Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov (September 20, 1791, Ufa - April 30, 1859, Moscow) - Russian writer,
government official and public figure,
literary and theater critic,
memoirist, author of books about fishing and hunting.
Corresponding Member of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Aksakov spent his childhood in Ufa and on the Novo-Aksakovo estate among steppe nature, still little touched by civilization at that time.

The writer was born into a well-born but impoverished family.
His father Timofey Stepanovich Aksakov was a provincial official.
He served as prosecutor of the Verkhnezemsky Court in Ufa.

Mother - Maria Nikolaevna Aksakova,
nee Zubova,
very educated for her time
and social circle of a woman,
correspondent in her youth
with famous educators N.I. Novikov and A.F. Anichkov.

Since childhood, Aksakov loved fishing,
hunting, picking berries.
Long walks into the forest or into the steppe laid deep roots in him.
powerful layers of impressions,
which later, decades later,
have become inexhaustible sources artistic creativity.
Little Aksakov loved to listen to the stories of the serf nanny Pelageya,
one of which was subsequently processed
V famous fairy tale “The Scarlet Flower”.

In 1799, at the age of eight, Aksakov
was assigned to the Kazan gymnasium.
Since 1804, when the senior classes of the gymnasium were transformed
in the 1st year of the newly formed Kazan University,
Aksakov became a student there.

At the university, Aksakov successfully performed in amateur theater,
participated in the publication of handwritten magazines “Arcadian Shepherdesses”
and “Journal of our activities.”
His first literary experiments appeared in them.

Without graduating from university,
in June 1807 he moved to St. Petersburg,
where he served as a translator in the Law Drafting Commission.
However, he was more interested in art,
literary and theatrical life of the capital.
Aksakov meets G. R. Derzhavin, A. S. Shishkov,
tragic artist Ya. E. Shusherin,
which he will write about later
wonderful memoirs and biographical essays.

In 1811 the writer moved to Moscow.
Here he becomes close to the circle of now-forgotten writers N. M. Shatrov,
N. I. Ilyin, S. N. Glinka and others.
A little later he meets
with a prominent theatrical figure and the playwright of that era, Prince. A. A. Shakhovsky,
writer M. N. Zagoskin and playwright A. I. Pisarev.

In 1816, he married Olga Semyonovna Zaplatina, who would become not only the mistress of the house and the mother of a large family, but also a faithful assistant and confidant in her husband’s literary and official affairs.

During this period, Aksakov was engaged in literary creativity irregularly; he was mainly attracted to translation activities.
From 1812 to autumn 1826 Aksakov mainly lives in the Nadezhdino estate, in the Orenburg province, only periodically coming to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In 1826 the Aksakovs moved to Moscow.
In 1827 - 32 Aksakov acted as censor,
from 1833 to 1838 served as inspector
Konstantinovsky Land Surveying School,
and then the first director of the Survey Institute.

Aksakov's house and the Abramtsevo estate near Moscow are becoming unique cultural center.
The nobility and tolerance of the owner made his doors open to adherents of various directions.

Aksakov’s “Saturdays” were attended by many famous actors and writers of that time, Gogol also visited there, and read his works there more than once. Gogol even celebrated his 40th birthday on April 1, 1849 at Aksakov’s. Among Aksakov’s guests one can name Turgenev, Leo Tolstoy, Shevchenko, and the Decembrist S.G. Volkonsky.

Many of Sergei Timofeevich’s works tell about nature, hunting, fishing, they convey the idea of healing power nature and high morality of the patriarchal way of life. Aksakov himself followed this path - a wise and tolerant friend of many contemporaries, loving father fourteen children.
Aksakov’s poems, his fables, and socially accusatory feuilletons also became famous.

“Notes on Fishing,” published in 1847, brought him wide literary fame. The main place in literary heritage Aksakov is occupied by the autobiographical stories “Family Chronicle” (1856) and “Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson” (1858); adjacent to them are “Memoirs” (1856); “Literary and theatrical memories” (1856), “Biography of M. N. Zagoskin” (1853), “The story of my acquaintance with Gogol” (1880).

Aksakov died in Moscow (April 30) on May 12, 1859 in the arms of his beloved family. He was buried in the cemetery of the Simonov Monastery in Moscow.

Reading the works of S. T. Aksakov, we can rightfully say about them in the words of V. G. Belinsky: “Here is the Russian spirit, here it smells of Russia!”

Aksakov always strived for simplicity of language, but at the same time he was fluent in all the riches of Russian speech
Aksakov’s books are in wide demand not only in the libraries of our country. They have been translated into many languages ​​- Polish, Bulgarian, German, English, Czech, Danish, etc.
S.T. Aksakov went down in the history of literature as a realist writer, as a great expert and connoisseur of the treasures of the Russian language.

Compiled by: Ostriychuk S. 12 years old.
Source of information: Internet.

