Interesting facts about caramzin. Report: Nikolay Karamzin

In this lesson you will get acquainted with the biography of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, consider his life and creative path, and find out what place Karamzin occupies in Russian culture.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin was born in 1766, his father came from the descendants of the princes of Kara-Murza (a Tatar prince who came to Russia in the 15th century). Subsequently, his descendants became Kostroma and Nizhny Novgorod landowners, and Nikolai Karamzin was born in the Simbirsk province (Fig. 2) at a time when his father was retired with the rank of captain.

Rice. 2. Square near the monument to Karamzin. Bolshaya Saratovskaya street in Simbirsk (photo 1866) ()

Karamzin spent his childhood on his father's estate. There he received his initial education and upbringing. He inherited a rich library from his early deceased mother, filled mainly with translated novels. And in addition, one of the neighbors gave the teenager Rollin’s “Ancient History” in 10 volumes, translated into Russian by Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky (one of the first Russian philologists) (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3. V.K. Trediakovsky ()

When Karamzin reached the age of eleven, the possibilities of home upbringing and education, especially in the provinces, were exhausted. And the father considered it best to take his son to Moscow and send him to a private boarding school for Moscow University professor I.M. Schaden, where Karamzin studied, and also had the opportunity to listen to lectures at Moscow University (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. Imperial Moscow University in the 18th century ()

After graduating from the Shaden boarding school, Karamzin goes to St. Petersburg and enlists in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment. This was the practice of the time, when young nobles were enrolled in the Guards regiments even before birth. One can recall a similar story described by Pushkin in “The Captain’s Daughter”, when Petrusha Grinev was enrolled in a guards regiment even before his birth (Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Poster for the film of the same name based on the story by A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" ()

This made it possible for noble children, bypassing compulsory military service, which was established by Peter’s decree, to immediately receive an officer’s rank. However, Karamzin was not attracted to service (especially military service). And literally immediately he takes a year’s leave, and then, taking advantage of the early, sudden death of his father, he completely resigns and leaves for his native Simbirsk.

This position of Karamzin is generally unusual. Karamzin’s friend and ally, the famous poet Ivan Ivanovich Dmitriev (Fig. 6), was a minister, and Catherine’s cabinet secretary was Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin.

Rice. 6. Ivan Ivanovich Dmitriev ()

Both Alexander I and Nicholas I would offer Karamzin high government positions, but Karamzin would consistently shy away from this. This certainly requires its own explanation. Karamzin himself explained his similar behavior in one of his letters literally a few months before his death. He wrote:

“As I approach the end of my career, I thank God for my destiny.

I may be mistaken, but my conscience is calm. My dear Fatherland cannot blame me for anything. I was always ready to serve him without humiliating my personality, for which I am responsible to Russia.

Yes, even if all I did was describe the history of the barbarian centuries, even if I was not seen either on the battlefield or in the council of statesmen. But since I am not a coward or a sloth, I say: “So it was the will of Heaven.” And without any ridiculous pride in my craft as a writer, I without shame see myself among our generals and ministers.”

The pathos of these words of Karamzin is that he proves that writing, literature, studying history is a high social service. And by humiliating his personality, his human dignity, a person commits a moral crime against his Motherland. We can safely say that Karamzin’s main creation in the history of Russian culture was the personality of Karamzin himself. All his life he built her as independent and free.

In 1784, Karamzin came from Simbirsk to Moscow and, thanks to the patronage of Ivan Petrovich Turgenev, entered the circle of Moscow Freemasons, headed by Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov (Fig. 7), who was the largest book and magazine publisher.

Rice. 7. N.I. Novikov ()

Novikov attracts Karamzin to participate in Russia's first magazine for children, for which Karamzin translates Julius Caesar and Shakespeare, writes poetry and does a lot of other work.

