Huge contribution to Russian culture contributed Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin(1766-1826). The famous compatriot was a publicist, a gifted writer, a sentimentalist writer, a court historiographer, and was involved in reforms of the Russian language. Here is a selection of the most memorable facts from the life of this great man:
- The ancestors of the Karamzin family were Crimean Tatars. Nikolai Mikhailovich's father was a retired military man and had an estate in the Simbirsk province. Education little Nicholas tutors and father were involved in this activity, since his mother passed away when he was 2 years old. Best friends young Karamzin became books.
- Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment in St. Petersburg - the place where the writer spent three years. Here he was able to rise to the rank of lieutenant. Before this, Karamzin studied at Moscow University.
- Nikolai Mikhailovich was able to travel around Europe, he witnessed many historical events
. This is the great French revolution, the fall of the Bastille. His interlocutor here was Immanuel Kant himself. After returning to his native land, Karamzin wrote a lot about this trip (“Letters of a Russian Traveler”).
- One of the issues of the Moscow magazine published one of the most famous works Karamzin " Poor Lisa". This sentimental story remains a true masterpiece to this day.
- The historical monumental work “History of the Russian State” became the greatest work of the great historian’s entire life. After its release, Emperor Alexander awarded Karamzin the title of chief historiographer. During his lifetime, 11 volumes of this grandiose work were published, the 12th volume was published after the death of Nikolai Mikhailovich.
- N.M. Karamzin was not a supporter of reforms and had conservative views. But the writer could not come to terms with many things, especially theft.
- The famous historiographer was the owner of two orders: St. Anne, 1st degree, St. Vladimir, 3rd degree.. He also held the rank of state councilor.
- Many believe that the heroine of the story “Poor Liza” was named after the wife of Elizaveta Ivanovna Protasova. But they lived only a year; Elizaveta Ivanovna died after giving birth. She gave birth to Karamzin's daughter Sofia.
- In his youth, Karamzin attended a circle of Masons. Spiritual self-improvement of man is the basis that they preached. Intellectual and spiritually developed Masons had high morals and principles. Communicating with such people, Nikolai Mikhailovich himself became extraordinary personality.
- A certain period in the work of N.M. Karamzin was marked by the release of almanacs. The most famous of them are the three-volume set “Aonida” and “Aglaya”.
- The historical story “Marfa the Posadnitsa” by Nikolai Mikhailovich is imbued with antiquity and high morality. Here he reflected on the monarchical republic, the importance of leaders, and the role of the people in history. This is a kind of story about how the Novgorodians did not reproach the Moscow authorities.
- Karamzin’s second wife was Ekaterina Andreevna Kolyvanova. She was the illegitimate daughter of Prince A. Vyazemsky. The woman was famous for her beauty, was the owner of a salon in St. Petersburg, and a lover of social evenings.
- Being married to Ekaterina Andreevna, the writer became a father nine times. They had 5 boys and 4 girls.
- Daughter Sophia was born in her first marriage. Having matured, she lived at the imperial court and was a maid of honor. I talked very often with Lermontov and Pushkin.
- Nikolai Mikhailovich was the teacher of Alexander Sergeevich, he watched with pleasure the development of the poet’s talent. Pushkin often visited the writer’s house, and even managed to fall in love with Karamzin’s wife. He wrote a love confession to her. But Karamzin reacted with understanding to the act of the amorous poet, although their relationship became cooler.
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Biography, life story of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin
Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin is a Russian writer, historian, translator.
Childhood and youth
Nikolai Karamzin was born on December 12 (1 according to the old style) December 1766 in the Znamenskoye estate (Mikhailovka village, Simbirsk province, Russian Empire). Some historians claim that Karamzin was actually born in the Orenburg province, but the first version is considered to be official.
Until 1778, Nikolai studied at home, then he was sent to the boarding school of Moscow University professor Johann Matthias Schaden. At the same time, during the year (from 1781 to 1782) Nikolai attended lectures by the famous educator Ivan Grigorievich Schwartz at the University. Karamzin studied with great pleasure foreign languages, philosophy, history and literature.