// December 13, 2013 // Views: 11,599

The site is an information, entertainment and educational site for all ages and categories of Internet users. Here both children and adults will spend time usefully, will be able to improve their level of education, read interesting biographies of the great and famous in different eras people, look at photographs and videos from the private sphere and public life popular and famous personalities. Biographies of talented actors, politicians, scientists, discoverers. We will present you with creativity, artists and poets, music brilliant composers and songs famous performers. Screenwriters, directors, astronauts, nuclear physicists, biologists, athletes - many worthy people that have left their mark on time, history and the development of mankind are collected together on our pages.
On the site you will learn little-known information from the lives of celebrities; latest news from cultural and scientific activity, family and personal life stars; reliable facts about the biography of outstanding inhabitants of the planet. All information is conveniently systematized. The material is presented in a simple and understandable manner, easy to read and interestingly designed. We have tried to ensure that our visitors receive the necessary information here with pleasure and great interest.

When you want to find out details from the biography of famous people, you often start looking for information from many reference books and articles scattered throughout the Internet. Now, for your convenience, all the facts and the most complete information from the lives of interesting and public people are collected in one place.
the site will tell in detail about the biographies of famous people who left their imprint on human history, how in ancient times, and in our modern world. Here you can learn more about the life, creativity, habits, environment and family of your favorite idol. About the success story of bright and extraordinary people. About great scientists and politicians. Schoolchildren and students will find on our resource the necessary and relevant material from the biographies of great people for various reports, essays and coursework.
Learn biographies interesting people who have earned the recognition of mankind, the activity is often very exciting, since the stories of their destinies are no less captivating than others works of art. For some, such reading can serve as a strong impetus for their own achievements, give self-confidence, and help cope with difficult situation. There are even statements that when studying the success stories of other people, in addition to motivation to action, leadership qualities are also manifested in a person, fortitude and perseverance in achieving goals are strengthened.
It is also interesting to read the biographies of rich people posted on our website, whose perseverance on the path to success is worthy of imitation and respect. Big names past centuries and today will always arouse the curiosity of historians and ordinary people. And we have set ourselves the goal of satisfying this interest to the fullest. Do you want to show off your erudition, are you preparing a thematic material, or are you just interested in learning everything about historical figure– go to the website.
Those who like to read biographies of people can adopt their life experiences, learn from someone else’s mistakes, compare themselves with poets, artists, scientists, draw important conclusions for themselves, and improve themselves using the experience of an extraordinary person.
Studying biographies successful people, the reader will learn how great discoveries and achievements were made that gave humanity a chance to ascend to new level in its development. What obstacles and difficulties did many have to overcome? famous people artists or scientists, famous doctors and researchers, businessmen and rulers.
How exciting it is to plunge into the life story of a traveler or discoverer, imagine yourself as a commander or a poor artist, learn the love story of a great ruler and meet the family of an old idol.
The biographies of interesting people on our website are conveniently structured so that visitors can easily find information about anyone in the database. the right person. Our team strived to ensure that you liked both simple, intuitive navigation and easy, interesting style writing articles, and original page design.

Russian literature XIX century

Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov

Biography

SERGEY TIMOFEEVICH

Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov, Russian writer, literary and theater critic, author of the books “Notes on Fishing” (1847), “Notes of a Gun Hunter of the Orenburg Province” (1852), “Stories and Memoirs of a Hunter about Various Hunts” (1855), “Family Chronicle" (1856); memoirs “Literary and Theatrical Memoirs” (1858), “The Story of My Acquaintance with Gogol” (1880) and many others, best known to the general reader as the author of the story “The Childhood Years of Bagrov-Vkuk” (1858) and the fairy tale “The Scarlet Flower”, which was originally an appendix to the story. A.'s books occupy special place in Russian literature of the 19th century century. Their main subject is unpretentious (the natural world, patriarchal life several generations of a noble family, family legends), their language, according to many, is perfect. “We should all learn from him,” wrote I. S. Turgenev, admiring the language of Aksakov’s prose.

A. was born in 1791 in Ufa. His father, Timofey Stepanovich, was a prosecutor, his mother, Maria Nikolaevna, came from the official aristocracy and was distinguished by rare intelligence and education. M. N. Aksakova had an exceptional influence on the formation of the future writer; a relationship of rare trust and friendliness developed between mother and son.

Their early years A. spent in Ufa and in family estate Novo-Aksakovo in the Orenburg province. He graduated from the Kazan gymnasium and entered Kazan University. While still in high school, he began to write poems, “verses without rhymes,” in the spirit of sentimental poetry. At the university I became interested in theater and actively participated in student theater, had the gift of recitation. The fame of A. the reader was so wide that G.R. Derzhavin was looking forward to the young man’s arrival in St. Petersburg to listen to his poems performed by him.

In 1808, A. came to St. Petersburg and entered the service as a government official. Meets G. R. Derzhavin, A. S. Shishkov, takes part in a meeting of the literary circle headed by Shishkov, “Conversation of lovers of the Russian word.” He made his debut in print in 1812 with the fable ‘The Three Canaries’. In 1811 he moved to Moscow, became close to Moscow theater circles, translated plays by Schiller, Moliere, Boileau, and appeared in print as a theater critic.

