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Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky had a great influence on Russian literature. He is considered the founder of romanticism. He composed a large number of poems, ballads, poems, romances, songs. He was close to the royal family, was the teacher of Maria Feodorovna, and later received the rank of Privy Councilor. In addition, Zhukovsky was a translator and literary critic.
This energetic man did a lot in his life. He never sat idle. This name is known not only in Russia, but also abroad. There is an opinion that without Zhukovsky there would not have been the greatest Russian poet A. S. Pushkin. Vasily Andreevich prepared the possibility of a revolution in Russian poetry, which Alexander Sergeevich subsequently made.
People remember Zhukovsky and honor his memory. Streets in many cities of the country were named in honor of the poet, a museum was created, monuments were erected. If you are also a fan of his work or just interested in Russian literature, pay attention to our article.
We bring to your attention a list of the 10 most interesting facts about Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky: curious stories from the life and biography of the writer.
10 He is an illegitimate son
At that time in Russia there was a huge difference between children born in marriage and illegitimate offspring. The latter were severely infringed on their rights. Vasily Andreevich also suffered an unfortunate fate.
His father is a landowner Afanasy Ivanovich Bunin, his mother is a captive Turkish woman Salha. There are many versions of how the girl got into the landlord’s house, but it doesn’t matter. Afanasy Ivanovich showed sympathy for the oriental beauty. His wife Maria Grigorievna was an intelligent woman. She pretended not to know anything. Soon the lovers had a son, who was named Vasily …
9. Fictitious nobility
Afanasy Ivanovich understood what fate awaited his son. He should have been included in the taxable estate. This was the name of the peasants who paid taxes, who were limited in movement, were subjected to physical punishment and had no rights.
The landowner did not adopt the boy, as he was afraid to completely ruin relations with his family, but he did not leave him to the mercy of fate. Bunin asked his friend for a favor. The impoverished landowner Andrei Grigoryevich Zhukovsky agreed to adopt little Vasily. That’s just the adoption did not give the boy the rights to the nobility.
Then Bunin decided to act fraudulently, he enrolled his illegitimate son in a hussar regiment. 6-year-old warrant officer Vasily received personal nobility.
8. At the age of 11 he composed tragedy and melodrama
As a child, the poet became interested in theater. The boy read a lot and once felt a craving for writing. He created his own tragedy and melodrama. He took plots from the works of two writers as the basis: the ancient Greek Plutarch and the French de Saint Pierre.
7. Dropped out of school
Zhukovsky received a good education at home. No one even imagined that there could be problems in the educational institution. Vasily Andreevich studied at the Tula Public School, from where he was expelled for poor progress.
But in another institution – the Noble University Boarding School (Moscow), his talents were highly appreciated. Zhukovsky studied there for three years and graduated from the boarding school with a silver medal.
The students of the institution often gathered at the “literary circle”, where everyone read their works, and the best ones were sent to the editorial office of the magazine. Zhukovsky’s poems were also included in this list and were published.
6. Engaged in translations
Another merit of Zhukovsky is that he was an excellent translator. He gave Russian people the opportunity to get acquainted with foreign literature. Pushkin called him “translation genius“. He has English writers to his credit: Scott, Byron, Thomson, Goldsmith; German: Goethe, Schiller, Uhland, Fouquet. Zhukovsky also translated the works of French poets, the Tajik people and Persia.
5. Friendship with Pushkin
Vasily Andreevich was 32 years old when he met Pushkin, who was 16 years younger than him.. He realized that this man would become a great poet. Zhukovsky, in his letter to Vyazemsky, admired Pushkin’s talent and wrote:He will outgrow us all.”.
Surprisingly, at that time, Vasil Andreevich did not have a drop of envy, he was such a kind and open person. He repeatedly helped the young talent, Alexander Sergeevich often found himself in unpleasant situations. When Pushkin got involved in a scandal with Dantes, Zhukovsky asked him several times to forget about what had happened. The poet did not listen to his friend and paid for it with the most valuable thing – his life.
After Pushkin’s death, Zhukovsky was instructed to sort out his papers. Among the manuscripts and drafts, he discovered the works “The Bronze Horseman” and “The Stone Guest”. In 1838, Zhukovsky made every effort to complete the work begun by Pushkin, he achieved the publication of the collected works of the poet.
4. Traveled around the world
Zhukovsky traveled around the world several times. For the first time he visited abroad in 1821, the poet was then 24 years old. He accompanied his pupil, the Prussian princess (Maria Fedorovna). Germany, Switzerland, Italy… Vasily Andreevich got a lot of impressions. During the trip, he visited the theater many times (dramatic performances, concerts, opera, ballet). There were several more trips to Europe, in 1826, 1832 and 1838.
Zhukovsky’s acquaintances noted that trips abroad did not change him at all. The poet remained the same as he was, but it was after the trip that the poet decided to give freedom to his serfs.
3. Unrequited love
Zhukovsky was a bachelor for a long time. The reason is simple – unrequited love. Vasily Andreevich loved his own niece all his life, the daughter of Bunin’s youngest daughter (one might say half-sister). The feelings were strong, the poet hid them for a long time.
One day he made up his mind and asked Masha’s hand in marriage from her mother. Ekaterina Afanasievna refused. A big age difference and family ties, she would never have agreed to such a union. However, young Maria did not have reciprocal feelings for Vasily, and after 4 years she completely married another man. After 7 years, she died in childbirth, but Zhukovsky could not forget about his love for a long time.
2. Married at 58
Still, a woman appeared in his life who made him forget about Masha. It was the daughter of his friend Elizaveta Reitern, she was 19 years old at the time of her marriage.
Unfortunately, marriage did not bring happiness to Zhukovsky. Despite the age difference, Elizabeth loved her husband, but she had many problems with her mental state. She often suffered from nervous disorders. They lived together for 11 years, in 1852 Vasily Andreevich died. Reitern did not much survive her elderly husband, she died 4 years later.
1. He was the mentor of Alexander II
Vasily Andreevich was a teacher of the royal family. He taught Maria Fedorovna, and then Tsarevich Alexander II became his student. Soon Zhukovsky was offered to become his mentor. It was said that other equally significant people for the state also claimed this role, but preference was given to the poet.
Zhukovsky compiled a special training program. There is an opinion that it was he who influenced the worldview of the Tsarevich, who subsequently abolished serfdom. One way or another, Vasily Andreevich had more influence on the education of Alexander II with his progressive views on life.