Nikolai's father Mikhail Egorovich Karamzin was a retired captain. It was he who insisted that his son, after completing his studies, enlist in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment of St. Petersburg. Nikolai Karamzin did not want to contradict his father’s will and carried out his decree. However, he did not stay in the regiment for long - Nikolai retired very soon.
Creative activity
Karamzin first tried his hand at literature during military service. Even then he began to take notes (exclusively for himself); even then he felt that writing was much more enjoyable for him than military work. After Karamzin left the service, he lived for some time in Simbirsk, then moved to Moscow. In Simbirsk, Nikolai Mikhailovich was a member of the Golden Crown Masonic lodge. Arriving in Moscow, he joined the “Friendly Scientific Society”, engaged in charitable and educational activities, and remained a member of this Masonic meeting for four whole years - from 1785 to 1789. At this time he met many famous writers, communication with whom greatly influenced future fate writer. Around the same time, Karamzin began creating the first Russian children's magazine « Children's reading for the heart and mind."
CONTINUED BELOW
In 1787, Nikolai Mikhailovich published his version of the translation of the tragedy of the Great. A little later, the book was included in the list of prohibited books. This was Karamzin's first experience as a translator. The second time he became interested in foreign literature was in the early 1790s - he translated the drama “Sakuntala” by the Indian playwright Kalidas.
From 1789 to 1790, Nikolai Karamzin was on a trip across the expanses of Europe. Thanks to this trip, Karamzin was able to significantly expand his horizons - he met Immanuel Kant, saw the Great French revolution... The result of the trip was the collection “Letters of a Russian Traveler”, after the publication of which they started talking about Karamzin. The writer gained fame and was loved by readers and colleagues. By the way, it was thanks to “Letters of a Russian Traveler,” which over time began to be considered the first book of modern Russian literature, Karamzin and is considered one of the most important Russian writers.
Returning to Moscow, Karamzin continued to write - in 1792 the story “Poor Liza” was published, which became the starting point for the emergence of sentimentalism in Russia. Later sentimentalism becomes mainstream literary movement in Russia, and Nikolai Karamzin is the generally recognized leader of this trend, the creator and distributor of this genre.
Nikolai Karamzin wrote both prose and poetry, and was the editor of many famous magazines. Any task that the writer took on turned out to be easy and natural for him. Nikolai Mikhailovich carried out a real reform in the Russian language - it was he who eliminated from the prose the familiar and already quite boring church vocabulary, heavy and difficult to perceive. Karamzin, inspired French, did modern literature lighter, airier, gentler, more pleasant to the ear. In addition, the writer introduced many neologisms into use, such as “falling in love,” “freethinking,” “humane,” and so on. Karamzin is also one of the first to use the letter “ё” in writing.
In 1803, by decree, Karamzin became a historiographer and began creating the “History of the Russian State.” Nikolai Mikhailovich worked on this work until the end of his days, while simultaneously creating other masterpieces.
Family
Nikolai Karamzin was married twice. In April 1801, he married Elizaveta Protasova, an educated girl of a noble family. A year later, Elizabeth gave birth to her husband’s daughter Sophia. Alas, the woman’s health turned out to be very poor - she died a month after giving birth.
In January 1804 Karamzin found himself new wife. She became Ekaterina Kolyvanova, the illegitimate daughter of Prince Vyazemsky. In the marriage of Nikolai and Catherine, nine children were born - daughters Natalya (1804-1810), Ekaterina (1806-1867), also Natalya (1812-1815), Elizaveta (1821-1891) and sons Andrei ( 1807-1813), again Andrei (1814-1854), Alexander (1815-1888), Nikolai (1817-1833), Vladimir (1819-1879).
Last years of life
At the beginning of 1818, the first eight volumes of the History of the Russian State were published. Over the next few years, three more volumes were released, and the writer continued to work on another part. All this time Karamzin lived in Tsarskoe Selo, often communicated with
Karamzin N.M. is a famous Russian prose writer, journalist and historical figure. Nikolai Mikhailovich was born in the Kazan province in 1766. At first the writer was home-schooled, then he went to study at a Moscow boarding school. At this time, Karamzin was interested in literature, and in particular Shakespeare. Also, the aspiring prose writer spoke several ancient and modern languages.
