Ivan Semenovich Barkov
Ivan Semenovich Barkov, born in 1732 to an Orthodox priest, was a notable figure in 18th-century Russian literature. Initially educated with the expectation of becoming part of the clergy, Barkov's academic journey took a turn after being examined by the esteemed scholar Mikhail Lomonosov, which led him to the Academy of Sciences. Despite his considerable talent, Barkov struggled with discipline, often facing suspension due to his drinking and behavioral issues. His literary contributions began with the publication of an ode to Peter the Great in 1762, but much of his work consisted of translations, particularly of classical Latin poetry, showcasing his ability to maintain the original metrical structure.
Barkov's life is marked by anecdotes that highlight his tumultuous nature, including his notorious drinking binges, fiery temperament, and financial struggles. He is also linked to satirical and obscene writings, often published under pseudonyms, that critiqued contemporary literary figures and societal norms. His works circulated discreetly among the literary elite of St. Petersburg, reminiscent of the later samizdat phenomenon. Ultimately, Barkov's notoriety led to his dismissal from the Academy in 1766, and little is known about his life thereafter until his death. His legacy, characterized by a blend of talent and controversy, continues to intrigue scholars and literary enthusiasts.
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Ivan Semenovich Barkov
Poet and Translator
- Born: 1732
- Birthplace: Russia
- Died: 1768
Biography
Ivan Semenovich Barkov was born in 1732, the son of an Orthodox priest. His education was initially religious, with the expectation that he would follow his father into the white, or married, clergy. He went to the Aleksandr Nevsky seminary in 1744 to study grammar and poetics. However, in 1748 he was examined by Mikhail Lomonosov, who secured for him a position in the school run by the Academy of Sciences. There he was to receive an education that would prepare him for state service.
Barkov proved a difficult student, and quickly racked up a lengthy list of demerits as a result of his drinking binges. However, he was almost inevitably pardoned due to his great talent, which the academy continually hoped to reform. He was suspended entirely several times, and was set to work as a copyist, transcribing the manuscripts of Lomonosov and other writers. Although his work was uneven and punctuated with disciplinary issues, he soon was working as a translator and editor, perhaps because Lomonosov interceded on his behalf.
His first published work, an ode in honor of Peter the Great, came out on February 10, 1762. This would be the only verse he published in his lifetime, although he would continue to produce large volumes of translations. In addition to prose works, he produced a large volume of translations of classical Latin poetry, and developed considerable facility in preserving the metrical structure of the original in translation.
Although relatively few hard facts are known about Barkov’s life,a rich body of stories about him may be grounded in fact. These stories relate his phenomenal drinking binges, ferocious temper, poverty, and incisive wit. In addition, a number of pseudonymous publications of a satirical nature are generally believed to have been Barkov’s work. Given that many of these works not only viciously parodied the works of leading authors of the time, but were also obscene in nature, it is hardly surprising that Barkov would not have wanted his name associated with any of them. In addition, a number of manuscript collections of his obscene poetry circulated discretely among St. Petersburg’s literary set, hand-copied in a prefigurement of the samizdat manuscript phenomenon of the Soviet era. Critics have sometimes suggested that his obscene verse was in fact written less to mock the establishment authors than to give voice to the unspeakable through literary mockery. By 1766, Barkov had made himself so notorious that he was finally dismissed from the Academy, and after two years in which little or nothing is known about him, he died.