Life and work of Leskov N. S. Brief biography of Nikolai Semenovich Leskov

Russian writer Nikolai Semenovich Leskov was born in the village of Gorohovo, Oryol province in 1831. His father was an official and the son of a priest. Mother came from noble family, and his childhood was an ordinary noble childhood. He was greatly influenced by his aunt Paula, who married an English Quaker and joined this sect. At the age of sixteen, Leskov lost his parents and was left alone in the world, forced to earn his own bread. I had to leave school and enter the service. He served in various government provincial institutions. Then they opened up to him real pictures Russian reality. But he truly discovered life when he left public service and began to serve the Englishman Shcott, like Aunt Polya, a sectarian who managed the huge estates of a wealthy landowner. In this service, Leskov acquired extensive knowledge about Russian life, very different from the typical ideas of young people. educated people that time. Thanks to his everyday training, Leskov became one of those Russian writers who know life not as the owners of serf souls, whose views changed under the influence of French or German university theories, like Turgenev and Tolstoy, but know it from direct practice, regardless of theories. That is why his view of Russian life is so unusual, so free from the condescending sentimental pity for the Russian peasant, so characteristic of the liberal and educated serf owner.

Leskov: the path to and from literature. Lecture by Maya Kucherskaya

His literary work began with the writing of business reports for Mr. Schcott, who was not slow to draw attention to the common sense, observation, and knowledge of the people contained therein. Nikolai Leskov began writing for newspapers and magazines in 1860, when he was 29 years old. The first articles dealt only with practical, everyday issues. But soon - in 1862 - Leskov left the service, moved to St. Petersburg and became a professional journalist.

It was a time of great social upsurge. Public interests also captured Leskov, but his extremely practical mind and everyday experience they did not allow him to unconditionally join any of the then parties of hotheads who were not adapted to practical activities. Hence the isolation in which he found himself when an incident occurred that left an indelible mark on him. literary fate. He wrote an article about the big fires that destroyed part of St. Petersburg that year, the culprits of which were rumored to be " nihilists"and radical students. Leskov did not support this rumor, but mentioned it in his article and demanded that the police conduct a thorough investigation to confirm or refute the city rumors. This demand hit the radical press like a bomb exploding. Leskov was accused of inciting the mob against students and “informing” the police. He was boycotted and expelled from progressive magazines.

Portrait of Nikolai Semenovich Leskov. Artist V. Serov, 1894

At this time he began to write fiction. First story ( Muskox) appeared in 1863. A great romance followed Nowhere(1864). This novel caused new misunderstandings with radicals, who managed to discern in some characters slanderous caricatures of their friends; this was enough to brand Leskov as a vile slanderer-reactionary, although the main socialists in the novel are depicted as almost saints. In his next novel, On knives(1870–1871), Leskov went much further in his depiction of nihilists: they are presented as a bunch of scoundrels and scoundrels. It was not “political” novels that created Leskova real glory. This fame is based on his stories. But the novels made Leskov the bogeyman of all radical literature and deprived the most influential critics of the opportunity to treat him with at least some degree of objectivity. The only one who welcomed, appreciated and encouraged Leskov was the famous Slavophil critic Apollo Grigoriev, a man of genius, albeit extravagant. But in 1864 Grigoriev died, and Leskov owes all his later popularity only to the fact that he was not directed by anyone. good taste public.

The popularity began after the publication of the “chronicle” Soboryans in 1872 and a number of stories, mainly from the life of the clergy, which followed the chronicle and were published until the very end of the 1870s. In them, Leskov is a defender of conservative and Orthodox ideals, which attracted the favorable attention of high-ranking persons, including the wife of Alexander II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Thanks to the attention of the Empress, Leskov received a place on the committee of the Ministry of Education, practically a sinecure. At the end of the 70s. he joined the campaign for the defense of Orthodoxy against the Pietist propaganda of Lord Radstock. However, Leskov was never a consistent conservative, and even his support for Orthodoxy against Protestantism relied, as its main argument, on democratic humility, which distinguishes it from the aristocratic individualism of the “high society schism,” as he called the Radstock sect. His attitude towards church institutions was never entirely submissive, and his Christianity gradually became less traditional and more critical. The stories of the life of the clergy, written in the early 1880s, were largely satirical, and because of one such story he lost his place on the committee.