In 1789, Karamzin's journey abroad began. He went to Europe, where his development began creative path. Here Karamzin wrote the work “Letters of a Russian Traveler”. The text was not a biography, his letters were literary text, the purpose was to describe the discoveries made by Karamzin during his journey.
After returning to his homeland, Nikolai Mikhailovich published his work “Poor Liza,” which brought him recognition and fame. His creation was imbued real life, and not in a sublime style. This work contributed to the development of such a trend in literature as sentimentalism. Karamzin wanted to introduce the ordinary reader to culture and make him a literate person. In the 1790s, Nikolai Mikhailovich began to engage in language reform. The main goal was to bring closer literary language with conversational
In 1803, Karamzin officially decided to engage in historical activities. He proposes his candidacy for the role of historiographer. In 1818, “The History of the Russian State” appeared; this book would subsequently be published in several languages. This enormous work reveals new stage in the writer's work. Journalism is now fading into the background and historical activity is taking first place. “The History of the Russian State” is a new discovery of Russia. Karamzin wrote his work for a wide educated audience. Work on the history of Russia brought the writer and Tsar Alexander the First together. Thanks to this, Nikolai Mikhailovich comes to Tsarskoye Selo to be close to the courtyard. Closer to his death, Karamzin became a supporter of the monarchy. The writer died of a severe cold in 1826 in St. Petersburg.
Karamzin had a huge influence on journalism, reform and educational activities, history, literature and Russian culture as a whole. In journalism, he put forward examples of political publications, which would later become traditional. IN reform activities Karamzin combined literary and spoken word. In educational activities, it was Nikolai Mikhailovich who introduced the book into home education. As a historical figure, Karamzin wrote a work that remains the subject of much controversy and discussion to this day. How the writer Nikolai Mikhailovich showed by his own example that real writer must be incorruptible and independent in his judgment.
Famous writer, historian, poet, publicist. Creator of "History of the Russian State".
Family. Childhood
Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin was born in the Simbirsk province into a family of poor, educated nobles. Received a good home education. At the age of 14 he began studying at the Moscow private boarding school of Professor Schaden. Upon completion of it in 1783, he went to St. Petersburg to serve in. In the capital, Karamzin met the poet and future employee of his “Moscow Journal” Dmitriev. At the same time, he published the first translation of S. Gesner’s idyll “The Wooden Leg.” After serving in the army for less than a year, Karamzin, with the low rank of lieutenant, resigned in 1784 and returned to Simbirsk. Here he led outwardly social life, but at the same time he was engaged in self-education: he studied history, literature and philosophy. Family friend Ivan Petrovich Turgenev, a freemason and writer who was a member of great friendship s, played a certain role in the life of the future writer. On his advice, Nikolai Mikhailovich moved to Moscow and met Novikov’s circle. So it began new period in his life, covering the time from 1785 to 1789.
Moscow period (1785-1789). Travel to Europe (1789-1790)
Karamzin translates in Moscow fiction, since 1787 regularly publishes his translations of Thomson’s “Seasons,” Genlis’s “Country Evenings,” the tragedy “Julius Caesar,” and Lessing’s tragedy “Emilia Galotti.” He also begins to write for the magazine “Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind,” whose publisher was Novikov. In 1789, Karamzin’s first original story, “Eugene and Yulia,” appeared in it.
Soon Nikolai Mikhailovich decides to go on a trip to Europe, for which he mortgages his ancestral estate. This was a bold step: it meant giving up living on the income from the hereditary estate and supporting oneself through the labor of serfs. Now Nikolai Mikhailovich had to earn a living through his own work as a professional writer. He will spend about a year and a half abroad. During this time, he visits Germany, Switzerland, France, where he observes the activities of the revolutionary government. In June 1789, Karamzin moved from France to England. Throughout the journey, the writer meets interesting and outstanding people. Nikolai Mikhailovich is interested in people's homes, historical monuments, factories, universities, street celebrations, taverns, village weddings. He evaluates and compares the characters and morals of a particular nationality, studies the characteristics of speech, recording various conversations and his own thoughts.
