Nikolay Mikhailovich Karamzin: biography and creativity

Nikolai Karamzin, whose biography begins on December 1, 1766, was born in Simbirsk province, in a wealthy noble family of educated and enlightened parents. The first education was given in a private boarding house by Professor Shaden. After this, like many other secular young people, he went to serve in the Guards Regiment, which was considered one of the best.

It was at this time that Nikolai Karamzin, whose brief biography is presented in this article, for the first time clearly realizes the need for his own way, different from the ordinary: a successful career, position in society, ranks and honors. All this did not at all attract the future writer. After serving in the army for less than a year, he retired in the low rank of lieutenant in 1784 and returned to his native Simbirsk.

Life in the provincial Simbirsk

Externally, Karamzin lives a disorderly, absent-minded life of a secular man, shining with metropolitan manners and gallantry with the ladies. Nikolai Mikhailovich dresses fashionably, watches his appearance, plays cards. At the provincial balls, he was an adroit and brilliant cavalier. But all these are only external manifestations of his character.

At this time, Karamzin, whose biography is rich in rather unexpected turns and events, seriously reflects about his place in life, reads a lot, meets interesting people. He has already received a good education, but continues to develop, acquiring new knowledge in various fields. Most of all Karamzin is interested in history, literature and philosophy.

Family friend Ivan Petrovich Turgenev, a freemason and a writer who was in great friendship with Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov (who was also a freemason, talented journalist, book publisher and satirist writer), played a role in the life of the future writer. On his advice, Nikolai Mikhailovich moved to Moscow and met with a circle of Novikov. Thus began a new period in his life, covering the time from 1785 to 1789 years. Let's say a few words about it separately.

Acquaintance with Freemasons

Four-year association with a circle of Masons has greatly changed the image of Karamzin, his life and thinking. Let us note that the history of Freemasonry in Russia is not yet fully understood. For a long time it was regarded by science as basically reactionary. However, in recent years, the point of view on this movement is changing somewhat.

Masonic lodges are special moral and religious circles, founded for the first time in England in the eighteenth century, and later in other states, including in our country. At the heart of the code, which the Masons professed, is the need for spiritual self-improvement of man. They also had their own political programs, largely related to religious and moral ones. The activity of the Masons was characterized by theatrical ritual, mystery, knightly and other rituals that have a mystical connotation. It was sated intellectually and spiritually, distinguished by high moral principles and seriousness. Masons held themselves apart. Here is a similar, described in general terms, the atmosphere surrounded since Karamzin. He began to communicate with interesting people: Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov (see photo below) and Alexei Mikhailovich Kutuzov. The influence of such outstanding personalities gave a powerful impetus to the development of writing talent and its creative self-determination.

At first Karamzin translates into Russian art prose, and later begins writing for the magazine "Children's Reading", the publisher of which was Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov, his first poetic works. It was during this period that he realized his writing talent.

But here comes to an end the period of self-determination, and with it the Masonic period of life of the young writer. The framework of Masonic lodges becomes tight for him, he wants to know life in its richness, diversity and diversity. In order to become a professional writer, one must first experience its good and bad sides. Therefore, Karamzin, whose biography is considered within the framework of this publication, leaves the Masons and travels.

Euro-trip

For this, Nikolai Mikhailovich laid down his hereditary estate and decided to spend all the money received for a trip to Europe, then to describe it. It was a very bold and unusual step for that time. After all, for Karamzin, he meant giving up life on the income from a hereditary estate and securing oneself at the expense of the labor of serfs. Now Nikolai Mikhailovich had to earn his living by the work of a professional writer.

Abroad, he spent about a year and a half, traveling Switzerland, Germany, England and France. Karamzin, whose biography is described in this article, got acquainted with interesting and outstanding people of these states, not at all feeling like a provincial, presenting his country with great dignity. He observed, listened, wrote down. Nikolai Mikhailovich attracted people's dwellings, historical monuments, factories, universities, street festivities, taverns, village weddings.

