Aleksei Vasil'evich Kol'tsov
Aleksei Vasil'evich Kol'tsov was a notable Russian poet born on October 3, 1809, in Voronezh. Coming from a wealthy cattle-dealing family, he initially faced pressure to follow in his father's footsteps but pursued his passion for poetry instead. Kol'tsov began writing at a young age, favoring songs that could be sung, and drew inspiration from his interactions with common people and the beauty of nature. His early works displayed a classical style influenced by prominent figures in Russian literature, including Gavriil Derzhavin and Alexander Pushkin.
As he matured, his poetry evolved to explore more philosophical themes, marked by personal experiences, including a tragic love story that deeply affected him. His first poetry collection, "Stikhotvorenia," was well-received, blending folk song elements with literary sophistication, and contributed to the popularization of the literary song genre in Russia. Despite his artistic successes, Kol'tsov struggled with familial tensions and health issues, ultimately succumbing to tuberculosis at the young age of thirty-three in 1842. His legacy endures through his significant contributions to Russian literature, particularly in establishing the literary song as a respected genre.
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Aleksei Vasil'evich Kol'tsov
Poet
- Born: October 3, 1809
- Birthplace: Voronezh, Russia
- Died: October 29, 1842
- Place of death: Voronezh, Russia
Biography
Aleksei Vasil’evich Kol’tsov was born on October 3, 1809, in Voronezh, Russia, the son of a wealthy cattle dealer. Kol’tsov was educated at home and in lower schools. His father wanted him to work in the family business, so young Kol’tsov read voraciously on his own, especially fairy tales. He started writing poetry at the age of sixteen, mostly songs, because he thought that poems should be sung rather than read. His father entrusted him with more business responsibility, so he spent more time with common people and in nature, the two most valuable inspirations of his songs. A local book dealer encouraged Kol’tsov to resume his education and write poetry and introduced him to leading Russian poets such as Gavriil Derzhavin and Alexander Pushkin. Therefore, Kol’tsov’s early poetry showed a strong classical bent. His personal experiences, coupled with his love of nature, provided him with inexhaustible material.
Kol’tsov joined literary circles where poets discussed literary matters and criticized each others work. Many theology students attended these circles, and Kol’tsov developed a liking for philosophical subjects. As a result, his poetry turned more toward philosophical themes rather than the sentimental subjects featured in his early poetry.
Kol’tsov fell in love with a servant girl and wanted to marry her, but his father forbade it and sold the girl. This unhappy experience affected Kol’tsov greatly, and the motif of tragic love began to appear often in his poetry. He befriended philosopher Nikolai Stankevich and literary critic Vissarion Belinsky, both Westerners, who had great influence on Kol’tsov. His first collection of poems, Stikhotvorenia (1835), was lauded by some leading critics and warmly accepted by readers. The success was primarily due to the popularity of the genre and to Kol’tsov’s familiarity with folk songs. However, even though the Russian folk song is somewhat different from the literary song, Kol’tsov was able to combine the best elements of the two. Several composers wrote music to Kol’tsov’s best songs, which made them even more popular.
In 1836, Kol’tsov moved to St. Petersburg and Moscow and met many leading writers. Upon returning to Voronezh, he found it stifling; he no longer understood his old friends and they no longer understood him. His family, especially his father, did not appreciate his success but blamed him for business failures. More importantly, the old inspirations had disappeared, although he continued to write poems and collect proverbs and folk songs. However, the friction in the family and another unhappy love affair contributed to a serious deterioration of his health. He died of tuberculosis in 1842, at the age of thirty-three. His success in establishing the literary song as a popular genre in Russian literature is his lasting literary contribution.