At the origins of sentimentalism
In the fall of 1790, Karamzin returned to Moscow, where he began publishing the monthly “Moscow Journal”, in which his stories (such as “Liodor”, “Natalia, the Boyar’s Daughter”, “Flor Silin”), critical articles and poems were published. The famous “Letters of a Russian Traveler” and the story “Poor Liza” were also published here. Karamzin attracted Dmitriev and Petrov, Kheraskov and others to collaborate in the magazine.
In his works of this period, Karamzin asserts a new literary direction- sentimentalism. This direction declared feeling, not reason, to be the dominant of “human nature,” which distinguished it from classicism. Sentimentalism believed that the ideal of human activity was not the “reasonable” reorganization of the world, but the release and improvement of “natural” feelings. His hero is more individualized, his inner world enriched by the ability to empathize and sensitively respond to what is happening around.
In the 1790s, the writer published almanacs. Among them are “Aglaya” (parts 1-2, 1794-1795), “Aonids,” written in verse (parts 1-3, 1796-1799), as well as the collection “My Trinkets,” which includes various stories and poems. Fame comes to Karamzin. He is known and loved throughout Russia.
One of Karamzin’s first works written in prose is published in 1803 historical story"Martha Posadnitsa" It was written long before the craze for Walter Scott’s novels began in Russia. This story revealed Karamzin’s attraction to antiquity and classics as an unattainable ideal of morality. In an epic, ancient form, Karamzin presented the struggle of the Novgorodians with Moscow. “Posadnitsa” touched upon important ideological issues: about the monarchy and the republic, about the people and leaders, about “divine” historical predestination and the disobedience of an individual to it. The author's sympathies were clearly on the side of the Novgorodians and Marfa, and not of monarchical Moscow. This story also revealed the writer’s ideological contradictions. Historical truth was undoubtedly on the side of the Novgorodians. However, Novgorod is doomed, bad omens are harbingers of the city's imminent death, and later they are justified.
But the greatest success was the story “Poor Liza,” published in 1792 and becoming a landmark work of sentimentalism. The plot, often found in Western literature of the eighteenth century, about how a nobleman seduced a peasant or bourgeois woman, was first developed in Russian literature in this story by Karamzin. The biography of a morally pure, beautiful girl, as well as the idea that such tragic fates can also be found in the reality around us, contributed to the enormous success of this work. It was also important that N.M. Karamzin taught his readers to notice beauty native nature and love her. The humanistic orientation of the work was invaluable for the literature of that time.
In the same year, 1792, the story “Natalya, the Boyar’s Daughter” was born. It is not as famous as “Poor Liza”, but it touches on very important moral issues, which worried N.M.’s contemporaries. Karamzin. One of the most important issues in the work is the problem of honor. Alexey, Natalya's lover, was an honest man who served the Russian Tsar. Therefore, he confessed to his “crime”, that he had kidnapped the daughter of Matvey Andreev, the sovereign’s beloved boyar. But the king blesses their marriage, seeing that Alexei is a worthy person. The girl’s father does the same. Concluding the story, the author writes that the newlyweds lived happily ever after and were buried together. They were distinguished sincere love and devotion to the sovereign. In the story, the question of honor is inseparable from serving the king. Happy is the one whom the sovereign loves.
The year 1793 became a landmark year for Karamzin and his work. At this time, the Jacobin dictatorship was established in France, which shocked the writer with its cruelty. She aroused in him doubts about the possibility for humanity to achieve prosperity. He condemned the revolution. The philosophy of despair and fatalism permeates his new works: the stories “Bornholm Island” (1793), “Sierra Morena” (1795), the poems “Melancholy”, “Message to A. A. Pleshcheev”, etc.
By the mid-1790s, Nikolai Karamzin became the recognized head of Russian sentimentalism, which opened new page in Russian literature. He was an indisputable authority for the young Batyushkov.