He evaluated and compared the characters and customs of one or another nationality, studied the features of speech, wrote down descriptions of street scenes in his book, recorded various conversations and his own reflections. In the autumn of 1790 Karamzin returned to Russia, after which he began to publish the "Moscow Journal", where he placed his articles, novels, poems. Here were printed and the famous "Letters of the Russian traveler," and brought him great fame "Poor Lisa."

Publishing almanacs

Over the next few years, Nikolai Mikhailovich publishes almanacs, among which was the three-volume almanac "Aonida", written in verse, as well as the collection "My trivialities," which includes various novels and poems. Karamzin is famous. He is known and loved not only in two capitals (Petersburg and Moscow), but also throughout Russia.

The historical story "Marfa Posadnitsa"

One of Karamzin's first works written in prose is the "Marfa Posadnitsa" (published in 1803) (a genre is a historical story). It was written long before the hobby of the novels of Walter Scott began in Russia. In this story, Karamzin's attraction to antiquity was manifested, the classics as an unattainable ideal of morality, planned in the middle of the 1790s in the utopia "Athenian life".

In an epic, ancient form, the struggle of the Novgorodians with Moscow was presented in his work by Nikolai Karamzin. "Posadnitsa" touched upon important worldview questions: about the monarchy and the republic, about the people and leaders, about the "divine" historical predestination and disobedience of the individual to him. The author's sympathies were clearly on the side of the Novgorodians and Martha, and not the monarchical Moscow. This story also revealed the writer's worldview contradictions. The historical truth was undoubtedly on the side of the Novgorodians. However, Novgorod is doomed, bad omens are harbingers of the imminent death of the city, and later they are justified.

The story "Poor Lisa"

But the greatest success was the story "Poor Lisa", published back in 1792. Frequently encountered in Western literature of the eighteenth century, the story of how a nobleman seduced a peasant woman or a petty bourgeois, in Russian literature for the first time developed in this story Karamzin. The biography of a morally clean, beautiful girl, as well as the thought that such tragic destinies can occur in the reality surrounding us, contributed to the enormous success of this work. It was also important that N.M. Karamzin ("Poor Liza" became his "visiting card") taught his readers to notice the beauty of his native nature and to love her. The humanistic orientation of the work was invaluable for the literature of the time.

The story "Natalia, Boyar's Daughter"

In the same year, in 1792, the novel "Natalia, Boyar's Daughter" was born. It is not as well known as "Poor Liza", but it touches on very important moral issues that worried contemporaries NM. Karamzin. One of the most important in the work is the problem of honor.

Alexey, beloved of Natalia, was an honest man who served the Russian Tsar. Therefore, he admitted his "crime", that he kidnapped the daughter of Matvei Andreev, beloved boyar of the sovereign. But the king blesses their marriage, seeing that Alexei is a worthy person. The father of the girl does the same. Finishing the story, the author writes that the newlyweds lived happily ever after and were buried together. They were distinguished by sincere love and devotion to the sovereign.

In the story that Karamzin created (Boyar's Daughter), the question of honor is inseparable from serving the king. Happy is the one whom the sovereign loves. Therefore, the life of this family develops so successfully, because the virtue is rewarded.

Honorary fame

Provincial youth is read by works of Karamzin. The light, colloquial, natural style inherent in his works, elegant and at the same time democratic artistic manner was revolutionary in terms of perception of works by the public. For the first time the concept of fascinating, interesting reading is formed, and with it the literary worship of the author.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, whose biography and creativity attracted a lot of people, is very famous. Enthusiastic young people from all over the country come to Moscow only to look at their favorite writer. Lizin pond, which became famous due to the events of the story "Poor Lisa", located in the village of Kolomenskoye outside Moscow, begins to play the role of a landmark place, come here to confess love or to sink alone.

