A brief biography of Alexander Radishchev: the history of life, creativity and books

Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev became famous as a talented prose writer and poet, but on equal terms he was a philosopher and held a good post at court. Radishchev's short biography is presented in this article (for class 9 this information can be very useful).

Childhood. Moving to Moscow

Alexander Nikolayevich was the son of a wealthy landowner Nikolai Afanasievich Radishchev. He was born in Saratov province, in the village of Verkhny Obleazov in 1749. His father was a cultured man, so he tried to give his son an excellent education. Mother of Radishchev was Fekla Savvichna. She was from the family of the Moscow gentry intelligentsia. Her maiden name is Argamakova.

It is noteworthy that Radishchev's parents treated their serfs very well, which they also taught their son. The childhood of Alexander Nikolayevich was held in Obljazov. It is known that their house was rich and big, there were always a lot of people in it. Radishchev had four sisters and six brothers, the children on an equal footing talked to the serfs, and rushed around the village with them. The educator Radishchev was, apparently, also serf, his name - Peter Mamontov. Radishchev lovingly recalled how the uncle told tales.

When the boy was 7 years old, his parents took him to Moscow. There he lived in the care of a relative of the mother. Along with the master's children, he studied with a university professor and a teacher of French. They were an old Frenchman who had fled his country.

The boy's environment was unusual. He listened to lectures by progressive thinkers, disputes about serfdom, construction, education, bureaucracy. The guests of the Argamakovs were dissatisfied with Elizabeth's government, and even under Peter the Third, there was no detente, on the contrary, the outrage only grew. In such an environment, Alexander Nikolayevich grew up.

Corpus corpus

When the boy was 13 years old, he was granted a page. This was done by Empress Catherine II. For his little Radishchev, his relatives Argamakov have been patronized.

Until 1764, Catherine, together with the government, was in Moscow, where the coronation took place, and later, together with her pages, including Radishchev, returned to St. Petersburg.

The corpus corps was not a "decent" educational institution in those years. All the boys were trained by just one teacher - Morambera, who was obliged to show them how to properly serve the Empress at balls, in the theater, in trains.

A brief biography of Radishchev, the most important place in which is allocated to his creative success, will not describe those experiences of the boy who, from the atmosphere of serious conversations and public interests, was transferred to the court environment. Of course, he already absorbed all the hatred of despotism, lies, flattery, and now he saw it all with his own eyes, and not anywhere, but in all the splendor of the palace.

It was in the Corps of Pages that Alexander Nikolaevich met Kutuzov, who would become his best friend for many years. And although their ways will later disperse, the commander will not say a single bad word about Radishchev. A brief biography of the latter is a direct confirmation of this.

In Leipzig

Two years after moving to Petersburg, Radishchev, along with five other young men, was sent to Germany to study at the university. Catherine II wanted them to become educated lawyers and serve in the judiciary.

Gradually, their small group grew. For example, Fedor Ushakov, who was at that time a young official, arrived in Leipzig. He left the service for university knowledge. Fedor was the oldest and quickly became the leader of a group of young men.

Radishchev spent almost five years on foreign soil. All this time he worked hard and almost received a medical education, but still literature attracted him the most. A brief biography of Radishchev indicates his interest in the emerging pre-romantic direction in Germany.

The country was shaken by the Seven Years' War, which ended very recently, and so many ideological ideas, one might say, were free-thinking, if not revolutionary, developed in society. And Russian students were at the center of all this. Together with them Goethe studied at the university, they listened to lectures of the outstanding philosopher Platner, who was a supporter of liberalism.

In Germany, the young men did not live very well, because their boss Bokum, attached to the empress, was a real tyrant and greedy. He took away from young people all the money sent for maintenance. And then the students decided to rebel. This decision came to them sideways, as they were arrested and sent to court. But the Russian ambassador intervened.

Bokuma was fired much later, just before Radishchev left for his homeland.

Return

A brief biography Radishcheva mentions that in 1771 he came to Petersburg together with Kutuzov and Rubanovsky. Young people were full of optimism and determination, imbued with advanced social ideals, they wanted to serve the society.

It seems that for the years they spent in Germany, the empress completely forgot about the purpose of sending pages abroad. Radishcheva was assigned to work in the Senate, a record-holder. This caused a sea of indignation in the young man, and soon he quit his service.

In 1773 he entered the headquarters of General Bruce, where he was appointed military prosecutor. This work also did not inspire Alexander Nikolayevich, but he had an outlet. Thanks to his charm and education, he became a member of the high society lounges and writers' offices. Alexander Nikolayevich did not for a moment forget about his literary hobbies. Even a very brief biography Radishcheva is not able to keep silent about his work. Yes it is not necessary.

Literary way

Alexander Nikolayevich first turned to literary creation in Leipzig. It was a translation of a politico-religious pamphlet. But his young page did not finish, because in Vedomosti another, less acute passage was printed.

In Petersburg, he met with the publisher of the magazine "The Painter" Novikov. Soon there appeared an essay called "Excerpt of the Journey", but it was printed anonymously. A brief biography of Radishchev, the most important thing in which is always on the surface, confirms the fact that the writer almost never indicated his name on the works.

In "The Fragment" was clearly shown the life of the serf village, with all its gloomy events. Of course, the top authorities did not like this, and the landlords were offended. But neither the author nor the publisher was frightened. And soon in the same magazine was published an article "English walk", which protects the previous edition. And then the continuation of the "Excerpt".

Actually, with this publication, Radishchev's tragic creative path began.