From the 1820-1830s. the house of A., who in 1816 married the daughter of Suvorov general O. S. Zaplatina, becomes one of the centers of literary theatrical life Moscow. The Aksakov “subbotniks” have been regularly attended by major Moscow cultural and artistic figures for many years - actor M. S. Shchepkin, historian M. P. Pogodin, writer M. N. Zagoskin, professors of Moscow University S. P. Shevyrev and N. I. Nadezhdin. In the spring of 1832, Gogol began to visit the Aksakovs, who maintained his friendship with A. throughout his life. When the sons Konstantin and Ivan grew up (and in total there were 14 children in A.’s family), a circle of Slavophiles settled in the Aksakovs’ house, which included K. and I. Aksakovs, A.S. Khomyakov, and the Kireevsky brothers. A. took an active part in their conversations and disputes.

In 1837, A. bought the Abramtsevo estate, where he began working on the materials of the “Family Chronicle”. A noticeable weakening of vision prompted A. to intensive literary work A passionate hunter, fisherman and A. decides to describe his experience of ‘life in nature’ and the experiences and impressions associated with it.

In 1847, “Notes on Fishing” was published, which was preceded by an epigraph that largely determined the further direction of A.’s work: “I am going into the world of nature, into the world of calm, freedom...” The book had big success. Then “Notes of a rifle hunter of the Orenburg province” (1852), “stories and memories of a hunter about various hunts” (1855) appear. The hunting trilogy is a genre of free memoirs with incidents, anecdotes, hunting tales, etc. included in the narrative text.

The main place in artistic heritage A. is occupied by autobiographical prose. The “Family Chronicle” (1856) traces the lives of three generations of the Bagrov estate nobles. The book “The Childhood Years of Bagrov-Vkuk” (1858) is a continuation of the “Chronicles”. Moreover, “childhood years” is a work written for children. In one of the letters to his granddaughter Olenka, his favorite, A. promises to compose a book for her “... about the young spring, // about the flowers of the fields, // about little birds (...) // about the forest Bear, // about the white mushroom (... )". In the process of work, the author’s concept expanded and changed significantly. A book appeared describing the life of a child from infancy to the age of nine against the backdrop of a carefully recreated life of a Russian estate at the end of the 18th century, against the backdrop of pictures of nature that were grandiose in their degree of spirituality.

The main subject of the book was determined by the author himself - the life of a person in childhood, Child's world, created under the influence of daily new impressions... A person’s life is in a child." Little Seryozha grows up, learns a world that seems bright, mysterious, and endless to him. The reader sees the objects and phenomena described in the book through the eyes of the little hero, feels the freshness and spontaneity of a child’s perception. Everyday paintings, natural life, Seryozha’s experiences and impressions, simple and important events his life - conversations with his mother, the death of his grandfather, the birth of his brother - are combined into a single canvas of a narrative book.

Seryozha Bagrov is certainly an autobiographical hero, and, of course, inherits distinctive feature A. - passionate love for nature, its deep understanding. Thus, the arrival of spring is an event of great importance in Seryozha’s life: “... everything was noticed by me accurately and carefully, and every moment of spring was celebrated by me as a victory.” Nature is one of the main characters stories. A.’s descriptions of her are not paintings, not landscapes in the generally accepted sense, but life itself, breathing freely and manifesting itself in various ways. You have to have a special kind of soul, a special look, to feel this. The hero of the book possesses this gift to the fullest. “Finally we entered the urema (the floodplain of the river - I.A.), a green, blooming, fragrant urema. The cheerful singing of birds rushed from all sides (...) Whole swarms of bees, wasps and bumblebees hovered and buzzed around the trees in bloom. My God, how fun it was!” - this is how Seryozha sees the Siberian spring.

The narrative is based on a leisurely, detailed and at the same time capacious oral story. The language of A. has long been recognized as a model of Russian literary speech. Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Belinsky, Tyutchev and others spoke with praise about A.’s style. The book “The Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson” was very warmly received by critics and readers. In the history of Russian literature, A.’s story stood next to Tolstoy’s trilogy “Childhood”, “Adolescence”, “Youth”. Until now, “the childhood years of Bagrov the grandson” are one of best works autobiographical-memoir prose, in the center of which the hero is a child.

Aksakov Sergei Timofeevich was born into the family of a prosecutor in 1791 on September 20 according to the old calendar or October 1 according to the new calendar. His father's name was Timofey Stepanovich, and his mother's name was Maria Nikolaevna. The writer's parents were smart, educated and came from the bureaucratic aristocracy. Aksakov and his mother got along great relationship, they understood and trusted each other like no one else. The family lived in the Orenburg province, Ufa, in their Novo-Aksakovo mansion. The guy began his entire education at a gymnasium in Kazan, and then graduated from the university there. I started writing poetry. In 1808, the poet went to serve in St. Petersburg. In 1811 he moved to Moscow and began translating plays. German authors. Aksakov meets a girl, the general’s daughter Olga Semyonovna Zaplatina, whom he marries in 1816. The Aksakov family becomes large, 14 children to be exact. In 1837, the family bought the Abramtsev mansion, where they began their work on “ Family chronicle" Due to diligent writing, the author's vision noticeably diminishes. He begins to get involved in fishing and hunting. He outlined his observations in the book “Notes on Fishing” in 1847. Then he took up writing books about hunting: “Stories and Memoirs of a Hunter about Various Hunts” and “Notes of a Gun Hunter of the Orenburg Province.” His book “I’m going into the world of nature, into the world of calm, freedom...” was also a great success among Aksakov’s readers.

