ALEXANDER PUSHKIN

The greatest Russian poet and writer, founder of new Russian literature, the creator of the Russian literary language. Graduated Tsarskoselsky (Alexander) Lyceum (1817). Was close to the Decembrists. In 1820, under the guise of official move was exiled to the South (LOTS, Caucasus, Crimea, Kishinev, Odessa). In 1824, dismissed from service and sent to the village of Mikhailovskoye under police supervision until 1826. Died of wounds received in a duel. He wrote the poem belong to "Prisoner of the Caucasus" (1820-1821), "The Gypsies" (1823-1824), "Boris Godunov" (1825), "Eugene Onegin" (1823-1831), "The Bronze Horseman" (1833), etc.

"My marriage to Nathalie (this, I note in parenthesis, my one hundred and thirteenth love) is solved," - admitted as a Pushkin, in a letter to Princess VF Vyazemskaya spring of 1830. Perhaps this revelation was a joke or a valiant bravado. But, anyway, love the experience of the poet, as recorded by his contemporaries, is extremely rich.

Nature gave Pushkin good health, has laid into it a huge reserve of energy and vitality. "Great nature", - said the famous surgeon Arendt, looking mortally wounded poet. Only one drawback was inherent to him - nervous, sensory excitability. And it is this defect excited and attracted to him women.

Most of his hobbies was of a fleeting nature. So - easy, no non-binding flirt. But if I fall in love, then he certainly should have physical possession. Pushkin was literally going crazy, when his darling inaccessible. However, it managed a few. Women are attracted to him, though outwardly the poet was unattractive.

"In high school he excelled all the sensuality, and then, in the light, gave himself up to debauchery of all kinds, spending days and nights in a continuous chain of bacchanalian orgies, and . . . He ruled only two elements: satisfaction sensual passions and poetry, and in both he had gone far. "

These are memories of the poet cold and stiff, Baron MA Korff, who attended high school in a class with Pushkin. Of course, you can treat with distrust the words of man, not the poet who loved. However, he made his conclusions on the basis of incontrovertible facts.

Once in high school still quite young Pushkin saw in the dark corridor of the female figure. Quiet stole up behind her, the teenager rudely embraced the stranger and tried to kiss her, but at the last moment he saw before him an old maid maid of honor Princess VM Volkonskaia. Discouraged teenager quickly disappeared, but it did not save him from trouble. On the same day an angry princess complained to the emperor. Pushkin threatened with expulsion from the Lyceum. With great difficulty the director of the Lyceum, EA Engelhardt has to beg forgiveness of the perpetrator.

Pushkin satisfy sudden it carnal desires with women of easy virtue. Such fleeting connection immediately forgotten. However, his heart was beating wildly at a meeting with the secular beautiful ladies. That′s when feelings are overwhelming his soul, and he experienced love as a serious illness. It was then a remarkable poem . . .

While still in high school, the young Pushkin met in the theater Ekaterina Pavlovna Bakunin, the sister of his friend, and at first sight captivated by it. Whole winter, he languished with love for a charming creation, until we met with Mary Smith, nee-Sharon LaRose. The young widow was a distant relative of the director of the Lyceum, EA Engelhardt. Almost every night he held secret meetings with a beautiful and passionate widow, who willingly took his young lover.

In the summer of 1817 Pushkin graduated from high school and moved to live in Petersburg. Here he plunged into the secular life. His hobbies include several ladies monde, among which are called Shteygel and Olga Masson. At the same time he was interested in theater. Alexander was conquered actress Ekaterina Semenova, who was at the zenith of his fame. Young Pushkin was impressed not so much by her beauty, so much incredible talent. According to NI Gnedich, a close friend Semenova, the poet did not cause a reciprocal feeling. First his mistress in the capital became the Princess Evdokia Ivanovna Galitzine, which was almost 20 years older than the poet. In the house of the princess, radiant with their beauty, is going to secure society. The young poet was most welcome. However, in December 1818 a friend of the poet Alexander Turgenev wrote: "It is a pity that Pushkin is not in love with her .