Communication with Novikov left a huge mark on Karamzin’s soul, but Freemasonry itself and Masonic ideas did not attract him (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. Badge of the Order of Masons ()

Karamzin very quickly becomes disillusioned with Freemasonry. There is an internal gap, a conflict situation. To avoid this conflict, Karamzin decides to go abroad, on a trip to Europe, which will subsequently provide him with material for his famous “Letters of a Russian Traveler.”

In 1789 Karamzin went abroad. But this is not just a joyride. Karamzin visits the most prominent thinkers, scientists, and writers. He meets with Kant (Fig. 9), talks with Wieland, he intended to meet with Goethe, but some circumstances prevented this.

Rice. 9. Immanuel Kant ()

In the National Assembly in Paris, he listens to the speech of the then little-known deputy of the National Assembly, Maximilian Robespierre (Fig. 10).

Rice. 10. Maximilian Robespierre ()

Karamzin finds himself in France at the height of the greatest political and historical events - at the beginning of the Great French Revolution. All these impressions will subsequently be presented by Karamzin in his book “Letters of a Russian Traveler,” which will become one of the most important books in Russian literature of the 18th century (Fig. 11).

Rice. 11. “Letters of a Russian traveler.” Title page of the 1797 edition ()

Returning from abroad, Karamzin begins to publish his “Letters of a Russian Traveler” in a Moscow magazine specially created by him for this purpose. Publishing a book is a wonderful event. The book has a lot of enthusiastic fans and a lot of ill-wishers. All this happens because the book creates a completely unusual image of the traveler. At first glance, he is a young, frivolous young man who travels aimlessly around Europe, visiting European celebrities. But an attentive reader may notice that this young Russian nobleman talks on equal terms with people like Kant or the famous writer Wieland. He talks with them about issues that are important for European culture, he reveals extraordinary erudition, it turns out that he is familiar with their main works and, indeed, talks with them on equal terms. This book combines artistic and journalistic features. But her main discovery, of course, is the image of a traveler.

An even bigger event was the publication in the next year (1792) of the story “Poor Liza” (Fig. 12). Perhaps no Russian book before has been destined for such unprecedented success, such unprecedented popularity.

Rice. 12. “Poor Lisa.” Engraving by N. Sokolov (1796) ()

At this time, a rather alarming political situation is developing in Russia in connection with the revolutionary events in France. The government strives to see the influence of French ideas in everything. Radishchev was arrested for the “Book of Travels from St. Petersburg to Moscow” (Fig. 13), and Karamzin, who was well acquainted with Radishchev, considered it best at this time to withdraw from active social activities and concentrate entirely on artistic and literary creativity.

Rice. 13. A.N. Radishchev ()

In 1794, Karamzin’s most scandalous, most controversial story, “The Island of Bornholm” (Fig. 14), was published. It describes how, during his travels in England, a certain man meets a young man living there in exile. This young man is unusually sad, he sings a song that contains the following words:

“The laws condemn the object of my love.”

Rice. 14. Bornholm Island (Denmark) ()

Subsequently, having visited the island of Bornholm, the traveler not so much understands as guesses what is the reason for the misfortune of the poor exiled youth. There he meets an old man who visits a girl languishing there in prison. There is a hint that this prisoner is the sister of the unfortunate exile. Naturally, their love is criminal. There is no definite answer to this question; the traveler rather guesses that this is so. But the young man believes that he is not to blame for nature. However, the narrator, behind whom Karamzin himself stands, believes that this does not relieve him of responsibility to people. A complex moral situation arises, which Karamzin reveals, avoiding moralization. He does not draw any clear conclusions, he does not pass a harsh sentence, but he encourages the reader to make a moral assessment of what is happening in the story.

In 1801, after the assassination of Paul I, Alexander Pavlovich I ascended to the Russian throne (Fig. 15). The socio-political situation in the country is radically changing. Pushkin wrote about the time of “Alexandrov’s days” as a “wonderful beginning.” Society wanted quick and inevitable, necessary changes.