) - Russian writer, government official and public figure, literary and theater critic, memoirist, author of books about fishing and hunting, lepidopterist. Father of Russian Slavophile writers and public figures: Konstantin, Ivan and Vera Aksakov. Corresponding Member of the Imperial St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Childhood and youth

Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov came from an old but poor noble family. His father Timofey Stepanovich Aksakov was a provincial official. Mother - Maria Nikolaevna Aksakova, nee Zubova, a very educated woman for her time and social circle, who in her youth corresponded with famous educators N.I. Novikov and A.F. Anichkov.

Aksakov spent his childhood in Ufa and on the Novo-Aksakovo estate, among steppe nature that was still little touched by civilization at that time. Significant influence on the formation of Aksakov’s personality in early childhood provided by his grandfather Stepan Mikhailovich.

Novo-Aksakovo

At the age of eight, in 1799, Aksakov was assigned to the Kazan gymnasium. Since 1804, when the senior classes of the gymnasium were transformed into the 1st year of the newly formed Kazan University, Aksakov became a student there.

During his years of study in Kazan (1804-1807), Aksakov participated in the publication of handwritten magazines: “Arcadian Shepherds” and “Journal of Our Activities”. His first literary experiments appeared in them - poems written in a naive-sentimental style. The Karamzinism of young Aksakov did not last long and was replaced by another extreme. At this time, he read “Discourse on the old and new syllable of the Russian language” by Admiral A. S. Shishkov and became an ardent supporter of his literary and linguistic theory. This commitment, however, was more ideological and theoretical in nature than practical, since it had little influence on the poetics and stylistics of his literary work.

Since 1806, Aksakov took part in the activities of the “Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” at Kazan University. In June 1807 he moved to Saint Petersburg.

Memories of Aksakov’s childhood and youth subsequently formed the basis of his memoir-autobiographical trilogy: “Family Chronicle” (1856), “Childhood of Bagrov the Grandson” (1858), “Memoirs” (1856).

Early period of literary activity

During this period, Aksakov was engaged in literary creativity irregularly; he was mainly attracted to translation activities. In the city he translates Molière’s “School for Husbands”, and for Shusherin’s benefit performance “Philoctetes” by Sophocles (with French), "8th satire (On a person)" Boileau (). Somewhat later - Moliere’s comedy “The Miser” () and W. Scott’s novel “Peveril” ().

Among poetic works of that time, it is worth noting the poem “The Ural Cossack” (1821), although he himself later characterized it as: “a weak and pale imitation of Pushkin’s Black Shawl.” In the same year, in the “Bulletin of Europe” he published “Elegy in a New Taste”, a parody of the romantic school of V. A. Zhukovsky and the sharply polemical “Message of the Prince. Vyazemsky."

Despite his irregular participation in the literary and theatrical life of Moscow, Aksakov is still a fairly prominent figure in it, and in 1821 he was elected to Full members"Society of Lovers of Russian Literature" at Moscow University.

Aksakov - censor

A serious problem for Aksakov the censor was the need to supervise the Moscow Telegraph magazine. As already noted, its publisher N.A. Polevoy was in many ways an ideological opponent of Aksakov and naturally suspected him of bias. In the first period of his censorship, friction regularly arose between them, and when in 1830 the leadership again entrusted him with reading this magazine, Aksakov refused this so as not to raise doubts about his objectivity.

Aksakov approached his activities as a censor exclusively conscientiously, paying attention not only to the content, but also to the artistic quality of texts. He was not particularly harsh, but he was not a liberal either. So, due to an unfavorable political situation, he suspended the publication of “Martha the Posadnitsa” by M. P. Pogodin, which he himself had previously authorized, and made serious changes to “Poems” by A. I. Polezhaev.

In 1831, the first issue of the Telescope magazine was published, in which N. I. Nadezhdin’s article “ Modern direction education”, which caused the displeasure of the authorities. Aksakov was reprimanded as a censor. In response, he wrote sharp explanatory letters to the head of the gendarmerie department in Moscow and the head of the III Division himself, A. Kh. Benckendorff.

Aksakov received a new strict remark for permission to publish the article “The Nineteenth Century” by I. V. Kireevsky in No. 1 of the magazine “European”. The magazine was closed.

The management's opinion of Aksakov's activities became less and less favorable. The last straw was the publication of the satirical ballad “Twelve Sleeping Watchmen” by E. Fityulkin, which he allowed, which once again aroused the emperor’s anger. In February, Mr. Aksakov was dismissed from the Censorship Committee.

Theater criticism

Until the mid-1820s, theater criticism in periodicals in Russian Empire was banned. But by the end of the decade, censorship restrictions began to weaken, and of course, a passionate theater lover Aksakov immediately became involved in this activity, becoming one of the first Russian theater critics. In 1825, his “Thoughts and remarks on theater and theater arts", and from 1828 to 1830 he became a permanent theater observer for the Moskovsky Vestnik. Since the middle of the year, on his initiative, this magazine has published a special “Dramatic Addendum”, in which he combines the activities of author and editor. In addition, he published a number of articles in Galatea and Molva.

