Aleksei Nikolaevich Pleshcheev
Aleksei Nikolaevich Pleshcheev was a notable Russian writer and social activist born on November 22, 1825, in the Kostroma province to a financially struggling noble family. His early life was marked by economic hardship, which influenced his perspective and aspirations. Pleshcheev began his academic journey at a military school but later transitioned to St. Petersburg University, where he developed his literary voice through poetry and short stories. His commitment to social reform was evident as he organized student groups and wrote passionate protest letters, reflecting his desire for change.
Pleshcheev's activism led to his arrest in 1849 as part of the Petrashevsky Circle, resulting in a decade of exile where he continued to write, including tender poems for his wife. After his release in 1856, he returned to Moscow, where he started a publishing business and edited a journal, focusing on the struggles of young men in an oppressive regime. His works resonated widely, with many being recited in schools and set to music. Throughout his life, Pleshcheev advocated for artistic freedom and supported fellow writers, ultimately dedicating himself to civic poetry and realistic prose until his death in 1893. His legacy remains as a voice for reform and creativity in Russian literature.
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Aleksei Nikolaevich Pleshcheev
- Born: November 22, 1825
- Birthplace: Kostroma, Russia
- Died: September 26, 1893
- Place of death: Moscow, Russia
Biography
Aleksei Nikolaevich Pleshcheev was born in the Kostroma province of Russia on November 22, 1825, to a poor noble family. His father held low-paying bureaucratic positions and the family had a hard time eking out an existence, despite their gentry status. The financial problems of his family influenced Pleshcheev throughout his life. He entered a military school at St. Petersburg, but transferred in 1844 to St. Petersburg University and studied economics and social sciences. There he began to publish poetry and short stories. He was determined to escape the lowly existence of his childhood and eventually to live modestly off his writings. He wrote protest letters to the authorities and organized students into kruzhoks (circles). His poetry at this time reflects the state of his mind, exemplified by his famous poem “Vpered! Bez strakha i somnen’ia. . . “ (Forward! Without fear or doubt. . .).
As Pleshcheev left the university, he became more realistic and decided to work in and live by literature. However, he did not abandon his friends and their reformist zeal, continuing to champion the need for reforms. He was arrested in 1849 and, as a member of the petrashevskii circle, placed before the firing squad along with others, including author Fyodor Dostoevski. However, the prisoners were not executed but exiled to distant outposts. Pleshcheev served ten years in exile and performed military service. He continued to write poetry, writing tender lyrics to his wife, whom he married while in exile.
After Pleshcheev was released in 1856, he was allowed to return to Moscow. There he started a modest publishing business, publishing his own writings and works of others. He also edited a journal. In his stories he depicted young men eager and willing to serve the Russian society, but their eagerness was dashed by the autocratic imperial regime. He would continue to write stories, poems, and journalistic pieces in this vein for the rest of his life. His writings were very popular; school children recited his poems and composers set them to music. He was also active in fighting for writers’ rights to express themselves freely, and his advocacy of artistic freedom resulted in another arrest and a sentence of exile. Pleschcheev helped found two foundations in order to help needy writers and scholars. He spent the rest of his life fighting for the same causes and writing modest realistic prose and civic poetry. He died in Moscow in 1893.