Rice. 15. Alexander Pavlovich I Romanov ()

Alexander I offers Karamzin various government posts. Karamzin refuses, but is again actively involved in social and political activities. Karamzin creates the first socio-political magazine in Russia, Vestnik Evropy, and he himself becomes practically the first political commentator in Russia.

Since 1803 (the last 23 years of his life), Karamzin actually spends it very alone, with his family, surrounded by chronicles and other historical sources, and until the end of his life he works on the “History of the Russian State” (Fig. 16).

Rice. 16. “History of the Russian State.” Second edition (1818) ()

It was almost a monastic feat. It is no coincidence that Pushkin will call this work of Karamzin the feat of an honest man, and the creator of the “History of the Russian State” - the last Russian chronicler. And to this day, “The History of the Russian State” has not lost either its scientific or artistic value.

It is believed that the indirect cause of Karamzin’s death was the events of December 14, 1825 (the Decembrist uprising) (Fig. 17).

On this day, Karamzin arrived at the Winter Palace to swear allegiance to the new emperor. Suddenly, screams and shooting began to be heard outside. But Karamzin needs to see everything with his own eyes, to see it as it was in 1790 in Paris, as it was in 1812 in burning Moscow. And Karamzin goes out onto the square. People recalled that they saw a man with flowing gray hair without a hat, in a ceremonial uniform, in orders, who persuaded those gathered to disperse. The December frost did its job. Karamzin caught a cold and contracted pneumonia. Karamzin, a principled opponent of violence as an achievement of any good goals, did not accept the Decembrist revolt. He wrote:

“The error and crime of these young people are the essence of the error and crime of our century.”

Rice. 18. Nikolay Karamzin ()

Karamzin falls ill and does not actually return to active artistic or scientific activity. There were plans to go abroad for treatment (to Italy), but these plans were not destined to come true.

Today in St. Petersburg, in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, on Karamzin’s grave lies a marble slab. There are two names on it: Nikolai Mikhailovich and Ekaterina Andreevna Karamzin (Fig. 20).

Rice. 20. The grave of N. M. Karamzin and his wife in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (St. Petersburg) ()

And there are heartfelt lines written by Karamzin’s younger friend, colleague, student, outstanding poet Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky (Fig. 21).

Rice. 21. V.A. Zhukovsky ()

It is interesting that he included these lines in a poetic message to Karamzin’s friend, the famous poet Ivan Ivanovich Dmitriev. In this poem Zhukovsky wrote:

"The crown lies on the marble of the grave

Russia's faithful son prays to her,

And there will be strength in him for wonderful deeds

Holy name: Karamzin."

Karamzin’s activities and creativity prompted many Russian scientists to conduct research. Remarkable works of domestic researchers, including the outstanding scientist, academician Viktor Vladimirovich Vinogradov, are devoted to Karamzin and his activities (Fig. 22).

Rice. 22. V.V. Vinogradov ()

Bibliography

1. Literature. 8th grade. Textbook at 2 o'clock. Korovina V.Ya. and others - 8th ed. - M.: Education, 2009.
2. Merkin G.S. Literature. 8th grade. Textbook in 2 parts. - 9th ed. - M.: 2013.
3. Kritarova Zh.N. Analysis of works of Russian literature. 8th grade. - 2nd ed., rev. - M.: 2014.

1. Internet portal “Biographies of Writers” ()
2. Internet portal “Maxim Moshkov Library” ()
3. Internet portal “nsportal.ru” ()

Homework

1. How were Karamzin’s childhood and teenage years?
2. Under what circumstances was Karamzin’s work “Letters of a Russian Traveler” written?
3. What role did the activities of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin play for the development of Russian culture?

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich (1766 - 1826)

Born on December 1 (12 NS) in the village of Mikhailovka, Simbirsk province, in the family of a landowner. Received a good home education.