Most of these publications were published anonymously or under pseudonyms, since Aksakov could not, for ethical reasons, openly combine the work of a censor and a writer. To date, probably not all of his theatrical and critical works have been identified. Some literary historians, for example, suggest that the sensational series of theatrical critical articles published in Molva in 1833-1835. signed with the initials P. Shch. also belongs to his pen.

Aksakov's notes are quite simple in form and are devoted mainly to an analysis of the actors' performances, their interaction and the correspondence of stage techniques to the content of the role. He pays a lot of attention to the fight against cliches and outdated stage manners, recitation. Aksakov rarely theorizes, but despite this, his aesthetic position is very definite and consistent. It is based on the requirements of “graceful simplicity” and “naturalness”.

Aksakov was one of the first to appreciate the talent and importance for the Russian theater of M. S. Shchepkin and P. S. Mochalov. In the year after a trip to St. Petersburg, he published two “Letters from St. Petersburg to the publisher of the Moskovsky Vestnik,” in which he gave a remarkable comparative description of the playing styles of P. S. Mochalov and V. A. Karatygin. The ideas expressed then by Aksakov were later deepened and developed by V. G. Belinsky.

Literary criticism

IN literary biography Aksakov deserves special mention of the complex history of his relationship with the Moscow Telegraph magazine. Its publisher, N. Polevoy, represented the liberal trend in Russian journalism and was in many ways an ideological opponent of the literary circle to which Aksakov belonged. Aksakov himself took the position of a sympathetic observer rather than a participant in the debate: only a few articles on this topic are known, including: “Response to the anti-criticism of Mr. V.U.” (1829), “Answer to Mr. N. Polevoy” (1829) “Conversation about the imminent publication of Volume II of the History of the Russian People” (1830). A fact of this controversy was Aksakov’s demonstrative withdrawal from membership in the “Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” in 1829 as a sign of protest against the election of N. Polevoy as a member of this society. During the controversy with the Moscow Telegraph, Aksakov also published a “Letter to the publisher of the Moskovsky Vestnik.”<О значении поэзии Пушкина>"(1830). This note is notable for the fact that in it Aksakov not only highly appreciated Pushkin’s work during the poet’s lifetime, but also defended him from unfair attacks from criticism.

His last literary critical work was a short note “About Yu. Zhadovskaya’s novel “Away from big world“” published in “Rumor” in 1857.

Aksakov - director of the Land Surveying Institute

In the 40s, the themes of Aksakov’s work underwent radical changes. He begins to write a “Family Chronicle,” and in the city he is captured by a new idea: to write a book about fishing. In -th he finishes work on it and in -th publishes it under the title “Notes on Fishing.” The book became an event literary life and received unanimous approval literary criticism. Its 2nd edition, revised and significantly expanded, is published in the city, and the 3rd lifetime edition is published in the city.

Inspired by his success, Aksakov began writing a book about hunting. After three years of hard work in the city, the book “Notes of a Gun Hunter of the Orenburg Province” comes out of print.

The book also gained great popularity; the entire edition was sold out unusually quickly. Critical reviews were even more favorable than for the book about fishing. Among others, I. S. Turgenev wrote a wonderful laudatory review. However, while preparing for the 2nd edition (), Aksakov unexpectedly encountered serious opposition from censorship. Only after a tense and lengthy struggle did he manage to defend the book.

Aksakov's books about fishing and hunting were very unusual for their time. They were distinguished from numerous manuals on this topic, first of all, by their high artistic level text. Each chapter of the book was a complete literary work- an essay devoted to any element of fishing and hunting equipment, one or another type of fish or bird. The poetic landscape sketches, apt, witty descriptions of fish and bird habits. However, first of all, the success of the books among the readers was facilitated by the author’s special style of narration, confidential, based on rich life experience and personal memories.

While working on “Notes of a Gun Hunter,” Aksakov conceived the idea of ​​publishing an annual almanac: “Hunting Collection,” and in 1853 he submitted a petition about this to the Moscow Censorship Committee. The publication project was rejected. The reason for the ban was the general reputation of the Aksakov family as disloyal to the current government. In addition, a personal file was opened and regularly replenished in the III Department for S. T. Aksakov himself, as clearly “ill-intentioned”.

While the bureaucratic procedure in the Censorship Committee continued, Aksakov wrote more than a dozen essays and short stories about different types hunting. As a result, after the final ban on the publication of the almanac, he compiled a collection from ready-made materials and published it in the city: “Stories and memories of a hunter about different hunts.”

Aksakov and later, almost until his death, did not abandon this favorite topic of his, occasionally publishing small essays in periodicals: “Explanatory note to “The Falconer’s Way” (), “Remarks and observations of a hunter to take mushrooms” (), “Several words about early spring and late autumn fishing" (), etc.

