Who is Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov? Griboyedov: biography, briefly about life and work. Origin and early years

Born on January 15, 1795 in Moscow. Griboedov's parents were of noble origin.

Griboedov was educated at home, then studied at the Moscow University Noble Boarding School.
From 1806, he studied for six years at Moscow University at the Faculty of Literature, the Faculty of Law, and also attended classes at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. While still studying, Alexander Sergeevich began to write poems, try himself in different literary genres. Griboedov dreamed of teaching law and was preparing to take exams, but in 1812 he volunteered for the army (Moscow Hussar Regiment) in connection with the Patriotic War.

In 1816, Griboyedov retired and served at the Collegium of Foreign Affairs in the city of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg society captivates Alexander Sergeevich with its reformist sentiments; he communicates with the Decembrists, with those who are not indifferent to the fate of Russia. By this time, Griboyedov was already publishing, gaining a reputation as an interesting writer. Alexander Sergeevich's main genre was plays.

Since 1818, Griboyedov has been working in Persia as a diplomat. Thus, the Russian government got rid of Griboyedov, whose views were reformist and did not coincide with the policies of the authorities. In Persia, Griboyedov actively resolves diplomatic issues, his political weight is quite large, he is considered as an extraordinary and strong person.

In 1822, the government transferred Griboyedov to Georgia (Tiflis). There he continues to fulfill his diplomatic mission, works actively, while simultaneously pursuing literary creativity.

From 1823 to 1825, Alexander Sergeevich spent his holidays in his homeland, it was during this time that he wrote his best play, which brought him wide fame, “Woe from Wit.”

In 1825, after Griboyedov returned to the Caucasus, he was arrested and taken to St. Petersburg. Alexander Sergeevich guessed that his arrest was connected with his close relationship with the Decembrists. Griboyedov manages to burn all the incriminating materials, as a result of which he is released four months later.

In 1826, Griboyedov again worked in the Caucasus, where he had to resolve many civil conflicts, which he did brilliantly.

After 1828 (the end of the war between Russia and Persia), Griboedov was again sent to Persia, where he now works as a minister. Alexander Sergeevich himself is upset by this appointment and considers it a political exile. Before arriving in Persia for his duty station, Griboyedov married Nina Chavcha-vadze (daughter of a Georgian poet) in Tiflis.

In Persia political situation things are heating up; after the war with Russia, the Persians’ attitude towards Russians is quite aggressive. Griboyedov works in an environment of acute conflicts and political contradictions. The life of Alexander Sergeevich ends tragically: a crowd of Persians smashes the Russian embassy, ​​killing the diplomats there, including Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov. Griboyedov was killed on February 11, 1829, he was buried in Tiflis.

Griboyedov Alexander Sergeevich (1795-1829)

Russian writer and diplomat.

He belonged to a noble family. Received an excellent education. Griboyedov's multifaceted talent was revealed very early; in addition to literary talent, he also showed a bright composing talent (two waltzes for piano are known). He studied at the Moscow University Noble Boarding School, then entered Moscow University. After graduating from the verbal department, Griboyedov continued to study at the ethical and political department.

One of the most educated people of his time, Griboyedov spoke French, English, German, Italian, Greek, Latin languages, later mastered Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.

With the beginning Patriotic War 1812 Griboedov stops his academic studies and joins the Moscow Hussar Regiment as a cornet. Military service (as part of reserve units) brought him together with D. N. Begichev and his brother S. N. Begichev, who became a close friend of Griboyedov. After retiring (early 1816), Griboyedov settled in St. Petersburg and was assigned to serve in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs.

He leads a secular lifestyle, moves in the theatrical and literary circles of St. Petersburg (gets close to the circle of A. A. Shakhovsky), he writes and translates for the theater (the comedies “The Young Spouses” (1815), “One’s Own Family, or the Married Bride” (1817 d.) together with Shakhovsky and N.I. Khmelnitsky, etc.).

The consequence of “ardent passions and powerful circumstances” (A.S. Pushkin) was drastic changes in his fate - in 1818 Griboyedov was appointed secretary of the Russian diplomatic mission to Persia (not last role in this kind of exile, his participation as a second in the duel of A.P. Zavadsky with V.V. Sheremetev, which ended in the death of the latter, played a role) After three years of service in Tabriz, Griboedov transferred to Tiflis to the chief administrator of Georgia A.P. Ermolov (February 1822).

The first and second acts of “Woe from Wit” were written there; their first listener was the author’s Tiflis colleague V.K. Kuchelbecker. In the spring of 1823, Griboyedov went on vacation to Moscow, as well as to the estate of S.N. Begichev near Tula, where he spends the summer, the third and fourth acts of “Woe from Wit” are created.

