Mikhail Evgrafovich Shchedrin. Saltykov-Shchedrin M.E. Biography

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov was born on January 27 (15), 1826 in the village of Spas-Ugol, Kalyazinsky district, Tver province (now Taldomsky district, Moscow region).
Saltykov's father, Evgraf Vasilyevich, a pillar nobleman, served as a collegiate adviser. He came from an old noble family.
Mother, Olga Mikhailovna, nee Zabelina, Muscovite, merchant daughter. Mikhail was the sixth of her nine children.
For the first 10 years of his life, Saltykov lives on his father’s family estate, where he receives his primary education at home. The future writer's first teachers were his elder sister and the serf painter Pavel.
1836 – 1838 – studied at the Moscow Noble Institute.
1838 - for excellent academic achievements, Mikhail Saltykov was transferred to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum as a state-funded student, that is, trained at the expense of the state treasury.
1841 – Saltykov’s first poetic experiments. The poem “Lyra” was even published in the magazine “Library for Reading,” but Saltykov quickly understands that poetry is not for him, since he does not have the necessary abilities. He leaves poetry.
1844 – graduation from the lyceum in the second category, with the rank of X class. Saltykov enters service in the office of the Military Department, but serves all states. He manages to get his first full-time position only after two years, this is the position of assistant secretary.
1847 – Mikhail Saltykov’s first story “Contradictions” is published.
Beginning of 1848 - the story “A Confused Affair” was published in Otechestvennye zapiski.
April of the same year - the tsarist government was too shocked by the revolution that took place in France, and Saltykov was arrested for the story “A Confused Affair”, more precisely for “... a harmful way of thinking and a harmful desire to spread ideas that have already shaken the whole of Western Europe...”. He was exiled to Vyatka.
1848 - 1855 - service in Vyatka, under the provincial government, first as a clerical official, then as a senior official for special assignments under the governor and ruler of the governor's office. Saltykov ends his exile in the position of adviser to the provincial government.
1855 - with the death of Emperor Nicholas I, Shchedrin gets the opportunity to “live wherever he wishes” and returns to St. Petersburg. Here he entered the service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and a year later he was appointed an official of special assignments under the minister. Sent on a business trip to the Tver and Vladimir provinces.
June 1856 - Saltykov marries the daughter of the vice-governor of Vyatka, Elizaveta Apollonovna Boltina.
1856 - 1857 - the satirical cycle “Provincial Sketches” is published in the magazine “Russian Messenger” with the signature “Government Councilor N. Shchedrin”. The writer becomes famous, he is called the successor of N.V.’s work. Gogol.
1858 - appointment as vice-governor in Ryazan.
1860 - 1862 - Saltykov served as vice-governor in Tver for two years, after which he retired and returned to St. Petersburg.
December 1862 - 1864 - collaboration of Mikhail Saltykov with the Sovremennik magazine at the invitation of N.A. Nekrasova. After leaving the editorial board of the magazine, the writer returned to public service. Appointed chairman of the Penza Treasury Chamber.
1866 - moved to Tula to the position of manager of the Tula Treasury Chamber.
1867 - Saltykov is transferred to Ryazan to the same position. The fact that Saltykov-Shchedrin could not last long in one place of service is explained by the fact that he did not hesitate to ridicule his superiors in grotesque “fairy tales.” In addition, the writer behaved too atypically for an official: he fought against bribery, embezzlement and simply theft, and defended the interests of the lower strata of the population.
1868 - the complaint of the Ryazan governor becomes the last in the writer’s career. He was dismissed with the rank of active state councilor.
September of the same year - Saltykov became a member of the editorial board of the journal Otechestvennye Zapiski, headed by N.A. Nekrasov.
1869 - 1870 - the fairy tales “The Tale of How One Man Fed Two Generals”, “The Wild Landowner”, and the novel “The History of a City” are published in Otechestvennye zapiski.
1872 - the Saltykovs’ son Konstantin is born.
1873 – birth of daughter Elizabeth.
1876 - Nekrasov becomes seriously ill, and Saltykov-Shchedrin replaces him as editor-in-chief of Otechestvennye zapiski. He worked unofficially for two years and was approved for this position in 1878.
1880 – publication of the novel “Gentlemen Golovlevs”.
1884 - “Domestic Notes” are banned.
1887 - 1889 - the novel “Poshekhon Antiquity” is published in “Bulletin of Europe”.
March 1889 – a sharp deterioration in the writer’s health.
May 10 (April 28), 1889 - Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin dies. According to his own will, he was buried at the Volkov cemetery in St. Petersburg next to

04/28/1889 (05/11).– Writer Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin died

M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov (01/15/1828–04/28/1889), writer and publicist (pseud. Saltykov-Shchedrin). Born into a noble family, on his parents' estate, in the village of Spas-Ugol, Kalyazinsky district, Tver province. His childhood years spent in the family estate, in a serf-dominated environment, had a huge impact on the formation of his social views.

