Anastasiia Alekseevna Verbitskaia
Anastasiia Alekseevna Verbitskaia was a notable Russian writer born in 1861 into a family of gentry. She began her literary career as a political journalist in 1883 but quickly transitioned to novel writing, achieving considerable success. Verbitskaia was a prolific author, also crafting several plays, and became popular for her ability to create relatable characters and relevant conflicts that resonated with her readers. Her works often reflected liberal ideas, particularly a sympathetic view towards the underdog, yet she remained cautious and did not advocate for revolutionary concepts. The heroines in her stories were depicted as intelligent and glamorous, often embodying a blend of self-pity and resignation typical of educated women of her era. Her writing included bold love scenes that pushed societal boundaries, challenging the moral expectations of her time. Verbitskaia engaged with contemporary literature, drawing inspiration from both Russian and Western authors. She passed away in 1928, leaving behind a legacy as a significant figure in Russian literature.
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Subject Terms
Anastasiia Alekseevna Verbitskaia
Fiction Writer
- Born: February 11, 1861
- Birthplace: Voronezh, Russia
- Died: January 16, 1928
Biography
Anastasiia Alekseevna Verbitskaia was born in 1861 in a family of the Russian gentry. She began her writing career in 1883 as a political journalist, but soon made the switch to writing novels, where she found almost immediate success. A prolific writer, she also produced several plays.
Her popularity was largely due to her skill at creating believable characters with whom her readers could identify and putting them into situations and conflicts that were immediately relevant to her readers’ experiences. Although her ideas were clearly liberal, particularly her sympathy for the underdog, she never actually crossed the line to the revolutionary. Her heroines were intelligent and glamorous, with a slight hint of self-pity and resignation, a common attitude among educated women of her time.
Verbitskaia regularly referred to contemporary literature in her writings, referring to both fellow Russian writers and Western writers. Her love scenes were quite bold for her time, often to the point of being considered immoral. For instance, the heroine in one short story knows that she will be dismissed for having dared attract the attention of her employer’s lover, a handsome and dashing officer, and as a result decides to go ahead and make love with him while she can, rather than nobly refusing and still being dismissed from her employment. Verbitskaia died in 1928.