Alexander Pushkin

Biography

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born on June 6, 1799, in Moscow into the Russian nobility. His father, Sergey Lvovich Pushkin, belonged to an old noble family, while his maternal great-grandfather was Abram Petrovich Gannibal, a nobleman of African origin who became a favorite and godson of Peter the Great. This multicultural heritage would profoundly influence Pushkin's worldview and literary perspective. Educated by French tutors in his early years, Pushkin spoke French fluently and was exposed to European literature from childhood, though he learned Russian primarily from household serfs.

Pushkin's literary career began remarkably early when he published his first poem at age 15. He attended the elite Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he was recognized by the literary establishment and began forming friendships that would shape his political and artistic development. After graduation in 1817, he obtained a post in the foreign office at St. Petersburg, where he became involved with the Green Lamp association and began writing political poetry that made him the unofficial spokesman for revolutionary ideas. His poem 'Ode to Liberty' led to his exile to southern Russia in 1820, a period that proved creatively fertile.

During his six years of exile (1820-1826), Pushkin traveled through the Caucasus and Crimea, experiences that enriched his poetry and gave him material for his southern cycle of narrative poems. It was during this period that he began his masterpiece 'Eugene Onegin' and developed his mature poetic style. The Decembrist uprising of 1825 affected him deeply, as many participants were his friends. Though Nicholas I eventually released him from exile in 1826, Pushkin remained under surveillance until his death. His marriage to Natalia Goncharova in 1831 brought both happiness and troubles, as her beauty attracted unwanted attention at court. Pushkin died on February 10, 1837, from wounds sustained in a duel with George d'Anthès, who had been pursuing his wife.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Alexander Pushkin is universally regarded as the founder of modern Russian literature and the greatest Russian poet. His work marked the transition from Neoclassicism through Romanticism to the beginnings of Realism, establishing the literary language and traditions that would influence all subsequent Russian writers. Pushkin's innovation in combining European literary forms with distinctly Russian content created a national literature that could compete with the great literatures of the world. His influence extends to Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev, and virtually every major Russian writer who followed.

Beyond his literary achievements, Pushkin's life and death became symbolic of the artist's struggle against political oppression and social constraint. His ability to express universal human experiences through distinctly Russian characters and settings demonstrated that Russian culture could contribute meaningfully to world literature. The Pushkin stanza he invented for 'Eugene Onegin' became a lasting contribution to prosody, while his integration of colloquial Russian with literary language created a new standard for Russian literary expression that endures to this day.

Best Starting Points

• Eugene Onegin
  Pushkin's masterpiece novel in verse offers the perfect introduction to his genius, combining romance, social commentary, and poetic innovation in an accessible narrative.
• The Bronze Horseman
  This powerful narrative poem about the 1824 St. Petersburg flood showcases Pushkin's mature style and his complex relationship with Russian history and power.
• The Queen of Spades
  One of the finest short stories in world literature, demonstrating Pushkin's mastery of prose and his psychological insight.
• Selected Lyric Poetry
  A collection of Pushkin's most famous poems, including 'I Remember a Wonderful Moment' and 'The Prophet,' showcasing his range and musical language.

Famous Characters

• Eugene Onegin
  The archetypal 'superfluous man' of Russian literature - a jaded, cynical aristocrat who embodies the spiritual emptiness of his generation.
• Tatyana Larina
  The heroine of 'Eugene Onegin,' representing ideal Russian womanhood - passionate, sincere, and morally superior to the men around her.
• Hermann
  The obsessive protagonist of 'The Queen of Spades,' whose gambling addiction leads to madness and represents the dangers of materialism.
• Vladimir Lensky
  The young Romantic poet in 'Eugene Onegin' whose idealism and passion contrast sharply with Onegin's cynicism.
• Boris Godunov
  The conflicted tsar in Pushkin's historical drama, torn between political necessity and moral conscience.
• Evgeny
  The humble clerk in 'The Bronze Horseman' who challenges the statue of Peter the Great, representing the individual against state power.