Memoir-autobiographical trilogy

Drawing from the Aksakovs' album

The history of writing “Family Chronicle” stretched over almost a decade and a half. Work on it began in the th year. But soon Aksakov was distracted from her by writing notes about fishing and hunting. Although he did not stop thinking about the great memoir work, work on it resumed only in the city.

As it was written, the book was published in parts in periodicals: a small episode from it appeared back in the city in the “Moscow Literary and Scientific Collection”. 8 years later, the first “excerpt” is in “Moskvityanin” (), the fourth - in “Russian Conversation” () and the fifth - in “Russian Bulletin” (). At the same time, Aksakov worked on “Memoirs”, which in the city, under the same cover, together with the first three excerpts of the “Family Chronicle”, were published as a separate book. In the same year, Aksakov added the remaining two passages to the 2nd edition, and the Family Chronicle finally took its finished form.

When preparing the book for publication, Aksakov again encountered censorship difficulties, especially with regard to the passages “Stepan Mikhailovich Bagrov” and “Mikhaila Maksimovich Kurolesov.” But much more painful for Aksakov than censorship pressure was the need for resistance from many relatives who feared public disclosure of the shadow sides family life, any secrets and troubles. Many of the persons mentioned were still alive, many internal conflicts still retained their sharpness. As a result, Aksakov was forced to either keep silent about many events or mention them in passing, with a hint. Largely because of these same reasons, Aksakov did not finish the story “Natasha” (), which was thematically adjacent to “Family Chronicle”. As a result, a compromise solution was found: to abandon detailed story about some events and replace real names fictional characters.

"Family Chronicle" consists of five passages. The first passage describes the life of the family after moving to new lands in the Ufa governorate. The second tells the dramatic story of the marriage of Praskovya Ivanovna Bagrova. The story of the marriage and first years of family life of the author’s parents. As a result, a surprisingly holistic picture of provincial noble life at the end of the 18th century emerges from narratives that are heterogeneous both in theme and style.

The events described in Aksakov’s “Memoirs” took place in the period from 1801 to 1807, during his studies at the Kazan gymnasium and University. Unlike the “Family Chronicle,” the material for which was mainly oral stories from relatives and friends, this work is built almost entirely on the basis of Aksakov’s personal memories. It's also thematically different. Family theme fades into the background and plot development is built around the problems that inevitably arise during the growing up period of a teenage hero.

From 1854 to 1856 Aksakov is working intently on writing “The Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson.” The book was published in its entirety in 2010; only a small excerpt was published a year earlier in periodicals. The chronology of its plot fills the “gap” between the end of the “Family Chronicle” and the beginning of “Memoirs”, and covers the period of Aksakov’s biography from 1794 to 1801. “The Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson” is deservedly considered one of the best works artistically describing spiritual life a child, a gradual change in his worldview as he grows older.

As an appendix to the “Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson,” Aksakov published the fairy tale “The Scarlet Flower. (The Tale of the Housekeeper Pelageya).” This literary adaptation famous story about beauty and the beast, subsequently published separately, became probably Aksakov’s most popular and frequently published work.

The prevailing descriptive-memoir style was reflected even in Aksakov’s correspondence. Eg. his letter to V.I. Bezobrazov is essentially a memoir about another famous memoirist D.B. Mertvago.

Aksakov and Gogol

Aksakov met Gogol in 1832. This acquaintance can, without exaggeration, be called fateful, since it was the influence of Gogol as a writer that was one of the most important factors that predetermined the entire direction mature creativity Aksakova. The history of their relationship alternated between long periods of close communication and, conversely, mutual misunderstanding. At the same time, Aksakov was one of the first who not only appreciated Gogol’s talent, but saw in him a great writer.

Gogol's death was a great shock for Aksakov. Almost immediately he published “Letter to Gogol’s Friends” in Moskovskie Vedomosti (

The article presents the biography of Aksakov, a famous Russian writer. He is known to many as the author of fairy tales and also as the creator of the “Family Chronicle”, “Notes of a Gun Hunter” and other works.

Aksakov’s biography begins on September 20, 1791, when Sergei Timofeevich was born in the city of Ufa. In the family chronicle “The Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson,” the author spoke about his childhood and also compiled a profile of his relatives. If you want to take a closer look at the first stage life path such a writer as Sergei Aksakov, the biography for children and adults set out in this work will certainly interest you.

Years of study at the gymnasium

S. T. Aksakov was educated first at the Kazan gymnasium, and then at Kazan University. He talked about this in his memoirs. It was very difficult for the mother to be separated from Sergei, and it almost cost the lives of both her and the writer himself. In 1799 he entered the gymnasium of S. T. Aksakov. His biography is marked by the fact that his mother soon took him back, since in an impressionable and nervous child she began to develop from loneliness and melancholy, as Aksakov himself admitted.

For a year the writer was in the village. However, in 1801 he entered the gymnasium for good. Associated with this educational institution further biography Aksakova. Sergei Timofeevich spoke disapprovingly of the level of teaching in this gymnasium. However, he had great respect for several teachers. This is, for example, Kartashevsky. In 1817, this man married the writer’s sister, Natalya Timofeevna. During his studies, Sergei Timofeevich was awarded certificates of merit and other awards.