Photo — «Alexander Pushkin»

. . "

May 6, 1820 on orders from the highest for freethinking writing poems, Pushkin was banished from the capital. He left St. Petersburg mortally tired of loose life, somewhere in the depths of his soul rest cherishing the idea of the fuss. But youth and seething in his passion took their toll. South Link began with a pleasant acquaintance with the daughters of General Rajewski - 22-year-old Catherine, a 16-year-old Elena, a 14-year-old Mary. Likely Pushkin was in love with all three at once. Marie - The future princess Volkonskaia - later wrote: "As a poet, he felt duty to be in love in all the pretty women and young girls, whom he met. "

On arrival in Chisinau, he quickly won the heart of the charming Ludmila Inglezi, wife of a wealthy landowner Bassarabian. Lyudmila, known for its beauty and romantic adventures, was a gypsy blood. The mystery of its connection with the poet opened. The enraged husband gave Pushkin public scandal and led to a duel. Vicar of Bessarabia region Ivan Nikitich Inzov, under whom he served Pushkin, put "mischievous" in the guardhouse, and Csete Inglezi immediately offered to go abroad. Thus managed to maintain Russia′s great poet.

But Pushkin again looking for adventure, luring one after another charming and compliant beauties: Mariola Raleigh changed Anika Sandulaki, and then in the hot embrace of the poet was Mariola Balsh. I should also mention Calypso Polichrono. Greek woman has an amazing voice, tender and exciting. It is one of them and invited Pushkin: "I look, I look like a madman in a black shawl . . . " Calypso dedicated the poem "Greek women.

. . . In the provincial house on the street in Kiev Levashovskaya normally occurs at high life. In the evenings, especially during the holidays, there was going to the city. In the crowd of guests turned out once and Alexander Pushkin. It was in May 1820. On the way south to the place of exile, he briefly stopped in transit in Kiev. Again he got here early next year, and has lived here for several weeks.

House Raevskys, where he stayed a poet, communicating with the governor′s house shared garden. Naturally, the neighbors often saw as Pushkin spent his life in the family of the Governor Ivan Yakovlevich Bukharin and his wife Elizabeth Feodorovna. But not only cordial hosts, fun balls and the society of brilliant officers are punished here the poet.

In the colorful dances of local beauties, he immediately identified two elegant, charming Pole, daughter of Count Rzhevusskogo. Both were married, that did not prevent them, flirting, seduce many admirers.

Younger, Evelyn, seventeen, and she was, according to those who knew her then, as beautiful as an angel. The eldest, Caroline, was distinguished no less beautiful, but it was Pasifai voluptuous beauty, she was six years older than Pushkin. The majestic, like a Roman matron, with a magical fiery eyes Valkyries and seductive forms of Venus, she made an irresistible impression on the poet. I stayed in the memory of a woman ravishing beauty that promises happiness to those whom wish to make happy. Pushkin dreamed to be among its elected representatives.

But there, in Kiev, she broke the comet on its horizon, and vanished. But not forever. Carolina rose again on his horizon, when the poet came across her in Odessa.

Pushkin saw her at a reception at the Governor-General, which, reluctantly Carolina Rzhevusskuyu (by her husband Sobanskaya) sometimes invited because of Witt. He immediately noticed her crimson borderless current with ostrich feathers, which both went to its high growth.

The joy of meeting with Caroline clouded Ghana - husband of Evelina. Seeing with genuine adoration of the poet looks at the Sobanskaya as fearfully shy in front of her, he thought it my duty to warn the young about the Sister-friend. Of course, he was referring to its insidious character, cruel, cold coquetry and insensitivity to those who worshiped her, - nothing more.

Pushkin was not very location to listen to the advice of this kind, the more so because he felt as if he was in love. However, he saw that in the presence of Carolina is a sort of dejected, words do not come to mind. Where is his spontaneity, wit, laughter? Why is he so bound, so awkward? Knowing him, he would not overcome his inherent shyness, trying to look bolder. She met his attempts to ridicule.