At the age of 14 he began studying at the Moscow private boarding school of Professor Schaden. Having graduated from it in 1783, he came to the Preobrazhensky Regiment in St. Petersburg, where he met the young poet and future employee of his “Moscow Journal” Dmitriev. At the same time he published his first translation of S. Gesner’s idyll “The Wooden Leg”. Having retired with the rank of second lieutenant in 1784, he moved to Moscow, became one of the active participants in the magazine “Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind,” published by N. Novikov, and became close to the Freemasons. He began translating religious and moral works. Since 1787, he regularly published his translations of Thomson's The Seasons, Genlis's Country Evenings, W. Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar, Lessing's tragedy Emilia Galotti.

In 1789, Karamzin’s first original story, “Eugene and Yulia,” appeared in the magazine “Children’s Reading...”. In the spring, he went on a trip to Europe: he visited Germany, Switzerland, France, where he observed the activities of the revolutionary government. In June 1790 he moved from France to England.

In the fall he returned to Moscow and soon undertook the publication of the monthly "Moscow Journal", in which most of the "Letters of a Russian Traveler", the stories "Liodor", "Poor Liza", "Natalia, the Boyar's Daughter", "Flor Silin", essays, stories, criticism and poems. Karamzin attracted Dmitriev and Petrov, Kheraskov and Derzhavin, Lvov Neledinsky-Meletsky and others to collaborate in the magazine. Karamzin’s articles approved a new literary direction - sentimentalism. In the 1790s, Karamzin published the first Russian almanacs - "Aglaya" (parts 1 - 2, 1794 - 95) and "Aonids" (parts 1 - 3, 1796 - 99). The year 1793 came, when at the third stage of the French Revolution the Jacobin dictatorship was established, which shocked Karamzin with its cruelty. The dictatorship aroused in him doubts about the possibility for humanity to achieve prosperity. He condemned the revolution. The philosophy of despair and fatalism permeates his new works: the story “The Island of Bornholm” (1793); "Sierra Morena" (1795); poems “Melancholy”, “Message to A. A. Pleshcheev”, etc.

By the mid-1790s, Karamzin became the recognized head of Russian sentimentalism, which was opening a new page in Russian literature. He was an indisputable authority for Zhukovsky, Batyushkov, and young Pushkin.

In 1802 - 1803 Karamzin published the journal "Bulletin of Europe", in which literature and politics predominated. In Karamzin’s critical articles, a new aesthetic program emerged, which contributed to the emergence of Russian literature as nationally distinctive. Karamzin saw the key to the uniqueness of Russian culture in history. The most striking illustration of his views was the story “Marfa Posadnitsa”. In his political articles, Karamzin made recommendations to the government, pointing out the role of education.

Trying to influence Tsar Alexander I, Karamzin gave him his “Note on Ancient and New Russia” (1811), causing his irritation. In 1819 he submitted a new note - “Opinion of a Russian Citizen”, which caused even greater displeasure of the tsar. However, Karamzin did not abandon his belief in the salvation of an enlightened autocracy and later condemned the Decembrist uprising. However, Karamzin the artist was still highly valued by young writers, even those who did not share his political convictions.

In 1803, through M. Muravyov, Karamzin received the official title of court historiographer.

In 1804, he began to create the “History of the Russian State,” which he worked on until the end of his days, but did not complete. In 1818, the first eight volumes of History, Karamzin’s greatest scientific and cultural feat, were published. In 1821, the 9th volume, dedicated to the reign of Ivan the Terrible, was published, in 1824 - the 10th and 11th, about Fyodor Ioannovich and Boris Godunov. Death interrupted work on the 12th volume. This happened on May 22 (June 3, n.s.) 1826 in St. Petersburg.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin is a great Russian writer, the largest writer of the era of sentimentalism. He wrote fiction, poetry, plays, and articles. Reformer of the Russian literary language. Creator of the “History of the Russian State” - one of the first fundamental works on the history of Russia.

“I loved to be sad, not knowing what...”

Karamzin was born on December 1 (12), 1766 in the village of Mikhailovka, Buzuluk district, Simbirsk province. He grew up in the village of his father, a hereditary nobleman. It is interesting that the Karamzin family has Turkic roots and comes from the Tatar Kara-Murza (aristocratic class).