He studied at the Moscow Noble Institute, from where in 1838, as the best student, he was transferred to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. Here Saltykov-Shchedrin became interested in literature, and in 1841 he published his first poem. He was reprimanded by teachers for “rudeness,” smoking, careless dress, and writing poems with “disapproving” content. Then his acquaintance with V.G. Belinsky influenced his political position, which was close to revolutionary. In 1847–1848 he became interested in the theories of utopian socialists and attended M.V.’s “Fridays.” Petrashevsky, with whom he later separated. At the same time, he wrote his first stories, “Contradiction” and “Entangled Affair,” which aroused dissatisfaction with the authorities due to their acute social and accusatory nature.

However, the “despotic regime” was such that all this time, from 1844, after graduating from the Lyceum, Saltykov served in the office of the War Ministry. In 1848, for a “harmful way of thinking,” he was simply sent to serve in Vyatka, where he held the position of senior official and adviser to the provincial government. Judging by the note about land unrest in Slobodsky district, he ardently took his responsibilities to heart when they brought him into contact with people's troubles.

The death of Emperor Nicholas I in 1855 and the beginning of a liberal government course allowed Saltykov to return to St. Petersburg, where he gained fame with his “Provincial Sketches” (signed under the pseudonym N. Shchedrin). “Provincial Sketches” were published in “Russian Bulletin” since 1856, and in 1857, collected together, went through two editions (later two more, in 1864 and 1882). They laid the foundation for literature that was called “accusatory,” but they themselves only partly belonged to it. The external side of the bureaucratic world, well known to Saltykov-Shchedrin, of slander, bribes and other abuses completely fills only some of the essays; the psychology of bureaucratic life is more important there; “Gogolian humor” alternates with lyricism.

During these years, the critic and accuser Saltykov-Shchedrin served as an official of special assignments in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and was sent to the Tver and Vladimir provinces to review the paperwork of the provincial militia committees (on the occasion of the Crimean War). The note he compiled during the execution of this assignment reveals many of the abuses he discovered. He then participated in the preparation of the peasant reform of 1861. In 1858–1862. was appointed vice-governor in Ryazan, then in Tver, constantly fought against bribery.

He resigned to devote himself entirely to literature. He moved to St. Petersburg and, by invitation, joined the editorial staff of the Sovremennik magazine, but gave his main attention to the monthly review Our Social Life. In 1864, he left the editorial board of Sovremennik due to disagreements on the tactics of “social struggle.” He returned to public service in 1865–1868, heading the State Chambers in Penza, Tula, and Ryazan, which ended with his final resignation with the rank of full state councilor (after a complaint from the Ryazan governor). From 1868, at the invitation of Nekrasov, he worked for 16 years at Otechestvennye zapiski, and after Nekrasov’s death he headed the editorial office.

Saltykov-Shchedrin also did not spare the new liberal institutions of Alexander II - the zemstvo, the court, the bar - because he demanded a lot from them and was indignant at every imperfection. Although this direction of his work is not tied only to his time. Particularly well known in this regard are the allegorical fairy tales and parables of Saltykov-Shchedrin, the images of which have entered into proverbs and become household names: “The Wise Minnow,” “The Poor Wolf,” “The Idealist Crucian Cars,” “The Unremembering Ram,” and others. In them, however, not only bureaucratic vices are ridiculed, but also the very principle of autocracy. “Poshekhon Antiquity” is also well known - a vivid and biased picture of the life of serf Russia. In the work of this writer, and especially in fairy tales, there is generally a caricature denunciation of the Russian order of that time, by which one cannot judge that Russia (although we still see these quotes at every step now - already in justification of the modern criminal regime: they say it has always been in Rus'...).