He sought a meeting with Carolina, tried to visit there, where I could find and she waited for her to retire during the boat ride, the theater′s box, the ball.

Photo — «Alexander Pushkin»

Sometimes it seemed to him that he dares to count on reciprocity (flirting, Carolina gave rise to hope). He even thought once that he had marked her choice. On the day of the baptism of the son of Count Vorontsov November 11, 1823 in the Cathedral Transfiguration Cathedral, she put her fingers in the baptismal font, and then, jokingly, they touched his forehead, as if turning to their faith.

Truly he was ready to change the faith, if it helped win the heart of seductive Poles. Another time he almost believed in his near victory during the reading of the novel, when they both reveled in "Adolf". She already seemed Eleanor, was like the heroine of Benjamin Constant not only captivating beauty, but his stormy life, full of impulses and passions.

A few years later he confessed to her that he felt all of her power over him, moreover, owes it to those that "knew all shuddering and agony of love. " And to this day feels in front of her fear, which can not be overcome.

Unable to melt its coldness, so anything in Odessa and a point where he stepped back, resigned to feeling unsatisfied.

. . . Pushkin met again with Caroline Sobanskaya in St. Petersburg. An old disease with acute relapse pierced his heart. It seemed that all the time from the day he first saw her, he was faithful bylomu feeling. Feverishly sketch he had one after the other two messages to her. But did not dare to send them. Poet confided hidden sheet of paper (easier for me to write to you, than to speak "). Before us in them appears Pushkin, the worshiping Himerus - god of passionate love, burning on the coverage of his feelings.

When Caroline heard rumors to that Pushkin married, wicked smile curling her lips . . .

In 1823, a remote town of Chisinau Pushkin was transferred to a noisy Odessa. The poet spent in the seaside town just one year, but here such a short time he won the hearts of the two beauties. His first "victim" turned out to Amalia Riznich - wife of a wealthy merchant. House Ivan Riznich was always full of guests. At one of these methods Pushkin and met with Amalia. Polunemka, poluitalyanka, with some admixture of Jewish blood, a tall, slender, with an unusually beautiful burning eyes, remarkably white and graceful neck and a high bust - she literally captivated by all men. And the preference given to the poet. The happy meeting of two lovers did not last long. My husband found out about their relationship and immediately sent his unfaithful wife in Italy, leaving material support. Poet heavily experienced separation. He devoted Amalia poem "To the shores of a distant homeland . . . "

Soon, however, Pushkin was comforted, drawing his attention to Elizabeth Ksaverevnu Vorontsov (nee Branitskaia). Poet is not scared playing with fire - a new object of his adoration was the wife of the all-powerful and threatening the Governor-General of Count Vorontsov. Contemporary Vigel wrote about Eliza, who was thirty: "From birth Polish frivolity and coquetry she wanted to please, and no one better than her in that did not have time. " Reciprocity Eliza say verses of the poet, but the memories and testimony of contemporaries tell of scandals, which even respectability could not conceal. Young people were quiet, hid from the eyes of their relationship, but count all became aware of his wife′s infidelity, and he ordered the Pushkin leave immediately Kherson district and collect materials on the progress of the extermination of the locust. The poet found such an order is insulting and wrote out his resignation.

Entangled in their love relationships, angry at himself, who was dismissed from the service, Pushkin came to Mikhaylovskoye. The first few months he lived his thoughts about Odessa, Elizabeth Ksaverevne left there, a lot of composing. As time passed anguish, emotional pain subsided, and the poet once again drawn into the society of women, the benefit that they were close - just a few miles from home. In the neighboring village Trigorskoye lived with his family Praskovya Aleksandrovna Osipova, by her first husband Woolf. With her on the bosom of nature rested his daughter from his first marriage, Anna and Evpraksiya, stepdaughter and niece, Alexandra Ivanovna Anna Ivanovna.