"Bulletin of Europe". "A note about the old and new Russia»
In 1802 - 1803, Karamzin published the journal “Bulletin of Europe”, in which literature and politics predominated. In his critical articles At this time, a new aesthetic program was emerging, which contributed to the formation of Russian literature as nationally distinctive. Karamzin saw the key to the uniqueness of Russian culture in history. The most striking illustration of his views was the story “Martha the Posadnitsa” mentioned above. In his political articles, Karamzin made recommendations to the government, pointing out the role of education.
Trying to influence Tsar Alexander I in this direction, Karamzin gave him his “Note on Ancient and New Russia in its Political and Civil Relations” (1811), which reflected the views of conservative sections of society who did not approve of the sovereign’s liberal reforms. The note irritated the latter. In 1819, the writer filed new note- “Opinion of a Russian citizen,” which caused even greater displeasure of the tsar. However, Karamzin did not abandon his belief in the salvation of an enlightened autocracy and later condemned the Decembrist uprising. Despite this, Karamzin the artist was still highly valued by young writers, even those who did not share his political beliefs.
"History of the Russian State"
In 1803, through his friend and former teacher The young emperor Nikolai Mikhailovich receives the official title of court historiographer. This was of great importance for him, since now, thanks to the pension assigned by the sovereign and access to archives, the writer could carry out his planned work on the history of the fatherland. In 1804 he left literary field and plunged headlong into work: in the archives and book collections of the Synod, the Hermitage, the Academy of Sciences, Public library, Moscow University, Alexander Nevsky and Trinity-Sergius Lavra, read manuscripts and books on history, sorted out ancient tomes (, Trinity Chronicle, Code of Law of Ivan the Terrible, “Prayer” and many others), copied and compared. It is difficult to imagine what great work the historian Karamzin did. After all, the creation of twelve volumes of his “History of the Russian State” took more than twenty years of hard work, from 1804 to 1826. The presentation of historical events here was distinguished, as far as possible, by impartiality and reliability, as well as by an excellent artistic style. The narrative was brought to . In 1818, the first eight volumes of “History” were published, in 1821 the 9th volume, dedicated to the reign, was published, in 1824 - the 10th and 11th, about Fyodor Ioannovich and. Death interrupted work on the 12th volume and did not allow the large-scale plan to be carried out to completion.
The 12 volumes of “History of the Russian State” that were published one after another evoked numerous responses from readers. Perhaps for the first time in history, a printed book provoked such a surge in the national self-awareness of Russian residents. Karamzin revealed his history to the people and explained his past. They said that, having closed the eighth volume, he exclaimed: “It turns out that I have a Fatherland!” Everyone was engrossed in “History”—students, officials, nobles, even society ladies. They read it in Moscow and St. Petersburg, they read it in the provinces: for example, 400 copies were purchased in Irkutsk.
But the content of the work was perceived ambiguously. Thus, freedom-loving youth were inclined to challenge the support for the monarchical system that Karamzin showed on the pages of “History of the Russian State.” And young Pushkin even wrote daring epigrams about the then venerable historian. In his opinion, this work proved “the need for autocracy and the charms of the whip.” Karamzin, whose books left no one indifferent, was always restrained in response to criticism, calmly accepting both ridicule and praise.
Recent years
Having moved to St. Petersburg, Karamzin, starting in 1816, spends every summer with his family. The Karamzins were hospitable hosts who received such famous poets, like Zhukovsky and Batyushkov (they were members of the Arzamas society created in 1815 and defending the Karamzin direction in literature), as well as educated youth. Young A.S. also often visited here. Pushkin, listening to his elders read poetry, caring for his wife N.M. Karamzina Ekaterina Andreevna (she was the writer’s second wife, the couple had 9 children), no longer young, but a charming and intelligent woman, to whom he even decided to send a declaration of love. The wise and experienced Karamzin forgave the trick young man, as well as his daring epigrams on “History”. Ten years later Pushkin, already being mature man, will look differently at the great work of Nikolai Mikhailovich. In 1826, while in exile in Mikhailovsky, he wrote in the “Note on public education”, that the history of Russia should be taught according to Karamzin, and will call this work not just the work of a great historian, but also the feat of an honest man.