Little is known about the writer’s childhood. At the age of 12, he was sent to Moscow to the boarding school of Moscow University professor Johann Schaden, where the young man received his first education and studied German and French. Three years later, he begins to attend lectures by the famous professor of aesthetics, educator Ivan Schwartz at Moscow University.

In 1783, at the insistence of his father, Karamzin enlisted in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment, but soon retired and left for his native Simbirsk. An important event for young Karamzin takes place in Simbirsk - he joins the Masonic lodge of the “Golden Crown”. This decision will play a role a little later, when Karamzin returns to Moscow and meets with an old acquaintance of their home - freemason Ivan Turgenev, as well as writers and writers Nikolai Novikov, Alexei Kutuzov, Alexander Petrov. At the same time, Karamzin’s first attempts in literature began - he participated in the publication of the first Russian magazine for children - “Children’s Reading for the Heart and Mind.” The four years he spent in the society of Moscow Freemasons had a serious influence on his creative development. At this time, Karamzin read a lot of the then popular Rousseau, Stern, Herder, Shakespeare, and tried to translate.

“In Novikov’s circle, Karamzin’s education began, not only as an author, but also as a moral one.”

Writer I.I. Dmitriev

Man of pen and thought

In 1789, a break with the Freemasons followed, and Karamzin went to travel around Europe. He traveled around Germany, Switzerland, France and England, stopping mainly in large cities, centers of European education. Karamzin visits Immanuel Kant in Königsberg and witnesses the Great French Revolution in Paris.

It was based on the results of this trip that he wrote the famous “Letters of a Russian Traveler.” These essays in the genre of documentary prose quickly gained popularity among readers and made Karamzin a famous and fashionable writer. At the same time, in Moscow, from the pen of the writer, the story “Poor Liza” was born - a recognized example of Russian sentimental literature. Many specialists in literary criticism believe that it is with these first books that modern Russian literature begins.

“In the initial period of his literary activity, Karamzin was characterized by a broad and politically rather vague “cultural optimism,” a belief in the salutary influence of cultural success on individuals and society. Karamzin hoped for the progress of science and the peaceful improvement of morals. He believed in the painless realization of the ideals of brotherhood and humanity that permeated 18th-century literature as a whole.”

Yu.M. Lotman

In contrast to classicism with its cult of reason, following in the footsteps of French writers, Karamzin affirms in Russian literature the cult of feelings, sensitivity, and compassion. New “sentimental” heroes are important primarily in their ability to love and surrender to feelings. "Oh! I love those objects that touch my heart and make me shed tears of tender sorrow!”(“Poor Lisa”).

“Poor Liza” is devoid of morality, didacticism, and edification; the author does not teach, but tries to evoke empathy for the characters in the reader, which distinguishes the story from previous traditions of classicism.

“Poor Liza” was received by the Russian public with such enthusiasm because in this work Karamzin was the first to express the “new word” that Goethe said to the Germans in his “Werther.”

Philologist, literary critic V.V. Sipovsky

Nikolai Karamzin at the “Millennium of Russia” monument in Veliky Novgorod. Sculptors Mikhail Mikeshin, Ivan Schroeder. Architect Victor Hartman. 1862

Giovanni Battista Damon-Ortolani. Portrait of N.M. Karamzin. 1805. Pushkin Museum im. A.S. Pushkin

Monument to Nikolai Karamzin in Ulyanovsk. Sculptor Samuil Galberg. 1845

At the same time, the reform of the literary language began - Karamzin abandoned the Old Slavonicisms that populated the written language, Lomonosov’s pomposity, and the use of Church Slavonic vocabulary and grammar. This made "Poor Liza" an easy and enjoyable story to read. It was Karamzin’s sentimentalism that became the foundation for the development of further Russian literature: the romanticism of Zhukovsky and early Pushkin was based on it.