Pushkin often to a neighbor, where he was eagerly awaited. Young spent whole days together, the girls constantly flirting with the young man. Afraid to offend anyone, it is all treated with equal sympathy, gave their poems to albums.

Photo — «Alexander Pushkin»

But soon blooming, buxom mistress of the estate became the mistress of the poet. She was fifteen years older than her chosen one. And he looked at the 15-year Eupraxia that jokingly called Zizi, the eye is not reduced by his idol, literally deify him. And, of course, one evening, when they were alone, without hesitation, she gave herself the ruler of his thoughts. Contact Pushkin Zizi became known inhabitants Trigorskoe, and talked about the upcoming wedding. Perhaps it would have happened if at that time had not come to stay with their relatives Anna Kern.

Pushkin once met with Kern in St. Petersburg in the house of venison and found it very pleasant. After that the young people have not seen for six years. Seeing Anna again, the poet lost his peace. Sudden love is fully absorbed it.

Before leaving for Riga Pushkin Anna handed her a folded sheet of letter paper. She opened it and read:

I remember a wonderful moment:

Before me was you,

Like a fleeting vision,

As the genius of pure beauty.

Forty years later, Anna Petrovna Kern in his memoirs wrote: "When I was going to hide in a box with a poetic gift, he kept looking at me, then frantically pulled out and did not want to return, with difficulty, I begged them again, that he had flashed in his head, not know.

Anna Kern and her cousin Anna Wulf, too lovely and young, whose love for Pushkin, went to Riga. Pushkin chose the tactics of an experienced Lovelace: I wrote a letter to Anna Wulf, but it was intended for the eyes of another. "Every night I walk through the garden, and I repeat myself: it was here - the stone, which she stumbled, lying on my desk . . . The idea that I am nothing to her means that, awakening and taking her imagination, I just amuse her curiosity, that memory of me for a minute will not make it any more thoughtful among her victories, no more sad in the days of sorrow, that her beautiful eyes rested on some Riga dandy with the same penetrating the heart and sensual expression, - no, that thought was unbearable for me . . . "

He wrote most Kern. "Your arrival Trigorskoye left me with the impression of a deeper and more painful than that which had once made to me in our meeting Olenin. "

And his aunt Praskovia Alexandrovna Osipov he asked in a letter (no doubt that Kern will show these lines): "Want to know what kind of woman, Ms. Kern? It is malleable, understands everything, easily upset and is comforted as easily, she timidly outstanding and courageous in his actions, but she is extremely attractive. "

Anna Kern remember these words forever.

"Your image rises before me, so sad and sensual, I imagine that I see your eyes, your half-open mouth. Goodbye - I imagine that I am at your feet - a place which I heartily envy.

He urged her to drop everything, including her husband, General Kern, and come to him, maybe, in Pskov. Pushkin wrote: "You say:" A publicity and scandal? "Damn! When leaves her husband, this is a complete scandal, further means nothing or it means very little . . . If you come, I promise to be courteous in the extreme - on Monday I will be happy, ecstatic, on Tuesday, Wednesday affectionate, playful, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be what you want, and all week - at your feet. "

And she ran away from her husband! But soon she found that there had been almost no means of livelihood, as the betrayed husband refused to support her. Anna, to earn their daily bread, were read the proofs, translated from French. She waited Pushkin with the secret hope. Now she was free, and they can occur without interference. However, back in 1826 from the poet Michael was polite to her, but not looking for unmonitored meetings. True, they are still close. Alexander wrote about this to his friend Sergei Sobolevski in such terms that publishers are often replaced by three points. This whole Pushkin, once confessed: "I may be graceful and polite in my writings, but my heart is quite vulgar . . . "

Anna Kern, Pushkin often read the letters from Michael until he sold them at five apiece. In order not to starve. After the death of her second husband - a good man, but the poor - Anna Petrovna took to his son in Moscow.