Work on the "History of the Russian State"

After a while, Karamzin changes his life dramatically and unexpectedly. Leaving literature, he is accepted for a huge historical work - "The History of the Russian State." The design of this work, apparently, has long ripened in his imagination.

In the early nineteenth century, Alexander I, the beloved grandson of Catherine II, began his reign . At first he was a liberal and enlightened ruler. In historical narratives even entered the name, as "Alexandrov Spring."

A friend of Karamzin and a former teacher of the young Emperor M.N. Muravyov asked that Nikolai Mikhailovich be appointed to the post of court historiographer. This appointment was very important for Karamzin and opened up huge opportunities for him. Now he received a pension (as we know, the writer had no other means of subsistence). But most importantly, he was given access to historical archives of great importance. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, whose biography is presented to your attention, plunged headlong into his work: he read manuscripts and books on history, analyzed ancient volumes, wrote out and compared them.

It is hard to imagine what a great job the historian Karamzin has done. It took twenty-three years of hard work to create twelve volumes of his "History of the Russian State" from 1803 to 1826. The presentation of historical events differed as much as possible in its impartiality and reliability, as well as in its beautiful artistic style. The narrative was brought to the "troubled times" in the history of the Russian state. The death of Nikolai Mikhailovich did not allow a large-scale plan to be carried out to the end.

The works of Karamzin, his works, which were published with twelve volumes, which followed one after another, aroused numerous reader's responses. Perhaps for the first time in history the printed book provoked such a surge of national self-awareness of the inhabitants of Russia. Karamzin opened the people of his story, explained his past.

The content of labor was very ambiguous. So, freedom-loving young people were inclined to challenge the support of the monarchical system, which historian Karamzin displayed on the pages of the "History of the Russian State". And the young Pushkin even wrote bold epigrams for the respectable historian of those years. In his opinion, this work proved "the need for autocracy and the charm of the whip."

Karamzin, whose books left no one indifferent, in response to criticism has always been restrained, calmly perceived as ridicule, and praise.

Opinion about the "History of the Russian State" A.S. Pushkin

Having moved to live in St. Petersburg, he, starting in 1816, spent every summer in Tsarskoe Selo with his family. Karamzins are hospitable hosts who host such famous poets as Vyazemsky, Zhukovsky and Batiushkov, as well as educated youth. There was often a young AS. Pushkin, listening with ecstasy as the elders read poetry, taking care of his wife NM. Karamzin, already an elderly, but charming and intelligent woman, whom he decided to even send a confession of love. The wise and experienced Karamzin forgave the young man's trick, like his bold epigrams on "History."

Ten years later Pushkin, already a mature man, will look differently at the great work of Nikolai Mikhailovich. In 1826, while in exile in Mikhailovskoye, he wrote in the "Note on National Education" that the history of Russia should be taught by Karamzin, and he would call this work not simply the work of a great historian, but also a feat of an honest man.

On the part of Alexander Sergeevich, this was not a gesture of loyalty to the authorities with the hope of pardon and return from exile. Far from it, since a year later, after his return, Pushkin again returned to "History", once again appreciating it.

last years of life

Characteristics of Karamzin would be incomplete without a description of the last years of life. The last ten years have passed very happily. He was friends with the Tsar himself, Alexander I. Friends often walked together in the park of Tsarskoe Selo, chatting for a long time, peacefully and sedately. It is possible that the emperor, aware of the nobility and decency of Nikolai Mikhailovich, told him much more than the palace officials. Karamzin often disagreed with the arguments and thoughts of Alexander I. However, he did not take offense at all, but listened attentively and took note. The "note about the ancient and new Russia," which the writer presented to the emperor, contains many points in which the historian disagreed with the policy of the government of that time.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, whose books were very popular during his lifetime, did not aspire to rewards or ranks. True, it should be said that he had a medal ribbon, to which, however, he always treated with slight irony and humor.