Study at Kazan University

In 1805, at the age of 14, Aksakov became a student at the newly founded Kazan University. Part of the gymnasium where Sergei Timofeevich studied was allocated for a new educational institution. Some of its teachers became university professors. The students were selected from among best students gymnasium.

While taking a course of university lectures, Aksakov simultaneously continued his studies at the gymnasium in some subjects. In the early days of the university’s existence, there was no division into faculties, so all 35 first students studied many sciences: logic and higher mathematics, chemistry and anatomy, classic literature and history. In 1709, in March, Aksakov completed his studies. He received a certificate, which included, among other things, sciences that Sergei Timofeevich knew about only by hearsay. These subjects have not yet been taught at the university. During his studies, Aksakov developed a passion for hunting and theater. These hobbies remained for the rest of his life.

First works

S. T. Aksakov wrote his first works at the age of 14. His biography is marked by early recognition of his work. The first poem by Sergei Timofeevich was published in a magazine called "Arcadian Shepherds". His employees tried to imitate Karamzin’s sentimentality and signed themselves with pastoral names: Amintov, Daphnisov, Irisov, Adonisov, etc. Sergei Timofeevich’s poem “To the Nightingale” was appreciated by his contemporaries. Aksakov, encouraged by this, in 1806 founded, together with Alexander Panaev and Perevozchikov, who later became a famous mathematician, the Journal of Our Studies. In it, Aksakov was already an opponent of Karamzin. He became a follower of Shishkov A.S. This man created “Discourses on the Old and New Syllable” and was the founder of Slavophilism.

Student troupe, moving to Moscow and St. Petersburg

As we have already said, Aksakov was fond of theater. His passion prompted him to create a student troupe. Sergei Timofeevich himself performed in the performances that were staged, and at the same time showed his stage talent.

The Aksakov family received a decent inheritance in 1807, which they inherited from their aunt Kuroyedova. The Aksakovs moved to Moscow, and a year later to St. Petersburg, so that their daughter could receive an education in the best educational institutions capital Cities. S. T. Aksakov was fully possessed by his stage passion at this time. At the same time, Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov began working as a translator in the commission involved in drafting laws. His brief biography was marked at this time by new acquaintances.

New acquaintances

Aksakov wanted to improve his recitation skills. This desire led him to meet Shusherin, famous actor late 19th - early 20th centuries. The young theatergoer spent a lot of his free time with this man, talking about the stage and reciting.

In addition to theatrical acquaintances, S. T. Aksakov acquired others. He became friends with Romanovsky, Labzin and A.S. Shishkov. He became very close to the latter. This was facilitated by Shishkov’s declamatory talent. Sergei Timofeevich staged performances in Shishkov’s house.

1811-1812

In 1811, Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov decided to leave his work on the commission, whose short biography is marked by new attempts to find something he liked, because his previous service did not attract him. First, in 1812, Aksakov left for Moscow. After some time, he moved to the village. Here he spent the years of Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion. Aksakov and his father joined the police.

Having visited last time in Moscow, the writer met through Shusherin a number of writers who lived here - Kokoshkin, Ilyin, Shatrov and others. A little before Aksakov began working on Lagarpov's translation of the tragedy Philoctetes by Sophocles. This translation was required for Shusherin's benefit performance. In 1812 the tragedy was released.

Years after the French invasion

In the period from 1814 to 1815, Sergei Timofeevich was in St. Petersburg and Moscow. At this time he became friends with Derzhavin. Aksakov created the “Message to A.I. Treasurer” in 1816. It was first published in 1878 in the Russian Archive. In this work, the writer is indignant that the gallomania of the society of that time did not decrease after the invasion of the French.

Aksakov's personal life

Aksakov’s short biography continues with his marriage to O. S. Zaplatina, the daughter of one of Suvorov’s generals. Her mother was a Turkish woman, who at the age of 12 was taken prisoner during the siege of Ochakov. The Turkish woman was raised and baptized in Kursk, in the Voinov family. In 1792, Olga Semenovna, Aksakov’s wife, was born. At the age of 30, the woman died.

Immediately after the wedding, Sergei Timofeevich went to the estate of Timofey Stepanovich, his father. Here, next year, the young couple had a son, Konstantin. Sergei Timofeevich lived in his parents' house for 5 years. There were additions to the family every year.

In 1821, Sergei Timofeevich allocated the village of Nadezhino in the Orenburg province to his son. This place appears under the name Parashina in family chronicles. Before moving there, Aksakov went to Moscow. Here he spent the winter of 1821.

Return to Moscow, renewing acquaintances

Aksakov’s short biography continues in Moscow, where he renewed his acquaintance with literary and theater world. Sergei Timofeevich struck up friendships with Pisarev, Zagoskin, Shakhovsky, Kokoshkin and others. The writer published a translation of Boileau's tenth satire. For this, Sergei Timofeevich was honored to become a member of the famous “Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.”

In the summer of 1822, Aksakov again went with his family to the Orenburg province. Here he remained without a break until 1826. Aksakov was unable to manage the farm. His children were growing up and needed to be taught. The solution for Aksakov was to return to Moscow to take up a position here.