Nevertheless, Saltykov-Shchedrin cannot be considered a revolutionary democrat, as was done under Soviet rule. Here, apparently, at first he showed the same feature of Russian denunciation as in: heightened spiritual and moral sensitivity and rejection of social evil with an inability to correctly understand the problem of theodicy: the existence of evil in the world under the all-merciful and all-powerful Creator. Saltykov-Shchedrin also lacked an understanding of the spiritual nature of evil, and therefore the social ideal was considered utopian. Indicative here is the fairy tale “The Adventure with Kramolnikov,” in which the writer writes about his hero that the reason for his “seditious” writings was love for his country and pain for it, which was transmitted to others in the form of sedition. And in “Poshekhon Antiquity” Nikanor Zatrapezny, through whose mouth the author himself undoubtedly also speaks, describes the effect produced on him by reading the Gospel. “The humiliated and insulted stood before me, illuminated by the light, and loudly cried out against the innate injustice that gave them nothing but chains.”

That is, in the heat of morally cheap experiences and denunciations, the writer exaggerated the ulcers of his time, essentially condemning the sinfulness of man himself, but shifting responsibility for it to “society” and the existing Orthodox authorities. However, at the same time, Saltykov-Shchedrin remained a believer (reflections on the resurrection of Christ in “Provincial Sketches”, “A Christmas Tale”, “Conscience Lost”, “Christ’s Night”, etc.) and this “saves” many of his works for the classics of Russian literature . The Christian basis of the writer’s intransigence towards evil emerges, for example, in a speech about the fate of a Russian peasant woman, put by the author into the mouth of a village teacher (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”): “Who sees the tears of a peasant woman? Who can hear them pouring drop by drop? Only the little Russian peasant sees and hears them, but in him they revive his moral sense and plant the first seeds of goodness in his heart.”

Even in his most negative characters, Saltykov-Shchedrin sees human traits. In the socio-psychological novel “The Golovlev Lords” (a symbol of the decay of the idle life of a noble family), he even reveals them in “Judas” (Porfiry Golovlev) - a person who blasphemously covers up his amazing immorality and sinfulness with ostentatious prayerful piety, quotes from the Holy Scriptures, etc. P. (the character became a household name and even famous). In the depiction of the crisis experienced by Judas during Holy Week and leading him to repentance and death, it is shown that Judas also has a conscience; in the words of Saltykov-Shchedrin, it can only be temporarily “driven away and, as it were, forgotten.” This novel rightfully introduces Saltykov-Shchedrin into the ranks of real Russian writers.

So in the fairy tale “Conscience is Missing” - conscience, which everyone is burdened with like a burden and from which they are trying to get rid of, it says to its last owner: “Find me a little Russian child, dissolve his pure heart before me and bury me in it: maybe He, an innocent baby, will shelter and nurture me, perhaps he will bring me up to the level of his age and then go out with me into people - he will not disdain... According to this word of hers, it happened. A tradesman found a little Russian child, and with him his conscience grows. And the little child will be a big man, and he will have a big conscience. And then all untruths, deceit and violence will disappear, because the conscience will not be timid and will want to manage everything itself.”

Often Saltykov-Shchedrin in his works translates the gospel commandments in his own words, although sometimes too freely and boldly.

In 1875–1876 he received treatment abroad and visited Western European countries in different years of his life. In Paris he met with Flaubert, Zola.

Saltykov’s most significant works include: “Well-Intentioned Speeches” (1872-76), “The History of a City” (1870), “Gentlemen of Tashkent” (1869–1872), “Gentlemen of the Golovlevs” (1880), “Fairy Tales” (1869 –1886), “Little things in life” (1886–1887), “Poshekhon antiquity” (1887–1889).

From “The Tale of the Zealous Chief”

“...The chief of the Jews gathered and said to them: “Tell me, scoundrels, what, in your opinion, is the real harm?” And the Jews answered him unanimously: “Until then, in our opinion, real harm will not happen until our entire program, in all parts, is fulfilled. And this is what our program is. So that we, the scoundrels, speak, and the others remain silent. So that our , scoundrels, ideas and proposals were accepted immediately, and others’ wishes were left without consideration. So that we, the scoundrels, could live, and so that everyone else would not have a bottom or a tire, so that we, the scoundrels, would be kept in squalor and tenderness. and everyone else is in shackles. So that the harm done by us, the scoundrels, is considered as benefit, and for everyone else, even if the benefit was brought, then it would be considered as harm, so that no one dares to say a word about us, the scoundrels, but we. , scoundrels, about whom we think what we want, then we bark! If all this is strictly carried out, then real harm will result. 15, book 1, pp. 292 – 296).