Generally, recent years The lives of historians and writers can be called happy. He was connected by friendship with Tsar Alexander. The two of them often walked, talking, in Tsarskoye Selo Park. The event that darkened these years was. On December 14, 1825, Karamzin was present on Senate Square. The historian, of course, was against the uprising, although he saw the familiar faces of the Muravyovs among the rebels. A few days after the speech, Nikolai Mikhailovich said: “The delusions and crimes of these young people are the delusions and crimes of our century.”
Karamzin himself became a victim of the events of December 14: standing on Senate Square, he caught a terrible cold and died on May 22, 1826.
Memory
In 1848, the Karamzin Public Library was opened in Simbirsk. In Novgorod, on the monument “1000th anniversary of Russia” (1862), among 129 figures the most outstanding personalities V Russian history there is also the figure of N.M. Karamzin. In Moscow in honor of N.M. Karamzin is named a passage, in Kaliningrad - a street. A monument to the historian was erected in Ulyanovsk, and a memorial sign was erected in the Ostafyevo estate.
Essays
Selected works in 2 vols. M.-L., 1964.
History of the Russian State. St. Petersburg, 1818-1826.
Complete works in 18 volumes. M., 1998-2008.
Complete collection of poems / Intro. Art., prepared. text and notes Yu. M. Lotman. L., 1967.
Nikolai Karamzin is a historian and writer of the 18th and 19th centuries. Born on December 12, 1866 in the Kazan province on the family estate of Znamenskoye.
His family comes from Crimean Tatars, his father was a retired officer, was an average landowner, his mother died when Kolya Karamzin was still a child. His father, tutors and nannies were involved in his upbringing. Nikolai spent his entire childhood on the estate, was educated at home, and re-read all the books in his mother’s large library.
His work was greatly influenced by his love for progressive music. foreign literature. This was the future publicist, writer, honorary member of the Academy of Sciences, famous critic, a reformer of Russian literature and historiographer, loved to read Rollin, Emin and other masters of the word of Europe.
In 1778 he entered a noble boarding school in Simbirsk, his father assigned him to an army regiment, which gave Nikolai Karamzin the opportunity to study at the prestigious Moscow boarding school at Moscow University. Karamzin studied the humanities and attended lectures.
The future writer found himself in active service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. His military career did not attract him and he took leave for a year, and in 1784 he received a decree on his resignation with the rank of lieutenant.
In 1789 he made a long trip to Europe. During it, he met with Kant, visited Paris during the revolution, and witnessed the fall of the Bastille. Collected large number material about European events that served as the basis for the creation of Letters from a Russian Traveler, gained great popularity in society and was enthusiastically received by critics.
At the end of the trip, he took up literature. He founded his own Moscow magazine, in which his bright star of sentimental creativity, Poor Liza, was published.
In 1803 he became a historiographer. At this time, he began to work on the great work of his life - the History of the Russian State.
In 1810 he received the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree. In 1816 he received the high rank of state councilor and became a Knight of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree.
In 1818, 8 volumes of the History of the Russian State were published for the first time. He did not finish his enormous work; volume 12 was published after his death.
Karamzin’s first wife is Elizaveta Protasova, married in 1801, the wife died after giving birth to her daughter Sophia. The second wife is Ekaterina Kolyvanova.
After the Decembrist uprising on Senate Square, Karamzin died after an aggravated cold. He rests in the Tikhvin cemetery. Karamzin was a fundamentalist of Russian sentimentalism, a reformer of the Russian language. He added many new words to the vocabulary. He was one of the first creators of a comprehensive general work on the history of Russia.
Pushkin was a frequent guest of the Karamzins.
Karamzin owns an expression that he said about Russian reality, to the question - what is happening in Russia, the answer was this - They steal.
Historians believe that Poor Liza was named after Protasova.
Sophia, Karamzin's daughter, was accepted secular society, became a maid of honor at the imperial court, and was friends with Pushkin and Lermontov.
Karamzin had 5 sons and 4 daughters from his second marriage.
Wow!.. That's it!.. Be healthy!..
