Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev
Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev was a notable Russian literary critic and educator born on October 18, 1806, in Saratov, Russia. Coming from a gentry family, he received a prestigious education, which included time at Moscow University. Initially involved in poetry, he shifted his focus to literary criticism, influenced by German idealist philosophers like Friedrich Schelling and the Romantic idealization of the poet's role in understanding the universe. Shevyrev became associated with the conservative Slavophiles and was an active member of the secret society Liubomudry.
His extensive literary knowledge was complemented by travels in Italy from 1828 to 1832, where he engaged with Italian classics. Upon returning to Moscow, he contributed to the Moskovskii nabliudatel' (Moscow Observer) and published "Istoriia poezii" in 1835, advocating for a historical approach to aesthetics. He was instrumental in introducing a course on Russian language and literature history at Moscow University, although he faced criticism for his strict teaching style. Shevyrev also lectured abroad and continued his literary work until his death in Paris in 1864. His critical insights significantly impacted Russian literature, making him a respected figure in the academic community.
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Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev
- Born: October 18, 1806
- Birthplace: Saratov, Russia
- Died: July 8, 1864
- Place of death: Paris, France
Biography
Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev was born in Saratov, Russia, on October 18, 1806, into a gentry family. His father was a prominent figure in the area. Stepan received his education at home and at school for children of nobility at Moscow University. After graduation, he worked in the College of Foreign Affairs. He had already begun to write poetry, but he abandoned it and turned to literary criticism. A member of a secret society, Liubomudry (lovers of wisdom), he eventually became close to the conservative Slavophiles. In his development as a literary critic, he relied heavily on German idealist philosophers, especially Friedrich Schelling, as well as on the metaphysical aspect of Russian Romantic poetry—particularly the Romantic idealization of the poet as the reader of the secrets of the universe.
Shevyrev was extremely well read in most of world literature and writers. In 1828-1832 he traveled in Italy, where he became acquainted with Italian classics. Upon return to Moscow, he taught Russian language and literature at Moscow University. He then turned to journalism. He was on the staff of Moskovskii nabliudatel’ (Moscow Observer), in which he published numerous articles of literary criticism. He also began to publish Istoriia poezii (1835; the history of poetry), in which he advocated a historical approach to aesthetic theories and literary criticism, under the heavy influence of German philosophers and aestheticists. Shevyrev was the first to introduce a course on the history of Russian language and literature.
Though not always unerring, Shevyrev passed important judgments on all major Russian writers. As a teacher, he was not popular because of his strictness, but his views were respected. From 1838 to 1840 he traveled abroad again and lectured at several universities. He died in Paris in 1864.