“Karamzin made literature humane.”

A.I. Herzen

One of Karamzin’s most important merits is the enrichment of the literary language with new words: “charity”, “falling in love”, “freethinking”, “attraction”, “responsibility”, “suspiciousness”, “refinement”, “first-class”, “humane”, “sidewalk” ", "coachman", "impression" and "influence", "touching" and "entertaining". It was he who introduced into use the words “industry”, “concentrate”, “moral”, “aesthetic”, “era”, “scene”, “harmony”, “catastrophe”, “future” and others.

“A professional writer, one of the first in Russia who had the courage to make literary work a source of livelihood, who valued the independence of his own opinion above all else.”

Yu.M. Lotman

In 1791, Karamzin began his career as a journalist. This becomes an important milestone in the history of Russian literature - Karamzin founded the first Russian literary magazine, the founding father of the current “thick” magazines - “Moscow Journal”. A number of collections and almanacs appear on its pages: “Aglaya”, “Aonids”, “Pantheon of Foreign Literature”, “My Trinkets”. These publications made sentimentalism the main literary movement in Russia at the end of the 19th century, and Karamzin its recognized leader.

But Karamzin’s deep disappointment in his old values ​​soon follows. A year after Novikov’s arrest, the magazine was closed, after Karamzin’s bold ode “To Grace”, Karamzin himself lost the favor of the “powerful of the world”, almost falling under investigation.

“As long as a citizen can calmly, without fear, fall asleep, and all those under your control can freely direct their lives according to their thoughts; ...as long as you give everyone freedom and do not darken the light in their minds; as long as your trust in the people is visible in all your affairs: until then you will be sacredly honored... nothing can disturb the peace of your state.”

N.M. Karamzin. "To Grace"

Karamzin spent most of 1793–1795 in the village and published collections: “Aglaya”, “Aonids” (1796). He plans to publish something like an anthology on foreign literature, “The Pantheon of Foreign Literature,” but with great difficulty he makes his way through the censorship prohibitions, which did not allow even the publication of Demosthenes and Cicero...

Karamzin expresses his disappointment in the French Revolution in poetry:

But time and experience destroy
Castle in the air of youth...
...And I see clearly that with Plato
We cannot establish republics...

During these years, Karamzin increasingly moved from lyrics and prose to journalism and the development of philosophical ideas. Even the “Historical eulogy to Empress Catherine II,” compiled by Karamzin upon the accession to the throne of Emperor Alexander I, is primarily journalism. In 1801-1802, Karamzin worked in the journal “Bulletin of Europe”, where he wrote mainly articles. In practice, his passion for education and philosophy is expressed in writing works on historical topics, increasingly creating the authority of a historian for the famous writer.

The first and last historiographer

By decree of October 31, 1803, Emperor Alexander I granted Nikolai Karamzin the title of historiographer. It is interesting that the title of historiographer in Russia was not renewed after Karamzin’s death.

From that moment on, Karamzin stopped all literary work and for 22 years was exclusively engaged in compiling a historical work, familiar to us as “History of the Russian State”.

Alexey Venetsianov. Portrait of N.M. Karamzin. 1828. Pushkin Museum im. A.S. Pushkin

Karamzin sets himself the task of compiling a history for the general educated public, not to be a researcher, but “choose, animate, color” All "attractive, strong, worthy" from Russian history. An important point is that the work must also be designed for foreign readers in order to open Russia to Europe.

In his work, Karamzin used materials from the Moscow College of Foreign Affairs (especially spiritual and contractual letters of princes, and acts of diplomatic relations), the Synodal Repository, the libraries of the Volokolamsk Monastery and the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, private collections of manuscripts of Musin-Pushkin, Rumyantsev and A.I. Turgenev, who compiled a collection of documents from the papal archive, as well as many other sources. An important part of the work was the study of ancient chronicles. In particular, Karamzin discovered a chronicle previously unknown to science, called the Ipatiev Chronicle.