Nikolai Shchedrin - pseudonym, real name - Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov; Russian Empire, Tver province, village of Spas-Ugol; 01/15/1826 – 04/28/1889

The books of Saltykov-Shchedrin are known far beyond the borders of our country. Mikhail Evgrafovich is rightfully considered one of the classics of Russian literature, and his contribution to world literature is difficult to overestimate. The works of Saltykov-Shchedrin have been translated into many languages of the world, and in our country many of the writer’s works are included in the school curriculum.

Biography of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov was born on January 15, 1826 in the family of nobleman Evgraf Vasilyevich. He was the sixth child in the family. The family lived on the Spas-Ugol estate in Kolyazinsky district. It was here that the boy received his first education. Initially, his father's serf was his teacher, then his elder sister, then a priest, then a governess, and finally a student at a theological seminary, took care of his upbringing. Until in 1836 he entered the Moscow Noble Institute. For diligent study, after two years he was transferred to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. It was here that Saltykov-Shchedrin took his first steps in literature. He wrote mostly poetry, often of a “disapproving nature.” But later he realized that poetry was not his thing. In 1844 he graduated from the Lyceum with the rank of second class. Moreover, out of 22 two students who began to study with him, only five were able to do this.

In August 1945, Mikhail Saltykov was enrolled in the office of the War Ministry. But he was able to get a full-time position as an assistant secretary only two years later. But in literature he was much better. His bibliographic notes are published by the Sovremennik magazine; in 1847, Saltykov-Shchedrin’s first story, “Contradictions,” was published, and literally six months later, “Tangled History.” Written under the influence, the story “Tangled” fell out of favor with the authorities. As a result, in 1848 the writer was exiled to Vyatka.

In Vyatka, Saltykov-Shchedrin worked in the office and even headed it several times. The exile ended only in 1855. And already in 1856 he was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to check office work in the Tver and Vladimir provinces. Around the same time, he began to publish in the Russian Messenger. His “Provincial Sketches” become very popular, and were even republished several times as a complete collection of works. In 1858, the writer was appointed vice-governor of Ryazan, and two years later to Tver. At this time, he was published in almost all famous magazines. But, starting from 1860, almost all of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s works were published in Sovremennik. The writer himself, like the magazine, begins to experience oppression. Therefore, Mikhail Evrgafovich is transferred to serve in the treasury chamber.

With the transition of Otechestvennye Zapiski to the editorship, Saltykov-Shchedrin becomes one of the most active employees. In 1868, he completely switched to working for the magazine. At first he was one of the employees, and after Nekrasov’s death he took his place as editor. This period is rightfully considered one of the most fruitful in the writer’s work. It was during this period that Saltykov-Shchedrin’s books “The History of a City”, “Well-Intentioned Speeches”, “Lord Golovlevs”, as well as most of the writer’s fairy tales were published. Mikhail Evgrafovich devoted himself completely to his work. Partly because of this, his health began to deteriorate in the mid-70s. The ban on Otechestvennye Zapiski in 1884 was truly a huge blow for him. By inertia, he continued to write and these later works were in no way inferior to his earlier works, but without communication with the reader he faded away. Saltykov-Shchedrin died in 1889. And according to his own will, he was buried next to the grave.

Books by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin on the Top books website

Saltykov-Shchedrin’s books have been popular to read at all times. It is not for nothing that many of them are presented in ours, and they occupy far from the last places there. At the same time, a separate element should be noted the fairy tales of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, which are still in demand and relevant to this day. It is not for nothing that many of them are presented in ours, as well. And given the presence of the writer’s works in the school curriculum, we are yet to see Saltykov-Shchedrin’s works in the ratings of our website.

Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin list of books

Novels:

Messrs. Golovlevs
Poshekhonskaya antiquity
Monrepos Asylum

Essays:

Well-Intentioned Speeches
In a mental hospital
Lord Molchalin
Gentlemen of Tashkent
Provincial essays
Diary of a provincial in St. Petersburg
Abroad
Innocent stories
Letters to Auntie
Pompadours and pompadours
Satires in prose
Modern idyll

Fairy tales:

Ram-Nepomnyashchy
Poor wolf
Bogatyr
Faithful Trezor
Raven petitioner
Dried roach
Village fire
Virtues and Vices
Fool
Sane Hare
Toy business people
Crucian idealist
Kissel
Horse
Liberal
Bear in the province
Unsleeping Eye
The deceiving newspaperman and the gullible reader
Eagle Patron
Idle talk
Adventure with Kramolnikov
Conscience gone
By the way
Christmas tale
Selfless hare
The Tale of a Zealous Boss
Neighbours
Christ's night

Stories:

Anniversary
kind soul
Spoiled Children
Death of Pazukhin
Neighbours
Chizhikovo Mountain

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin (real name Saltykov, pseudonym Nikolai Shchedrin). Born January 15 (27), 1826 - died April 28 (May 10), 1889. Russian writer, journalist, editor of the magazine “Otechestvennye zapiski”, Ryazan and Tver vice-governor.

Mikhail Saltykov was born into an old noble family, on his parents’ estate, in the village of Spas-Ugol, Kalyazinsky district, Tver province. He was the sixth child of a hereditary nobleman and collegiate adviser Evgraf Vasilyevich Saltykov (1776-1851).

The writer's mother, Olga Mikhailovna Zabelina (1801-1874), was the daughter of the Moscow nobleman Mikhail Petrovich Zabelin (1765-1849) and Marfa Ivanovna (1770-1814). Although in the note to “Poshekhonskaya Antiquity” Saltykov-Shchedrin asked not to confuse him with the personality of Nikanor Zatrapezny, on whose behalf the story is told, the complete similarity of much of what is reported about Zatrapezny with the undoubted facts of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s life allows us to assume that “Poshekhonskaya Antiquity” is partly autobiographical in nature.

Saltykov-Shchedrin's first teacher was a serf of his parents, the painter Pavel Sokolov; then his elder sister, the priest of a neighboring village, the governess and a student at the Moscow Theological Academy took care of him. Ten years old, he entered the Moscow Noble Institute, and two years later, as one of the best students, he was transferred as a state student to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. It was there that he began his career as a writer.

In 1844, he graduated from the Lyceum with the second category (that is, with the rank of X class), 17 out of 22 students, because his behavior was certified as no more than “pretty good”: he had ordinary school offenses (rudeness, smoking, carelessness in clothing). “writing poetry” with “disapproving” content was added. At the Lyceum, under the influence of Pushkin’s legends, which were still fresh at that time, each course had its own poet; in the 13th year, Saltykov-Shchedrin played this role. Several of his poems were published in the Reading Library in 1841 and 1842, when he was still a lyceum student; others, published in Sovremennik (ed. Pletnev) in 1844 and 1845, were also written by him while still at the Lyceum; all these poems were reprinted in “Materials for the biography of I. E. Saltykov,” attached to the complete collection of his works.

None of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s poems (some translated, some original) bear any traces of talent; the later ones are even inferior to the earlier ones. Saltykov-Shchedrin soon realized that he had no vocation for poetry, stopped writing poetry and did not like being reminded of them. However, in these student exercises one can sense a sincere mood, mostly sad and melancholy (at that time Saltykov-Shchedrin was known among his acquaintances as a “gloomy lyceum student”).

In August 1844, Saltykov-Shchedrin was enlisted in the office of the Minister of War and only two years later received his first full-time position there - assistant secretary. Literature even then occupied him much more than service: he not only read a lot, being interested in the French socialists in particular (a brilliant picture of this hobby was drawn by him thirty years later in the fourth chapter of the collection “Abroad”), but also wrote - at first small bibliographical notes (in Otechestvennye zapiski 1847), then the stories “Contradictions” (ibid., November 1847) and “A Confused Affair” (March 1848).

Already in the bibliographic notes, despite the unimportance of the books about which they were written, the author’s way of thinking is visible - his aversion to routine, to conventional morality, to serfdom; In some places there are also sparkles of mocking humor.

In Saltykov-Shchedrin’s first story, “Contradictions,” which he never subsequently reprinted, the very theme on which J. Sand’s early novels were written sounds, muffled and muffled: recognition of the rights of life and passion. The hero of the story, Nagibin, is a man weakened by his hothouse upbringing and defenseless against environmental influences, against the “little things in life.” Fear of these little things both then and later (for example, in “The Road” in “Provincial Sketches”) was, apparently, familiar to Saltykov-Shchedrin himself - but for him it was the fear that serves as a source of struggle, and not despondency. Thus, only one small corner of the author’s inner life was reflected in Nagibin. Another character in the novel - the “woman-fist”, Kroshina - resembles Anna Pavlovna Zatrapeznaya from “Poshekhonskaya Antiquity”, that is, it was probably inspired by the family memories of Saltykov-Shchedrin.

