Aleksei Feofilaktovich Pisemsky
Aleksei Feofilaktovich Pisemsky was a notable Russian novelist and playwright, born on March 23, 1821, in Ramenye, Kostroma province. He emerged from an impoverished noble family and pursued higher education at Moscow University before working as a civil servant. Pisemsky's literary journey began with a series of stories that garnered positive attention, leading him to relocate to St. Petersburg in 1854. However, his unrefined demeanor and conservative views led to his exclusion from the local literary circles. His works are significant examples of Russian realist literature, often blending realism with naturalist elements, particularly in their portrayal of peasant life. Notable works include his novel *Tysiacha dush* (A Thousand Souls) and the tragedy *Gorkaia sudbina* (A Bitter Fate), the latter of which is celebrated as a major contribution to Russian theater. Despite his literary successes, his reputation suffered following the publication of *Vzbalamuchennoye more*, a satirical novel that criticized the radical tendencies of the younger generation. Pisemsky passed away on February 2, 1881, in Moscow.
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Aleksei Feofilaktovich Pisemsky
Novelist
- Born: March 23, 1821
- Birthplace: Ramenye, Kostroma, Russia
- Died: February 2, 1881
- Place of death: Moscow, Russia
Biography
Russian novelist and playwright Aleksei Feofilaktovich Pisemsky was born to an impoverished noble family in Ramenye, Kostroma province, Russia, on March 23, 1821. He attended Moscow University and later worked as a civil servant in Kostroma province. He began writing, and some of his stories received positive reviews. He moved to St. Petersburg in 1854, but he was excluded from the literary society there because of his unpolished behavior and reactionary politics.
Pisemsky’s myriad writings are viewed as excellent examples of Russian realist literature; his prose also incorporates aspects of naturalism. He is known for his sympathetic and realistic portrayals of peasant country life. His novel Tysiacha dush (1858; A Thousand Souls, 1959) tells the story of a man named Kalinovich who moves up in society after he marries a crippled heiress. His tragedy Gorkaia sudbina (1860; A Bitter Fate, 1933), which describes the seduction of a peasant’s wife by a wealthy landowner, is considered one of the finest dramas in the history of Russian theater. His reputation was damaged after the publication of his satirical novel Vzbalamuchennoye more in 1863. In it, he mocks the vapid radicalism of the younger Russian generation. Pisemsky died in Moscow on February 2, 1881.