During the years of work on “History...” Karamzin mainly lived in Moscow, from where he traveled only to Tver and Nizhny Novgorod, during the occupation of Moscow by the French in 1812. He usually spent the summer in Ostafyevo, the estate of Prince Andrei Ivanovich Vyazemsky. In 1804, Karamzin married the prince’s daughter, Ekaterina Andreevna, who bore the writer nine children. She became the writer's second wife. The writer first married at the age of 35, in 1801, to Elizaveta Ivanovna Protasova, who died a year after the wedding from puerperal fever. From his first marriage, Karamzin had a daughter, Sophia, a future acquaintance of Pushkin and Lermontov.

The main social event in the writer’s life during these years was the “Note on Ancient and New Russia in its Political and Civil Relations,” written in 1811. The “Note...” reflected the views of conservative sections of society dissatisfied with the liberal reforms of the emperor. “The note...” was handed over to the emperor. In it, once a liberal and a “Westernizer,” as they would say now, Karamzin appears in the role of a conservative and tries to prove that no fundamental changes are needed in the country.

And in February 1818, Karamzin released the first eight volumes of his “History of the Russian State.” A circulation of 3,000 copies (huge for that time) was sold out within a month.

A.S. Pushkin

“The History of the Russian State” became the first work aimed at the widest reader, thanks to the high literary merits and scientific scrupulousness of the author. Researchers agree that this work was one of the first to contribute to the formation of national identity in Russia. The book has been translated into several European languages.

Despite his enormous work over many years, Karamzin did not have time to finish writing “History...” before his time - the beginning of the 19th century. After the first edition, three more volumes of “History...” were released. The last was the 12th volume, describing the events of the Time of Troubles in the chapter “Interregnum 1611–1612”. The book was published after Karamzin’s death.

Karamzin was entirely a man of his era. The establishment of monarchist views in him towards the end of his life brought the writer closer to the family of Alexander I; he spent his last years next to them, living in Tsarskoe Selo. The death of Alexander I in November 1825 and the subsequent events of the uprising on Senate Square were a real blow for the writer. Nikolai Karamzin died on May 22 (June 3), 1826 in St. Petersburg, he was buried at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Karamzin, Nikolai Mikhailovich, famous Russian writer, journalist and historian. Born on December 1, 1766 in Simbirsk province; grew up in the village of his father, a Simbirsk landowner. The first spiritual food of the 8-9 year old boy was ancient novels,... ... Biographical Dictionary

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich. Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich (1766 1826) Russian historian, writer. Aphorisms, quotes Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich. Biography Like the fruit of a tree, life is sweetest just before it begins to fade. For… … Consolidated encyclopedia of aphorisms

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich - .… … Dictionary of the Russian language of the 18th century

Russian writer, publicist and historian. The son of a landowner in the Simbirsk province. He received his education at home, then in Moscow - in a private boarding school (until... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (1766 1826), Russian. writer, critic, historian. In L.'s early work, a certain influence of sentimentalists is noticeable, incl. and K. The most interesting material for comparison with production. L. contain “secular” stories by K. (“Julia”, “Sensitive and ... ... Lermontov Encyclopedia

- (1766 1826) Russian historian, writer, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1818). Creator of the History of the Russian State (vol. 1 12, 1816 29), one of the significant works in Russian historiography. The founder of Russian sentimentalism (... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

The request "Karamzin" is redirected here. See also other meanings. Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin Date of birth: December 1 (12), 1766 Place of birth: Mikhailovka, Russian Empire Date of death: May 22 (June 3), 1826 ... Wikipedia

Historiographer, b. December 1, 1766, d. May 22, 1826 He belonged to a noble family, descended from the Tatar Murza, named Kara Murza. His father, a Simbirsk landowner, Mikhail Egorovich, served in Orenburg under I. I. Neplyuev and ... Large biographical encyclopedia