Leskov fell more and more under the influence of Tolstoy, and towards the end of his life he became a devout Tolstoyan. Betrayal of conservative principles again pushed him towards the left wing of journalism, and in last years he collaborated mainly in moderate-radical journals. However, those who dictated literary opinions, they did not speak out about Leskov and treated him very coldly. When he died in 1895, he had many readers throughout Russia, but few friends in literary circles. They say that shortly before his death he said: “Now I am read for the beauty of my inventions, but in fifty years the beauty will fade, and my books will be read only for the ideas that are contained therein.” This was an amazingly bad prophecy. Now, more than ever, Leskov is read for his incomparable form, for his style and manner of storytelling - least of all for his ideas. In fact, few of his fans understand what his ideas were. Not because these ideas are incomprehensible, but because attention is now absorbed in something completely different.

Compatriots recognize Leskov as the most Russian of Russian writers, who knew his people more deeply and widely than anyone else as they are.

Born on February 4 (16 NS) in the village of Gorokhov, Oryol province, in the family of an official of the criminal chamber, who came from the clergy. His childhood years were spent on the estate of the Strakhov relatives, then in Orel. After retiring, Leskov's father took up agriculture in the farmstead Panin, Kromsky district, which he acquired. In the Oryol wilderness future writer I was able to see and learn a lot, which later gave him the right to say: “I did not study the people from conversations with St. Petersburg cab drivers... I grew up among the people... I was one of the people with the people... I was closer to these people than all the priests. ..” In 1841 1846 Leskov studied at the Oryol gymnasium, which he failed to graduate: in his sixteenth year he lost his father, and the family’s property was destroyed in a fire. Leskov entered the service of the Oryol Criminal Chamber of the Court, which gave him good material for future works.

In 1849, with the support of his uncle, Kyiv professor S. Alferyev, Leskov was transferred to Kyiv as an official of the treasury chamber. In the house of his uncle, his mother’s brother, a professor of medicine, under the influence of progressive university professors, Leskov’s ardent interest in Herzen, in the great poet of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko, in Ukrainian culture arose, he became interested in antique painting and the architecture of Kyiv, later becoming an outstanding expert on ancient Russian art.

In 1857 Leskov retired and entered private service in a large company. trading company, which was engaged in the resettlement of peasants to new lands and on whose business he traveled almost the entire European part of Russia.

Start literary activity Leskova dates back to 1860, when he first appeared as a progressive publicist. In January 1861 Leskov settled in St. Petersburg with the desire to devote himself to literary and journalistic activity. He began publishing in Otechestvennye zapiski.

Leskov came to Russian literature with a large stock of observations on Russian life, with sincere sympathy for the needs of the people, which was reflected in his stories “The Extinguished Cause” (1862), “The Robber”; in the stories "The Life of a Woman" (1863), "Lady Macbeth Mtsensk district" (1865).

In 1862, as a correspondent for the newspaper "Northern Bee", he visited Poland, Western Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. He wanted to get acquainted with everyday life, art and poetry Western Slavs, with whom he was very sympathetic. The trip ended with a visit to Paris. In the spring of 1863 Leskov returned to Russia.

Knowing the province well and its needs, human characters, details of everyday life and deep ideological currents, Leskov did not accept the calculations of “theorists” divorced from Russian roots. He speaks about this in the story “Musk Ox” (1863), in the novels “Nowhere” (1864), “Bypassed” (1865), “On Knives” (1870). They outline the theme of Russia’s unpreparedness for the revolution and tragic fate people who have connected their lives with the hope of its speedy fulfillment. Hence the disagreements with the revolutionary democrats.

In 1870 1880 Leskov overestimated a lot; acquaintance with Tolstoy has an impact on him big influence. National-historical issues appeared in his work: the novel “The Cathedral People” (1872), “A Seedy Family” (1874). During these years, he wrote several stories about artists: “The Islanders”, “The Captured Angel”.

The talent of the Russian person, the kindness and generosity of his soul always admired Leskov, and this theme found its expression in the stories “Lefty (The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the steel flea)" (1881), "The Stupid Artist" (1883), "The Man on the Clock" (1887).

In Leskov's legacy great place occupied by satire, humor and irony: “Selected Grain”, “Shameless”, “Idle Dancers”, etc. The story “Hare Remise” was the last major work of the writer.

Leskov died in St. Petersburg.

Nikolai Semenovich Leskov was born February 4 (16), 1831 in the village of Gorokhovo, Oryol province. Russian writer, publicist, literary critic. Leskov’s father is an assessor of the Oryol Criminal Chamber, his mother is a hereditary noblewoman.

