Vladislav Aleksandrovich Ozerov
Vladislav Aleksandrovich Ozerov was a Russian dramatist and poet born on October 11, 1769, with disputed origins, either in Kazansk or Borki, near Tver. He was educated in boarding schools and later graduated from the Infantry Corps of Nobles with a gold medal. Ozerov served in the army as a lieutenant and worked primarily in civilian roles, including teaching, before transitioning to a civil service position in St. Petersburg's forestry department. His literary career began to flourish in the early 1800s, particularly with the success of his play "Dimitri Donskoi," produced in 1807. However, his financial situation deteriorated after a denied pension and the failure of his subsequent works, leading to a period of personal despair. Ultimately, Ozerov became incapacitated and was cared for by his father until his passing on September 17, 1816. Despite his earlier achievements, his work was harshly parodied after his death and faded into obscurity.
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Vladislav Aleksandrovich Ozerov
Playwright
- Born: October 11, 1769
- Birthplace: Kazansk or Borki, Russia
- Died: September 17, 1816
Biography
Russian dramatist and poet Vladislav Aleksandrovich Ozerov was born on October 11, 1769. There is some dispute as to the location, with most sources stating Kazansk, while others list Borki, both villages in the area of Tver. From an early age he attended boarding schools, as was common for the well-to-do at that time in Russia. From 1776 to 1789, he belonged to the Infantry Corps of Nobles, from which he graduated with a gold medal. He then entered the army, where he became an aide to two generals whom he served until 1794. Although he was a lieutenant, his actual work was mostly of a civilian nature, including teaching.
After leaving the army, he went to St. Petersburg, where he worked as a civil servant in the forestry department from 1794 until 1808. During that period, he also began to write poetry, receiving considerable acclaim for his play Dimitri Donskoi, produced in 1807. In 1808, he left the civil service, expecting to receive a generous pension he could use to finance his writing. However, his request for a pension was refused the following year, leaving him in desperate financial straits. To make matters worse, his last play failed disastrously and the money he had been promised from its performances was not forthcoming. Traumatized, he burned all of his manuscripts and after that point wrote nothing but embittered poetry. He was ultimately reduced to a bedridden wreck, cared for by his father until his death on September 17, 1816. After his death his work was viciously parodied and eventually fell into complete obscurity.