Pavel Annenkov
Pavel Vasilievich Annenkov (1811 or 1813-1887) was a prominent Russian literary critic and biographer, especially known for his work on Alexander Pushkin, which laid the foundation for Pushkin studies. Annenkov studied at St. Petersburg University, where he became associated with key literary figures of the time, including Mikhail Bakunin and Ivan Turgenev. His travels across Europe during the 1840s were significant, as he documented cultural experiences and shared them in leading literary journals. Annenkov was an advocate for the artistic freedom of writers, opposing excessive moralism in literature, and he strongly supported the Romantic movement against the remnants of neoclassicism. His notable contributions include the 1855 publication of "Materialy dlya biografii Alexandra Sergeevicha Pushkina," the first scholarly edition of Pushkin's works, which elevated the status of Pushkin's literature for serious scholarly inquiry. Annenkov's influence extended beyond Pushkin, culminating in his 1880 work "The Extraordinary Decade," a collection of prose portraits of significant literary figures of the era. He was recognized for his contributions with an honorary doctorate during a Pushkin celebration shortly before his death.
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Pavel Annenkov
Writer
- Born: June 13, 1811/1813
- Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
- Died: March 20, 1887
- Place of death: Dresden, Germany
Biography
Pavel Vasilievich Annenkov was born in either 1811 or 1813—records are uncertain because of the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars. Annenkov enters history definitively as a student at the philological faculty of St. Petersburg University, and by the end of the 1830’s he was associated with most of the important writers of the period, including Mikhail Bakunin and Ivan Turgenev.
By the 1840’s, Annenkov was traveling abroad, an activity still considered essential to a cultured Russian of the intellectual elite. His letters describing his travels and the cultural events and sights of the various Western cities he visited began to appear in several of the leading literary journals of the time. He also formed a friendship with Nikolai Gogol. However, he became most noted for his biographical works and for his literary criticism. He disliked excessive moralism and tendentiousness in literature, and he championed the right of the poet to be free to write on subjects of interest. In this attitude, he belonged firmly in the camp of the rising Russian Romantics against the last lingering influence of the neoclassicists.
Annenkov particularly championed Alexander Pushkin and in 1855 produced Materialy dlya biografii Alexandra Sergeevicha Pushkina (materials for a biography of A. S. Pushkin), the first scholarly edition of Pushkin’s works. Annenkov’s work effectively announced that Pushkin’s works were to be considered worthy of scholarly examination and analysis. He followed up with numerous literary discussions of his own on the significance of Pushkin to Russian literature.
However, Annenkov did not confine himself to the study of Pushkin, and in 1880 he produced his most important work, The Extraordinary Decade, a study of the leading figures of the era with charming portraits in prose of many important people. In that year, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate as part of the Pushkin celebration. He died in 1887.