Much larger is “Entangled Affair” (reprinted in “Innocent Stories”), written under the strong influence of “The Overcoat,” perhaps also of “Poor People,” but containing several remarkable pages (for example, an image of a pyramid of human bodies that one dreams of Michulin). “Russia,” the hero of the story reflects, “is a vast, abundant and rich state; Yes, the man is stupid, he is starving to death in an abundant state.” “Life is a lottery,” the familiar look bequeathed to him by his father tells him; “It is so,” replies some unkind voice, “but why is it a lottery, why shouldn’t it just be life?” A few months earlier, such reasoning might have gone unnoticed - but “A Confused Affair” appeared just when the February Revolution in France was reflected in Russia by the establishment of the so-called Buturlin Committee (named after its chairman D. P. Buturlin), vested with special powers to curb the press.

As punishment for freethinking, already on April 28, 1848, he was exiled to Vyatka and on July 3, he was assigned as a clerical official under the Vyatka provincial government. In November of the same year, he was appointed senior official of special assignments under the Vyatka governor, then twice served as ruler of the governor's office, and from August 1850 he was an adviser to the provincial government. Little information has been preserved about his service in Vyatka, but judging by the note about land unrest in Slobodsky district, found after the death of Saltykov-Shchedrin in his papers and detailed in the “Materials” for his biography, he ardently took his duties to heart when they brought him into direct contact with the masses of the people and gave him the opportunity to be useful to them.

Saltykov-Shchedrin got to know provincial life in its darkest sides, which at that time easily eluded the eye, as well as possible, thanks to the business trips and investigations that were entrusted to him - and the rich stock of observations he made found a place in “Provincial Sketches.” He dispersed the severe boredom of mental loneliness with extracurricular activities: excerpts of his translations from Tocqueville, Vivien, Cheruel and notes written by him on the famous book of Beccaria have been preserved. For the Boltin sisters, daughters of the Vyatka vice-governor, one of whom (Elizaveta Apollonovna) became his wife in 1856, he compiled a “Brief History of Russia.”

In November 1855, he was finally allowed to leave Vyatka (from where until then he had only once traveled to his Tver village); in February 1856 he was assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in June of the same year he was appointed an official of special assignments under the minister and in August he was sent to the provinces of Tver and Vladimir to review the paperwork of the provincial militia committees (convened on the occasion of the Eastern War in 1855). In his papers there was a draft note drawn up by him in the execution of this assignment. It certifies that the so-called noble provinces appeared before Saltykov-Shchedrin in no better shape than the non-noble province, Vyatka; He discovered many abuses in equipping the militia. Somewhat later, he compiled a note on the structure of the city and zemstvo police, imbued with the idea of decentralization, which was still not widespread at that time, and very boldly emphasized the shortcomings of the existing order.

Following Saltykov-Shchedrin's return from exile, his literary activity resumed with great brilliance. The name of the court councilor Shchedrin, who signed the “Provincial Sketches” that appeared in the “Russian Bulletin” since 1856, immediately became one of the most beloved and popular.

Collected into one whole, “Provincial Sketches” went through two editions in 1857 (later many more). They laid the foundation for a whole literature called “accusatory”, but they themselves only partly belonged to it. The external side of the world of slander, bribes, and all sorts of abuses completely fills only some of the essays; The psychology of bureaucratic life comes to the fore, such major figures as Porfiry Petrovich appear as a “mischievous”, the prototype of the “pompadours”, or the “torn-up” prototype of the “Tashkent people”, like Peregorensky, whose indomitable sneaking even the administrative sovereignty must reckon with.

Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin is a Russian writer, journalist, editor of the journal Otechestvennye zapiski, Ryazan and Tver vice-governor. Saltykov-Shchedrin was a master of the island of words and was the author of many.

He managed to create wonderful works in the genres of satire and realism, as well as help the reader analyze his mistakes.

Perhaps its most famous graduate was.

