Aleksandr Konstantinovich Sheller
Aleksandr Konstantinovich Sheller was a prominent Russian novelist born on July 30, 1838, in St. Petersburg. He belonged to the raznochintsy class, which consisted of individuals from mixed social backgrounds. Sheller's upbringing included influences from his father, a theatrical school graduate and orchestra member, and his mother, who came from an impoverished aristocratic family. He began writing poetry as a student, publishing some works anonymously under the pseudonym A. Mikhailov. Sheller's literary career took off with his debut novel, "Gnilye bolota," which reflected his belief that social and political upheaval would not yield a better Russia and emphasized the importance of moral consciousness for societal improvement. His subsequent work, "Zhizn' Shupova, ego rodnykh i znakomykh," along with his first novel, set a precedent for his focus on character development and the impact of childhood on adulthood. Sheller was also an advocate for educational reform and wrote for progressive journals, alongside several nonfiction works addressing the struggles of the working class. His writings provide a nuanced exploration of 19th-century Russian life, with an emphasis on reform rather than revolution. While largely overlooked after his death in 1900, recent scholarly interest has revived awareness of his contributions to literature and social thought.
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Aleksandr Konstantinovich Sheller
Fiction Writer
- Born: July 30, 1838
- Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia
- Died: November 21, 1900
Biography
Aleksandr Konstantinovich Sheller was a Russian-born novelist who enjoyed popularity during the latter half of the nineteenth century. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 30, 1838. Like others born during this era, Sheller was a raznochintsky, who by birth were members of a mixed social class. His father had graduated from a theatrical school and worked in an orchestra before serving in the Imperial Court. Sheller’s mother was a member of an aristocratic but impoverished family. Both of his parents would serve as models for the characters in his novels.
Sheller studied privately and he later earned a place at St. Petersburg University, although he never graduated because the school shut down temporarily in 1861. After leaving the university, he traveled for a time while working as the private secretary to Count Apraskin. As a student, Sheller had begun writing poetry, some of which was published without his knowledge under the pseudonym A. Mikhailov, a name which Sheller kept throughout his writing career.
Sheller’s first true literary success came with the publication of his first novel, Gnilye bolota, written when he was only twenty-five. In the novel, which centered on the life of Aleksandr Rudy, Sheller wrote about his belief that all of the political and violent social upheavals that characterized Russian society at the time would not result in a better Russia. Sheller favored nonviolent means for achieving change. His solution to the problem was to instruct his readers that only high moral consciousness and personality responsibility would lead to a better society.
His second novel, Zhizn’ Shupova, ego rodnykh i znakomykh (the life of Shupov, his relations, and friends), in combination with his first book, set the tone for much of his fiction writing by focusing on the formation of individual character. Many of his characters experienced unhappy childhoods that affected their ability to cope as adults. Another focus of his writing, in addition to childhood development, was educational reform. Sheller was interested in reforming Russia’s educational system, and he became an activist.
In addition to his novels, Sheller wrote for many progressive journals. He also wrote several nonfiction works, including books on the plight of the working class. Overall, Sheller’s novels present a comprehensive portrait of Russian life during the nineteenth century, in combination with philosophical interpretations and serious societal observations. He diligently wrote about reform rather than revolution, and he strived to enlighten Russia society. Although much of Sheller’s writing was ignored after his death in 1900, scholars have recently rediscovered his work.