10 interesting facts about Alexander Radishchev and his revolutionary ideas

Alexander Radishchev is a famous poet, Russian prose writer, and also a philosopher. In 1790, he became known to the whole world after a published work called “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow». Many of his writings include poetry as well as jurisprudence. But some were banned in Russia. But, nevertheless, this did not prevent the author from publishing his works in handwritten form.

A great invaluable contribution to writing the biography of Radishchev was made by his sons. It was they who were able to create a complete essay that describes the life of their father.

We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Radishchev: a short biography of the writer and amazing stories of a man with revolutionary ideas.

10 His father was devout, well versed in languages

The boy spent almost all his childhood on his father’s estate in the Kaluga province. At first, Sasha was homeschooled.

Alexander’s father was a pious man, knew many languages ​​well. At that time, everyone was taught according to the Book of Hours and the Psalms, that is, according to liturgical books. When the boy was six years old, a French teacher began to visit him. But the father chose not quite a competent teacher. Subsequently, it turned out that this man was a runaway soldier.

When the university finally opened in Moscow, his father decided to take Alexander there for further education. The boy’s maternal uncle lived in the city. It was he who agreed to shelter Sasha for this time.

Here a former adviser was assigned to him, who fled from the persecution of his government. He began to teach him French.

It is worth noting that the brother of the maternal uncle Alexander Radishchev was the famous stepson of Count Matveev. Their house was always attended by professors and teachers of gymnasiums. They taught children. It can be assumed that Alexander, since he was in charge here, also received education from these people.

9. Was granted a page

In 1762, the coronation of Catherine II took place. Shortly after this event Alexander was sent to the Corps of Pages in St. Petersburg. This institution prepared people who later had to serve the Empress in public places, at balls, in theaters.

8. Studied at the University of Leipzig

After training in the Corps of Pages, Alexander, along with other nobles, was sent to the University of Leipzig.. All the time while he spent there, allowed him to learn a lot of new things, and thereby expand his horizons. Fedor Ushakov, who wrote the “life”, had a great influence.

He was a mature, experienced man. Many immediately recognized his authority. For many students, he served as an example. He helped his comrades to study the French enlighteners and their ideas.

But his health was badly damaged. He ate poorly, often sat up for a long time with books. Before his death, Ushakov said goodbye to his friends. Alexandru gave his papers, where his great thoughts were written.

After graduation, Sasha returned to St. Petersburg, where he entered the service of a protocol clerk. But he did not stay there for long.

After that, he decided to go to the headquarters of General-in-Chief (military rank) Bruce. Here he was able to prove himself as a brave and conscientious worker. In 1775 he retired. Subsequently, for a long time he worked at the customs in St. Petersburg, where he was able to rise to the rank of chief.

7. The first edition of Journey is almost completely withdrawn from sale.

Not many people know that the first edition of the work “Journey” was withdrawn from sale, as it greatly upset the empress herself..

After the seizure, it was destroyed. But it is known that the copy that Empress Catherine II read has survived. You can also see the comments of the Empress written everywhere on it.

6. By decree of Catherine, he was arrested for “Journey”

Until the moment Radishchev released the work “Journey”, everything was going pretty well for him. He entered the service, which was responsible for trade and industry.

He wrote the book during the American struggle for independence, and also when the French Revolution was rampant. All this left its mark in his work. Radishchev described the sale of peasants for the debts of their landowners.

The book consisted of original sketches of life and customs of representatives of completely different classes. But he focused on ordinary peasants and the situation in which they were.

The author was not identified on the copies. But Catherine II was able to recognize him. After a very short amount of time, Radishchev was arrested. He was sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The investigation went on for about a month, which subsequently sentenced the author to death.

Radishchev at that time wrote a will, and also began work on a new masterpiece. But the verdict was not carried out, as Sweden concluded a peace treaty with the Empress. It was he who abolished the death penalty.

5. Paul I returned the writer from Siberia

But Catherine could not just leave everything. She took pity on the author, but for this she nevertheless sent him to Siberia. Here he needed to live for about ten years, no less.

But in 1796, Paul the First was able to return Alexander Radishchev to his homeland..

4. Pushkin was critical of his work

Pushkin’s opinion coincided with Catherine II’s review of Radishchev’s book. He was critical not only of his work “Journey”, but also of the author himself..

Very often, Alexander Sergeevich called Radishchev “a true representative of semi-enlightenment“. He believed that the author’s thoughts were taken from all writers at once.

But, nevertheless, he nevertheless acquired one of the copies. The price of the book was at least two hundred rubles, and at that time it was a lot of money.

3. The second wife was the sister of the first wife

The first wife of Alexander Radishchev was Anna Vasilievna Rubanovskaya. The girl graduated from the Smolny Institute. I was able to give my husband 3 sons and one daughter. The marriage lasted about 8 years. But then during the next birth, the woman died.

Alexander’s second marriage took place with the sister of his late wife – Elizaveta Vasilievna Rubanovskaya. As he himself wrote, with the arrival of this woman in his house, he seemed to be resurrected, he wanted to live, began to feel joy and happiness again.

2. The Question of Accidental or Deliberate Use of Poison

Almost everyone who has studied the biography of the author knows how he died. The writer died of poisoning. But no one knows if it happened by accident or on purpose..

There were rumors that Radishchev himself drank the poison. His children described this day in great detail. On September 11, he was at home. He took a sedative, and then grabbed a glass of “royal” vodka. She was there not by chance, earlier the eldest son used to clean tinsel with it.

After Radishchev drank it, he could not escape from the pain that pierced him like sharp daggers. A priest was brought to Alexandra, the author went to confession, and then died.

But, nevertheless, he was buried in the church fence. And those who took their own lives do not have the right to burial according to the Orthodox canon. The official version of his death is indicated in the documents as a disease – consumption.

1. The writer’s burial place is unknown.

On the territory of the Volkovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg there is a monument to the remarkable author of many works – Alexander Radishchev.

A tombstone is just a memorial to this great man. But no one knows where he is actually buried.