Leskov spent his childhood in Oryol and the Oryol province; the impressions of these years and grandmother’s stories about Orel and its inhabitants were reflected in many of Leskov’s works. In 1847-1849. Leskov served in the Oryol Chamber of the Criminal Court; in 1850-1857. held various positions in the Kyiv Treasury Chamber. In May 1857. entered a business and commercial company headed by the Englishman A.Ya. Shkot, husband of Aunt Leskov. WITH 1860. began to collaborate in St. Petersburg newspapers, publishing liberal articles about abuse and social vices in modern Russia. In 1861. moved to St. Petersburg. Leskov’s arrival in literature from an environment far from the professional writing community, as well as his impressions provincial life, alien to the capital’s way of life, largely determined the originality of its social and literary position.

In 1862 Leskov published his first works of fiction: the stories “The Extinguished Case” (in a revised edition - “Drought”), “The Robber” and “In the Tarantass” - essays from folk life, drawing ideas and actions ordinary people, strange and unnatural from the point of view of an educated reader. Leskov's first stories already contain features characteristic of his later works: documentaryism, objectivity of narration.

Since 1862 Leskov is a regular contributor to the liberal newspaper “Northern Bee”: in his journalism he advocated gradual, evolutionary changes, criticizing the revolutionary ideas of the writers of the “Sovremennik” magazine and considering the anti-government sentiments of the radical democratic intelligentsia harmful to society. Leskov was alien socialist ideas property equality: the desire for violent changes in the social and political system seemed to him as dangerous as the restriction of freedom by the government. On May 30, 1862, in the newspaper “Northern Bee,” Leskov wrote a note in which he demanded that the government openly confirm or deny rumors about the involvement of students in the fire in St. Petersburg. The democratic and liberal intelligentsia misinterpreted the article as a denunciation containing a statement about the organization of arson by radical students. Leskov’s reputation was marked as a political provocateur who supported the government in the fight against freedom-loving and free-thinking.

1864. - anti-nihilistic novel “Nowhere”.

1865 . - novel “Outlooked”, story “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk”.

1866. - novel "The Islanders".

1867. – second edition of essays “ Russian society in Paris".

1870-1871. – the second anti-nihilistic novel “On Knives”.

1872 . - novel “Soborians”.

1872-1873. - story “The Enchanted Wanderer”.

1873 . - story “The Sealed Angel”.

1876 . - story “Iron Will”.

1883 . - "Beast".

1886 . - collection " Yuletide Stories».

1888. - story “The Kolyvan Husband”.

1890 . - unfinished allegorical novel “Devil's Dolls”.

In stories late 1870s – 1880s Leskov created a gallery of righteous characters who embody the best features of the Russian folk character and at the same time highlighted as exceptional natures:

1879. - “One-minded.”

1880 . – « Non-lethal Golovan».

Fairytale motives, the interweaving of the comic and tragic, the moral duality of the characters are features of Leskov’s work, which are fully characteristic of one of his most famous works - the tale “Lefty” ( 1881 .).

In the mid-1880s. Leskov became close to L.N. Tolstoy, sharing many of the ideas of his teachings: personal self-improvement as the basis new faith, opposition of the true faith to Orthodoxy, rejection of existing social orders. Late Leskov spoke extremely harshly about Orthodox Church, sharply criticized modern social institutions. In February 1883. Leskov was dismissed from the Academic Committee of the Ministry of Public Education for the review of books published for the people in which he served since 1874. His works had difficulty getting through censorship. In Leskov’s later works, criticism of social norms and values ​​comes to the fore: the story “Winter Day” ( 1894 ), the story “Hare Remiz” ( 1894, publ. in 1917).

Leskov’s work is a fusion of various style and genre traditions: essays, everyday and literary anecdote, memoir literature, grassroots popular literature, church books, romantic poems and stories, adventurous and morally descriptive novels. Leskov’s stylistic discoveries, his deliberately incorrect, “tangible” word, and the skaz he brought to the virtuoso technique anticipated many experiments in the literature of the 20th century.

Keywords: Nikolay Leskov, detailed biography Leskova, criticism, download biography, free download, abstract, Russian literature of the 19th century, writers of the 19th century

Nikolai Leskov was born in 1831 in Oryol district. His father graduated from theological seminary, but went to work as an investigator in the criminal chamber.

Nikolai Leskov received his primary education in the house of wealthy relatives of the Strakhovs, then he studied at the gymnasium, but full course I never listened to it. In his memoirs, he called himself “self-taught.” The young man drops out of school and gets a job at the Oryol Criminal Chamber. There Leskov was hired as an assistant scribe.

Leskov spent his childhood in the village. It was here, communicating with simple peasants, that he learned the full depth of the unique folk Russian language. This language formed the basis of his original style of presentation, which would later glorify literary works Leskova.

