Who wrote Oblomov? The history of the novel "Oblomov"

Anyone with a claim to literacy is familiar with the names of Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and certainly can give the example of the names of some of the most famous works of these authors. But who wrote Oblomov? Who was this writer? And why did the hero acquire such symbolic popularity?

Children and youth of the future writer

Ivan Alekseevich Goncharov (the one who wrote Oblomov) was born in Simbirsk, now he is known as Ulyanovsk, in 1812. He was the son of a rich merchant. But Pope Ivan Alekseevich died seven years after the birth of a boy, a young Ivan was raised by his godfather, Nikolai Tregubov, a liberal-minded aristocrat. He opened for Goncharov wider cultural horizons and a refined way of life. Ivan Goncharov studied initially in a commercial school from 1822, continued training for eight years. As the writer later recalled , these were the most unfortunate years in his life. Ivan could not stand the low quality of education and methods of harsh discipline. The only consolation at that time was self-education.

Receiving higher education and debut editions

And then at Moscow University, in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and lively discussions, Goncharov's spirit flourished. Ivan Alekseevich during his acquaintance gets acquainted with some of the leading minds of his era, but does not join any of the student circles that were full of faith in the ideals of the philosophy of German Romanticism.

Goncharov remained indifferent to the ideas of political and social changes, which were gaining popularity at that time. His main occupation is reading and translation. In 1832 two chapters were published from the work of Eugene Sue, which Ivan Alexeyevich translated. This became his debut edition.

End of studies and early adulthood

After graduation in 1834, Goncharov served for nearly thirty years as a government official. At first he returned home to enter the office of the Simbirsk governor, and a year later moved to Petersburg and began working as an interpreter in the Ministry of Finance.

Unlike literary rivals such as Turgenev or Tolstoy, Ivan Goncharov was forced to make a living, not just to hope for writing. Ivan Alekseevich, of course, became a member of the literary circle founded in the Maikovs' house, even wrote poetry. But soon he ceased to indulge in poetry. Many of Goncharov's poems were included in the novel "Ordinary History" as the writings of Aduyev. A sure sign that the author has ceased to take them seriously.

Writing career of the one who wrote Oblomov. Photos of the author's works

Goncharov's first prose began to appear in the "Snowdrop". It is a satirical story "A dashing passion" in which he ridiculed romantic sentimentalism. Then there was a secular drama with a touch of comedy, and the most significant work of that time was an essay titled "Ivan Savvich Podzhabrin." Thus began the literary career of the one who wrote Oblomov.

Despite the fact that Ivan Alekseevich began to write for a long time, his first serious work is "Ordinary History". She tells of a clash between the disintegrating Russian nobility and new trading classes. The most influential critic of that time, Vissarion Belinsky, characterized the novel as an attack on outdated romanticism.

The most popular work, or the Second novel of Ivan Alekseevich

And in what year was written "Oblomov"? Ivan Alekseevich Goncharov began his second novel in the late 1840s, but the process was slow for many reasons. In one thousand eight hundred and fifty-fifth he accepted the post of censor, made trips to England, Africa and Japan as the secretary of Admiral Putyatin.

It was only in 1849 that a short story or essay was published entitled "Oblomov's Dream: An Episode from an Unfinished Novel," which was later included as a "Sleep of Oblomov" in the finished work of Ivan Alekseevich.

And the novel "Oblomov" first appeared in the journal "Otechestvennye zapiski" in 1859. It is devoted to the middle age crisis of the protagonist. A distinctive feature of Ilya Ilyich is the lazy attitude toward life. The author portrayed his character sympathetically, although he was the personification of the nobility.

The main questions in the work of Ivan Alekseevich

What is primarily interested in a simple reader? This is, first of all, what the work is about, and not just who wrote it. "Oblomov" is a novel in which the fate of the landowner Ilya Ilyich is described, and on the basis of this plot the author in his work reviews many important issues that Russian society faces in the nineteenth century. It is the uselessness of many landowners and nobles in society, complex relationships between members of various classes of society, such as Oblomov and his servant Zakhar.

The main character is a young and generous nobleman, but it seems that he is not at all able to make important decisions or to start any significant actions. Throughout the work, he seldom leaves his room or bed. Moreover, during the first about fifty pages, Ilya Ilyich very famously managed not to leave her at all.

Meaning of a famous work

Ivan Alekseevich Goncharov (the one who wrote the novel "Oblomov") certainly did not expect that his work would become so popular that it would leave a significant imprint on Russian culture. Moreover, Goncharov's work will add new words to the Russian vocabulary. The name of the protagonist will often be used to describe someone who shows the features of a lazy and apathetic personality, similar to the character of the novel.

The work caused unanimous recognition not only from readers, but also from critics. There were those who wrote: Oblomov is the last person among the "superfluous people" after Onegin, Pechorin and Rudin in the decaying feudal Russia. Nikolay Dobrolyubov noted that in the novel, the very important problems of that era were brought to the fore and subjected to careful analysis. A special kind of laziness, leading to self-destruction of personality.

The last years of life of the famous writer and critic

These are the global problems that could affect in his work the one who wrote "Oblomov." Nevertheless, Ivan was not a fruitful writer. He published only three of his novels. Ten years after the publication of the novel Oblomov, another work is published entitled The Cliff, which also has considerable success with readers.

Goncharov also plans a fourth novel, but dreams have not materialized. Instead, he becomes a critic and makes numerous theatrical and literary reviews. Towards the end of his life Ivan Alekseevich wrote unusual memoirs in which he accused his literary rivals of plagiarism of his works. He died in Petersburg on September 24, 1891 from pneumonia.

So the life of a remarkable writer and critic Ivan Goncharov - the one who wrote the novel "Oblomov". His photo is now known to every schoolboy. And the works are not only popular, but also loved among a wide range of readers.