Aksakov finally moves to Moscow

In 1826, in August, Sergei Timofeevich said goodbye to the village forever. From that time until his death, that is, about 30 years, he was in Nadezhina only 3 times, and only on short visits.

S. T. Aksakov, together with his six children, moved to Moscow. He renewed his friendship with Shakhovsky, Pisarev, etc. The biography of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov was marked at this time by translation works. In 1828, he began a prose translation of Moliere's The Miser. And even earlier, in 1819, he expounded in verse the “School of Husbands” by the same writer.

Work at Moskovsky Vestnik

Aksakov actively defended his comrades from Polevoy’s attacks. He persuaded Pogodin, who published the Moskovsky Vestnik in the late 1820s, to publish the Dramatic Addendum on which Aksakov was working. Sergei Timofeevich was at enmity with Polev on the pages of Raich's Galatea and Pavlov's Athenaeum. In 1829, Sergei Timofeevich read his translation of Boileau’s eighth satire in the “Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.”

Service as a censor

After some time, Aksakov transferred his enmity with Polevy to the ground of censorship. In 1827 he became one of the members of the Moscow censorship committee. Sergei Timofeevich took this position thanks to the patronage of his friend A. S. Shishkov, who at that time was the Minister of Public Education. Sergei Aksakov served as censor for about 6 years. At the same time, he served as chairman of the committee several times.

Aksakov - school inspector, father's death

The biography of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov (further years of his life) is presented by the following main events. Aksakov began working at the land surveying school in 1834. Work here also continued for six years, until 1839. Aksakov was first a school inspector. After some time, when it turned into the Konstantinovsky Land Survey Institute, he took the position of its director. Sergei Timofeevich became disillusioned with the service. It had a very bad effect on his health. Therefore, in 1839 he decided to retire. In 1837, his father died, leaving a significant inheritance, on which Aksakov lived.

New circle of acquaintances

Sergei Timofeevich's circle of acquaintances changed in the early 1830s. Pisarev died, Shakhovskoy and Kokoshkin lost their former influence, Zagoskin maintained a purely personal friendship with Aksakov. Sergei Timofeevich began to fall under the influence of the young university circle, which included Pogodin, Pavlov, Nadezhdin, along with his son Konstantin. In addition, Sergei Aksakov became close friends with Gogol (his portrait is presented above). His biography is marked by his acquaintance with Nikolai Vasilyevich in 1832. Their friendship lasted 20 years, until March 4, 1852.

A turn in creativity

In 1834, Aksakov published a short story called “Buran” in the anthology “Dennitsa”. This work became a turning point in his work. Sergei Aksakov, whose biography until that time was not marked by the creation of this kind of works, decided to turn to reality, freeing himself completely from false classical tastes. Following the path of realism, the writer in 1840 began writing the “Family Chronicle”. The work was completed in 1846. Excerpts from the work were published in the Moscow Collection in 1846.

The next year, 1847, another work by Aksakov appeared - “Notes on Fishing”. And a few years later, in 1852, “Notes of a Gun Hunter.” These hunting notes were a great success. The name of Sergei Timofeevich became known throughout the country. His style was considered exemplary, and the characteristics of fish, birds and animals were considered masterful images. Aksakov’s works were recognized by I. S. Turgenev, Gogol and others.

Then Sergei Timofeevich began to create memories of family and literary character. In 1856, the Family Chronicle was published, which was a great success. Critics have differing opinions about this work, which is considered one of the best in the work of Sergei Timofeevich. For example, Slavophiles (Khomyakov) believed that Aksakov was the first among Russian writers to find positive features in contemporary reality. Critics and publicists (for example, Dobrolyubov), on the contrary, found negative characteristics in the Family Chronicle.

In 1858, a continuation of this work was published. It is called “The Childhood Years of Bagrov the Grandson.” This work was less successful.

Illness and death

The biography of Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov for children and adults is marked by a serious illness that he had to fight in recent years. The writer's health deteriorated approximately 12 years before his death. Due to an eye disease, he was forced to for a long time be in a dark room. The writer was not accustomed to a sedentary life, his body became disordered. At the same time, Aksakov lost one eye. The writer's illness began to cause him severe suffering in the spring of 1858. However, he endured it with patience and firmness. Last summer Sergei Timofeevich spent it at his dacha, located near Moscow. When the illness subsided, he dictated new works. This is, for example, "Collecting Butterflies." The work was published after the writer’s death, at the end of 1859.

A short biography of Sergei Aksakov is marked by his move to Moscow in the fall of 1858. He spent the entire next winter in great suffering. However, despite this, he still occasionally studied literature. At this time Aksakov created " Winter morning", "Natasha", "Meeting with the Martinists". Aksakov's biography ends in 1859, when Sergei Timofeevich died.

Appeared many times separate publications. In particular, “Family Chronicle” went through 4 editions, and “Notes of a Gun Hunter” - as many as 6. And in our time, interest in the life and work of such a writer as S. Aksakov does not fade. The biography for children and adults presented in this article only briefly introduces him creative heritage. Many of his works were included in the golden fund of Russian literature.