Family Breadwinner

During his work at the Oryol Criminal Chamber, Leskov reads a lot. Because of this, he quickly became well-known among the local intelligentsia.

The sudden death of their father puts the Leskov family on the brink of poverty. Nikolai Semenovich became the sole breadwinner. His widowed mother and six young children became his new concern. A young man moves to Kyiv. And again Leskov reads a lot, attends lectures at the university and studies the Polish and Ukrainian languages.

At 22, Leskov marries the daughter of a wealthy Kyiv landlord, Olga Vasilyevna. Their living together was not cloudless. A quarter of a century later, Nikolai Semenovich’s wife was placed for the mentally ill, where she spent the last thirty years of her life. Nikolai Semenovich constantly visited her until his death.

In 1857, Leskov got a job in a private commercial company, which belonged to a maternal relative, the English entrepreneur A.Ya. Sheet. His new job associated with frequent business trips. On business with the trading house, Leskov traveled all over Russia. It was in his travels that the writer gained enormous material for his work.

In 1960, the company where Nikolai Semenovich worked closed. He decides to move to St. Petersburg and seriously take up writing.

Literary activity

First piece of art Leskov was published in 1862. It was the story “The Extinguished Case.” His early works were written in the essay genre, and immediately became popular among readers.

A year later, the writer’s first two stories were published – “The Musk Ox” and “The Life of a Woman.”

Leskov was opposed to what was fashionable at that time. He was sure that this newfangled movement was opposed to traditional Christian values. His famous story “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” and the novel “On Knives” also contain sharp criticism of nihilism.

Nikolai Semenovich was a descendant of clergy. He attached great importance to his role in the life of Russia. The cycle of stories “The Righteous” tells about honest and highly moral people with whom the Russian land is rich.

Leskov's works, which are included in the golden fund of Russian literature, are written in an extraordinary artistic manner, which contemporaries call Leskov's tale. “Warrior”, “Enchanted Wanderer”, “Lefty”, “Sealed Angel” and his other works are written in the form of a tale, where the narration is told in the first person.

Having become close to Leo Tolstoy, Leskov, at the end of his life, begins to rethink the Christian faith. He becomes disillusioned with the Orthodox clergy. His late works filled with bitter sarcasm towards the clergy.

The amazing ability to describe the life of peasants, their manner of conversation, aspirations and thoughts was a distinguishing characteristic, a special feature in the biography of a man with noble roots and an irrepressible Russian soul, Nikolai Semenovich Leskov.

Biography of Leskov for children briefly, the most important thing

The life journey of Nikolai Leskov begins on February 16, 1831 in the village of Gorokhovo. His father is a successful official, investigator. My grandfather and great-grandfather served at the church in the village of Liski, which is where the name of the Leskov family came from. Mother had noble origin. When Nikolai was 16 years old, he was left an orphan and was forced to earn a living by his own labor. At first he got a job as a clerk. Soon, his uncle, the Englishman Shcott, took his nephew to work with him. On business with his new service, Nikolai had to travel a lot across the expanses of Russia. His tenacious gaze and sharp mind, attentive to details, remembered the smallest details, which later made it possible to describe the life and customs of the serf peasantry very plausibly and without condescending notes. In the spring of March 5, 1895, the writer suffered an asthmatic attack and died. Leskov's grave can be found at the Volkhonskoye cemetery in the city on the Neva.

early years

Leskov spent his childhood in Orel. In 1839, the entire family of the writer changed their place of residence to the village of Panino. In 1846, the high school student Leskov, who refused to take the re-examination, was given only a certificate, not a certificate. After the death of his father, at the age of 18, the writer moved to Kyiv to work in the state chamber. The most important are the 7 years of the Kyiv biography of the Oryol nugget. Nikolai Semyonovich studied as a listener at lectures at the university, learned the basics of icon painting and learned the Polish language, and communicated with believers.

Creativity and personal life

The young man’s talent for writing was first discovered by his uncle, reading reports about his work trips, which were surprisingly lively and truthful. Nikolai Leskov wrote articles for the press. He quit his bureaucratic job, changed his city of residence to St. Petersburg and began to earn money as a journalist.

The most important recognizable character in the biography of Leskov’s creative victories came from an 1881 work about the Tula master. Word game and the author’s recognizable language deserves positive reviews critics.

The writer's personal life is unsuccessful. He married twice. First time on Olga Vasilievna Smirnova. The writer entrusted the care of his wife to the doctors of a medical institution in St. Petersburg, since she was mentally ill. On the threshold of his 35th birthday, Leskov married the widow Bubnova. A year later, Nikolai and Catherine had a son, who emigrated to France during the revolution in Russia.