As the immortal poem, then Kern gave him Glinka, who wrote the song that has become as immortal as the name of the one whom the poems were dedicated.

In autumn 1826 the capital of the beloved poet enthusiastically arranged a meeting, he was literally torn to pieces, was invited to balls, receptions, banquets.

Photo — «Alexander Pushkin»

Pushkin was intoxicated, was enjoying his fame. Publishers paid him the highest fees, which he carelessly lost cards.

But increasingly rolled depression and boredom. The approaching autumn of life it struck the poet to the idea that it′s time to settle down, find a quiet, tranquil haven. Sophia Feodorovna Pushkin, Ekaterina Ushakova, Anna A. Olenin, Natalia Goncharova . . . The young ladies are well educated, beautiful, but not too rich. Courtship in SF Pushkina failed. Exactly a week after his proposal, December 8, 1826, announced his engagement to Sophia VA Panin. Pushkin paid attention Ushakova, and everyone was talking about the impending engagement of the poet, but in May 1827 he went to St. Petersburg and until December next year, has not appeared in Moscow. Pushkin gave his arm and heart Anna Alexeevna Olenina, whose father, Aleksei, was director of the Public Library and president of the Academy of Arts. The poet was a decisive rejection of the mother of the bride. Depressed, he hastened to Ushakova. Late! That was already engaged to another. "From what I have left?" - said Pushkin. "With the antlers," - said Catherine.

In the winter, at the end of 1828, at the ball at the famous dancing-master Moscow Vogel Pushkin met 16-year-old extraordinarily beautiful girl - Natalia Goncharova. She only recently started to leave, but had already talked about it in the light, called it one of the first Moscow beauties admired her spirited, "romantic" charm.

Fascinated by the poet soon made her an offer and received a vague reply - poluotkaz, polusoglasie. But he did not give up: too strong was his love, a dream of happiness with this girl, this is not like him, so quiet, gentle, soothing, circling his head.

About two years dragged on Pushkin′s story of matchmaking. And finally, in April 1830 consent was obtained. "my fate has been solved. I′m getting married . . . The one I loved the whole two years, which is always first searched my eyes, with which the meeting seemed to me bliss - my God - it . . . almost my . . . I am ready to double the life of the already incomplete. I have never fussed about happiness, I could do without it. Now I need to double, but where do I get it? "So Pushkin wrote in the spring of 1830, immediately after the engagement. Since then, Pushkin always returns to the thought of the possibility of happiness for him, homeless, persecuted poet with precarious and uncertain future.

Wedding continually postponed. Pushkin insisted that the sooner they were married. But Natalia him bluntly declared that she had no money. Then laid the Pushkin estate, brought money and asked the trousseau. A lot of money went to various nonsense and on their own outfits Natalya Ivanovna, "- recalled the Princess Dolgorukov.

At times, the poet found severe blues. At such moments he was nervous, complained to friends, went dark. A week before the wedding, he wrote to his friend NI Krivtsov: "Married - or almost. All that you could tell me in favor of the bachelor life and anti marriage, all of which I have already changed my mind. I coolly weighed the advantages and disadvantages of the state, I have elected. My youth was noisy and sterile. So far I have lived different lives as usual. Happy I was . . . I am over 30 years. In thirty years, people usually get married - I do like people, and probably not going to regret it. Besides, I′m getting married without being intoxicated, no childish charm. The future is not in my roses, but in strict nakedness . . . "

Wedding ceremony took place. Natalia ceased to be a beautiful distant dream. He began to treat her less elevated - and even more love. ". . . my pretty little wife is not one appearance" - wrote Pletnev a few days after the wedding.

And I was happy in general, Alexander? From his early years there coexisted two people - a sensual and cerebral at the same time, the ability to get involved in almost to madness, but never gave themselves a woman entirely. Of the numerous amorous adventures could not name a single, which would be subordinated to his soul. The blood seethed in him, but in the depths of his being a poet is still solid.

Confessing his love to many, he loved truly, probably only his muse.