Many Alexander Nikolayevich was engaged in translations, which also published Novikov. By order of Catherine, he translated the book "Meditation on the Greek history" Mably. But in the end he left a few of his notes, thereby entering into polemics with the author, as well as several definitions (including the words "autocracy").

In 1789 the book "The Life of F. Ushakov" was published, which raised a lot of noise. It again was published anonymously, but no one doubted the authorship of Radishchev. Everyone noticed that the book contains many dangerous expressions and thoughts. However, the authorities ignored her exit, which served as a signal to the writer for further action.

Radishchev's short biography for the 9th grade is not so meaningful, but it also notes that not only the authorities, but also members of the Russian Academy, and many noblemen were unhappy with the creativity of this man.

Radishchev did not calm down. He wanted some radical action. Therefore, I began to speak at the Society of Friends of Verbal Sciences, which included many writers, as well as sailors and officers. And he achieved his goal: his speeches were listened to.

The society began to publish the magazine "The Conversation Citizen", where works were printed, imbued with radishchevsky ideas. The article also contained an article by the philosopher himself, more like an agitational speech ("Talk about the fact that there is a son of the Fatherland.") By the way, he had to try very hard to be sent to the press, even his supporters understood how dangerous this could be.

The writer, it seemed, did not even notice how the clouds were gathering over him. But this clearly describes the biography. Radishchev Alexander Nikolayevich, whose work served him unkindly, was under the sights of the authorities. The next publication poured oil on the fire.

"Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow"

A brief biography of Radishchev contains one amazing fact. His main work without problems passed a censorship check. It would seem that this is impossible, but it did. The thing is that the chief policeman of the Piety Office was simply too lazy to read it. Seeing the name and the table of contents, he decided that this is just a guide. The book was printed in the author's home printer, so nobody knew about its contents.

The plot is quite simple. A certain traveler travels from one settlement to another and, passing by the villages, describes what he saw. The book very loudly criticizes the autocratic power, it is told about the oppressed peasants and the permissiveness of the landlords.

A total of six hundred copies were printed, but only twenty-five were on sale. For a long time the reader went to the seller, who wanted to hold the revolutionary edition in their hands.

Of course, such a work could not but find a response neither from readers, nor from the ruling elite. The Empress compared the writer to Pugachev, and in comparison, it was the rebel who won.

In addition to the authorities, there were other persons who did not appreciate Radishchev's work. For example, Pushkin responded about the book very coldly, noticing that this is a "mediocre work" written in a "barbarous syllable".

Arrest and reference

On the orders of Catherine II, Radishchev was arrested. This happened on June 30, 1790. According to official documents, the reason for the detention was only the authorship of "Travel". But, since the Empress had known for a long time about the nature of the ideas and activities of her subject, other his literary works were attached to the case.

Because of the connection with the disgraced, the Society of Friends was dispersed. The investigation commissioned the head of the secret police, Stepan Sheshkovsky, who was the personal executioner of the empress. This was somehow learned by Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev. A short biography (9-graders examine this topic within the school curriculum) pointed to the fact that the remaining copies of the book were destroyed personally by the author, who was really frightened.

Radishchev was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress. He escaped terrible torture only because his wife's sister carried all her jewels to the executioner. When the "rebel" realized how dangerous that game, in which he got involved, he was overcome with horror. Above him was the threat of the death penalty, over his family - the brand of traitors. Then Radishchev began to write letters with repentance, though not very sincere.

From the writer sought to ensure that he named the names of accomplices and like-minded people. But Radishchev did not say a single name. On the basis of the results of the trial, on July 24, a death sentence was pronounced. But since the writer was a nobleman, the approval of all state structures was required. His Radishchev waited until August 19. But for some reason the execution was postponed, and on September 4 Ekaterina replaced the hanging with a reference to Siberia.

Information about the ten years spent in the Ilmen jail, could be enlarged with his brief biography. Alexander Radishchev, whose writer-friends turned away from the exile, lived there only six years. In 1796 Emperor Paul, known for his confrontation with his mother, freed the writer. And in 1801 he was amnestied.

Last years

Alexander the First summoned the writer to Petersburg and appointed him to the position of the Commission for Drafting Laws.

After the reference, Radishchev wrote several poems, but he no longer enjoyed literary work. It was difficult for him to drown out freedom-loving thoughts. In addition, life in Siberia greatly undermined his health, he was already middle-aged and unhappy. Perhaps all these moments and forced the writer to die.

A brief biography of Radishchev contains information that there are two variants of his death. The first is related to work. Allegedly, he proposed to introduce laws that equalize the rights of citizens, and the chairman reprimanded him, threatening Siberia. Alexander Nikolayevich took this to heart and poisoned himself.

The second version says that he mistakenly drank a glass of royal vodka and died in front of his son. But in the funeral documents, the cause of death is natural death.

To this day, the writer's grave has not survived.

The fate of literary heritage

Until the twentieth century, the writer's books were not found. He was known only as a resident ("countryman") of the Penza region - Radishchev. The writer, the biography (brief in presentation, but so eventful) of which was very tragic, was not appreciated by contemporaries. All his books were burnt. Only in 1888 in Russia there was a small circulation of "Travel". And already in 1907 - collected works of the prose writer and poet.

A family

The writer was married twice. With his first wife, Anna Rubanovskaya, he had four children. But the woman died during the birth of the last son of Paul. Sister Anna Catherine agreed to look after the motherless children.

She was the second wife of Radishchev, followed him into exile. In their marriage, three more children were born. On the way back to St. Petersburg, Catherine fell ill and died. This loss was hard for all the children and Radishchev.

A brief biography and the writer's work are truly dramatic. Despite all the events of his life, he did not give up his views and followed them to his last gasp. This is the power of the human spirit!