- (1766 1826), historian, writer, critic; honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1818). Creator of the “History of the Russian State” (volumes 1 12, 1816 1829), one of the significant works in Russian historiography. The founder of Russian sentimentalism... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Karamzin, Nikolai Mikhailovich- N.M. Karamzin. Portrait by A.G. Venetsianova. KARAMZIN Nikolai Mikhailovich (1766 1826), Russian writer, historian. The founder of Russian sentimentalism (Letters of a Russian Traveler, 1791 95; Poor Liza, 1792, etc.). Editor... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Karamzin Nikolai Mikhailovich was born on December 12 (December 1), 1766 in Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk) into a noble family. The future writer received his primary education at home. Soon his father sent him to a noble boarding school in Simbirsk, and in 1778 to a private boarding school in Moscow. At the same time, Karamzin was actively studying languages ​​and attending lectures at Moscow University.

Military service

In 1781, Nikolai Mikhailovich, at the insistence of his father, entered military service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. In 1783, the writer made his debut in print with the work “Wooden Leg”. In 1784, Karamzin’s short biography as a military man ended, and he retired with the rank of lieutenant.

Early literary activity

In 1785, Karamzin, whose biography sharply changed its direction, moved from his native Simbirsk to Moscow. Here the writer meets N.I. Novikov and the Pleshcheev family. Having become interested in Freemasonry, Nikolai Mikhailovich joined the Moscow Masonic circle, where he began to communicate closely with I. S. Gamaleya, A. M. Kutuzov. At the same time, Karamzin participated in the publication of the first children's magazine in Russia - “Children's Reading for the Heart and Mind.”

Travel to Europe

In 1789 - 1790 Karamzin traveled around Europe. The writer visited Germany, England, France, Switzerland, met many famous personalities of that era - C. Bonnet, I. Kant, J. F. Marmontel, I. G. Herder, I. K. Lavater, attended the speeches of M. Robespierre , O. G. Mirabeau. During the trip, Nikolai Mikhailovich created the famous “Letters of a Russian Traveler,” which were published in 1791-1792 and brought the writer wide literary fame.

Mature creativity. "History of Russian Goverment"

Upon returning to Moscow, Karamzin continued to engage in literary activities, writing works of art, critical articles and notes. In 1791, Nikolai Mikhailovich began publishing the literary “Moscow Journal”, in which he first published the stories “Poor Liza”, “Natalia, the Boyar’s Daughter”. Soon Karamzin released several sentimental almanacs - “Aglaya”, “Aonids”, “Pantheon of Foreign Literature”, “My Trinkets”. In 1802, the story “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novagorod” was published.

In 1803, Emperor Alexander I granted Karamzin the title of historiographer, and all libraries and archives were opened to the writer.

Until the last day of his life, Nikolai Mikhailovich worked on his most important work - “The History of the Russian State.” The book covers events from ancient times to the Time of Troubles and includes 12 volumes. The first eight volumes were published in 1818, the next three were published in 1821–1824. The last part of “History...” was published after Karamzin’s death.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin died on May 22 (June 3), 1826 in St. Petersburg. The writer was buried at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Other biography options

• Karamzin's prose and poetry largely influenced the development of the Russian literary language; the writer was the first to use neologisms, barbarisms, and moved away from church vocabulary.
• Karamzin was married twice. The first wife, E.I. Protasova, was the sister of A.I. Pleshcheeva. The second wife, E. A. Kolyvanova, was the illegitimate daughter of Prince A. I. Vyazemsky.
• The story “Poor Liza” by Karamzin is the most striking example of Russian sentimentalism and is studied by schoolchildren in the 9th grade.
• Karamzin was the first to discover a famous literary monument - the work of Afanasy Nikitin “Walking across Three Seas”.
• Thanks to Karamzin, words such as “moral”, “industry”, “scene”, “catastrophe”, “concentrate”, “aesthetic”, “future”, “era”, “harmony”, “fall in love” have appeared in the everyday life of the modern Russian language. ", "entertaining", "impact", "impression", "touching".