way, the leaders of this movement proudly spoke about the influence that the bizarre lyrics of Fofanov’s poems had on them.

He treated them with a slight dislike. The reason is simple. After the publication in 1895 of several collections of symbolists, the era of the poet began to decline. There was no more need for it. Konstantin Fofanov is trying to redirect his work. Poems about excommunication from the church of Leo Tolstoy, about hunger ...

"My lamp burns out"

Leo Tolstoy, who considered the poet the best poet of his time, noticed that he lived his whole life in poverty, surrounded by a large number of children. It is not surprising that Konstantin Fofanov, a romantic poet, was addicted to alcohol. You won’t earn much with poems. But trouble does not come alone. The poet has two children dying, and against this background he experiences a nervous breakdown.

After a severe mental illness, which he suffered in 1890, and long-term treatment, Konstantin Fofanov continues to write. By this time, the whole family moves to Gatchina. The poet loves these places. Here he is visited by V. Bryusov and I. Repin. Here, I. Severyanin repeatedly visits his "teacher and king". He has many poems dedicated to the poet and his beloved city: “Here the tsar wrote his decrees and Fofanov wrote poems ...”

Poems, poems, tales, and Fofanov's ballads are published in mass editions. The poet even prepared two collections for publication: “Ethers” (verses from 1901-1906 were included) and “Wings and Tears” (verses written from 1907 to 1911). It was not possible to publish them.

For some reason, only the collection of “Illusions” and two poems saw the light: “After Calvary” and “An Unusual Romance” (again, an alteration of Pushkin’s beloved, “House in Kolomna”).

The 1905 revolution, not accepted by the poet, robs him of his last readers. Poverty reaches the limit and is so crushing that in one of the newspapers Fofanov prints an announcement about his desire to become a janitor, doorman and even sex. And a year later, driven into a corner, he makes an attempt to sell fifteen volumes of his works for just a thousand rubles.

His life dissatisfaction and disorder sometimes resulted in sarcastic impromptu. What was left without consequences. A joke with an undisguised hint of Alexander III drives him into a local prison for two weeks as politically unreliable.

And then a new attack of a seemingly cured disease. Perhaps that is why he loses his volitional qualities, drinks, constantly changes his place of residence and beggars during this period Konstantin Fofanov. The biography of the poet is not so long. In 1911, a new round of ailments begins, new diseases are added to old ones.

The wife, desperate, asks the publisher who is releasing his books to raise funds for treatment in a St. Petersburg hospital. But all in vain. May 30, 1911 Konstantin Fofanov dies.

“My verses, like precious wines, will have their turn”

Amazingly romantic, the poet wrote out a lyrical landscape, was a singer of spring and May. His lines were distinguished by crystal clearness and melodiousness. Many of them are put to music.

Realistic poems "Poetess", "Wolves", "Enchanted Prince", "Spring Poem" cause a storm of emotions in the reader.