While studying at the Lyceum, Saltykov-Shchedrin stopped taking care of his appearance, began swearing, smoking, and often ended up in a punishment cell for inappropriate behavior.

As a result, the student graduated from the lyceum with the rank of collegiate secretary. It is interesting that it was during this period of his biography that he tried to write his first works.

After this, Mikhail began working in the office of the military department. He continued to write and became seriously interested in the works of French socialists.

Link to Vyatka

The first stories in the biography of Saltykov-Shchedrin were “An Entangled Case” and “Contradictions.” In them, he raised important issues that ran counter to the policies of the current government.

When Alexander 2 was on the throne in 1855 (see), he was allowed to return home. The following year he was appointed an official of special assignments at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Creativity of Saltykov-Shchedrin

Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin is one of the most prominent representatives of satire in. He had a subtle sense of humor and knew how to brilliantly convey it on paper.

An interesting fact is that it was he who coined such expressions as “bungling”, “soft-bodied” and “stupidity”.

One of the most popular portraits of the writer M.E. Saltykova-Shchedrin

After Saltykov-Shchedrin returned from exile in Russia, he published a collection of stories “Provincial Sketches” under the name of Nikolai Shchedrin.

It is worth noting that even after he gained all-Russian popularity, many of his admirers will remember this particular work.

In his stories, Saltykov-Shchedrin portrayed many different heroes, who, in his opinion, were outstanding representatives.

In 1870, Saltykov-Shchedrin wrote one of the most famous stories in his biography - “The History of a City.”

It is worth noting that this work was not initially appreciated, since it contained a lot of allegories and unusual comparisons.

Some critics even accused Mikhail Evgrafovich of deliberate distortion. The story presented ordinary people of different minds and who unquestioningly obeyed the authorities.

Soon, from the pen of Saltykov-Shchedrin, a very interesting and deep in content fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” came out. It told about a minnow who was afraid of everything, who lived in fear and loneliness until his death.

Then he began working as an editor in the publication Otechestvennye zapiski, which he owned. In this magazine, in addition to his direct responsibilities, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin also published his own works.

In 1880, Saltykov-Shchedrin wrote the brilliant novel “Gentlemen Golovlevs.” It told about a family who, throughout their entire adult life, thought only about increasing their capital. Ultimately, this led the entire family to spiritual and moral decay.

Personal life

In the writer’s biography there was only one wife - Elizaveta Boltina. Saltykov-Shchedrin met her during his exile. The girl was the daughter of the vice-governor and was 14 years younger than the groom.

Initially, the father did not want to give Elizabeth in marriage to the disgraced writer, however, after talking with him, he changed his mind.

An interesting fact is that Mikhail’s mother was categorically against his marrying Boltina. The reason for this was the young age of the bride, as well as a small dowry. In the end, in 1856 Saltykov-Shchedrin finally got married.

Saltykov-Shchedrin with his wife

Soon, frequent quarrels began to occur between the newlyweds. By nature, Saltykov-Shchedrin was a straightforward and courageous person. Elizabeth, on the contrary, was a calm and patient girl. In addition, she did not have a sharp mind.

According to the recollections of Mikhail Evgrafovich’s friends, Boltina liked to butt into the conversation, saying a lot of unnecessary things, which, moreover, were often irrelevant to the point.

At such moments, the writer simply lost his temper. In addition, Saltykov-Shchedrin’s wife loved luxury, which further increased the distance between the spouses.

Despite this, they lived together all their lives. In this marriage they had a girl, Elizaveta, and a boy, Konstantin.

Biographers of Saltykov-Shchedrin claim that he had a good understanding of wines, played the wine and was an expert in matters relating to profanity.

Death

In recent years, the writer suffered seriously from rheumatism. In addition, his health deteriorated after Otechestvennye zapiski was closed in 1884. The censorship considered the publication a disseminator of harmful ideas.

Shortly before his death, Saltykov-Shchedrin was bedridden, in need of outside help and care. However, he did not lose his optimism and sense of humor.

Often, when he could not, due to weakness, receive guests, he asked them to tell them: “I’m very busy - I’m dying.”

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin died on April 28, 1889 at the age of 63 years. According to his request, he was buried next to his grave at the Volkovskoye cemetery.

If you liked the short biography of Saltykov-Shchedrin, share it on social networks. If you like biographies of famous people in general, and in particular, subscribe to the site. It's always interesting with us!

Did you like the post? Press any button.