By the autumn of 1824, the comedy was completed. Griboedov travels to St. Petersburg, intending to use his connections in the capital to obtain permission for its publication and theatrical production. However, he soon becomes convinced that comedy is “nothing to miss.” Only excerpts published in 1825 by F.V. Bulgarin in the almanac “Russian Waist” (the first complete publication in Russia -1862, the first production on the professional stage -1831) were passed through censorship. Nevertheless, Griboyedov’s creation immediately became an event in Russian culture, spreading among the reading public in handwritten lists, the number of which was close to the book circulation of that time (the distribution of lists was facilitated by the Decembrists, who considered comedy as a mouthpiece for their ideas; already in January 1825

I. I. Pushchin brought A. S. Pushkin to the Mikhailovsky list of “Woe from Wit”) The success of Griboyedov’s comedy, which has taken a strong place among Russian classics, is largely determined by the harmonious combination in it of the acutely topical and timeless.

Through the brilliantly drawn picture of Russian society of the pre-Decembrist era (disturbing debates about serfdom, political freedoms, problems of national self-determination of culture, education, etc., masterfully outlined colorful figures of that time, recognizable by contemporaries, etc.), “eternal” themes are discerned: the conflict of generations , drama love triangle, antagonism between the individual and society, etc.

At the same time, “Woe from Wit” is an example of an artistic synthesis of the traditional and innovative: paying tribute to the canons of classicism aesthetics (unity of time, place, action, conventional roles, mask names, etc.), Griboedov “revives” the scheme with conflicts and characters taken from life, freely introduces lyrical, satirical and journalistic lines into comedy.

Precision and aphoristic accuracy of the language, successful use of free (various) iambic, conveying the element colloquial speech, allowed the comedy text to maintain its sharpness and expressiveness; as Pushkin predicted; many lines of “Woe from Wit” have become proverbs and sayings (“The legend is fresh, but hard to believe,” “ Happy Hours are not observed”, etc.). In the fall of 1825, Griboedov returned to the Caucasus, but already in February 1826 he again found himself in St. Petersburg - as a suspect in the Decembrist case (there were many reasons for the arrest: four Decembrists were interrogated, including S.P. Trubetskoy and E.P. Obolensky, named Griboedov among the members of the secret society; lists of “Woe from Wit”, etc. were found in the papers of many of those arrested).

Warned by Ermolov about the impending arrest, Griboyedov managed to destroy part of his archive. During the investigation, he categorically denies his involvement in the conspiracy. At the beginning of June, Griboedov was released from arrest with a “cleaning certificate.” Upon returning to the Caucasus (autumn 1826), Griboedov took part in several battles of the Russian-Persian War that began. Achieves significant success in the diplomatic field (according to N.N. Muravyov-Karsky, Griboyedov “replaced... with his single person an army of twenty thousand”), and is preparing, among other things, the Turkmanchay Peace, beneficial for Russia.

Having brought the documents of the peace treaty to St. Petersburg (March 1828), he received awards and a new appointment - minister plenipotentiary (ambassador) to Persia. Instead of literary pursuits, to which he dreamed of devoting himself (in his papers there are plans, sketches - poems, tragedies “Rodamist and Zenobia”, “Georgian Night”, drama “1812”), Griboyedov is forced to accept a high position. His last departure from the capital (June 1828) was tinged with gloomy forebodings.

On his way to Persia, he stops for some time in Tiflis. He has plans for economic transformations in Transcaucasia. In August he marries L. Chavchavadze’s 16-year-old daughter, Nina, and goes with her to Persia. Among other things Russian minister is engaged in sending captive Russian citizens to their homeland. The appeal to him for help by two Armenian women who had fallen into the harem of a noble Persian was the reason for reprisals against the talented diplomat. On January 30, 1829, a crowd, incited by Muslim fanatics, defeated the Russian mission in Tehran. The Russian envoy was killed. Griboyedov was buried in Tiflis on Mount St. David. The words of Nina Griboyedova-Chavchavadze are carved on the gravestone: “Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?”

On January 15 (4), 1790 (according to some sources, 1795), Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov was born in Moscow into the family of a retired major. The biography of this man is full of secrets and mysteries. Not even known exact date his birth. The father of the future writer was a poorly educated man. The children were raised by their mother, who was a famous pianist and noble lady. Thanks to her, the writer received an excellent home education.

Education

Since childhood, Griboyedov was lucky with teachers and educators. His tutors were Petrosilius and Bogdan Ivanovich Ion - talented and famous people. Therefore, already in childhood, the future playwright knew several foreign languages ​​and learned to play the piano. In 1802 he entered the Moscow University boarding school. His further education is supervised by Professor Boulet. The young man studies well, receives awards, and at the age of 13 becomes a candidate of literary sciences.

While still a student, he began to become interested in literature and was a regular participant in literary meetings. At the same time, Griboyedov’s first works were written.

However, the most Interesting Facts The writer's biographies conceal the mature years of his life.

Military service

Quite strange was the decision of the brilliantly educated young man choose military career. In 1812, with the beginning of the Patriotic War, Griboyedov’s life changed a lot. He became part of the regiment of Count Saltykov. Alexander Sergeevich never managed to take part in hostilities, and he retired.

Life in the capital

In 1817, he entered the service of the St. Petersburg State Collegium of Foreign Affairs. His passion for literature and theater brings Griboedov closer to many famous people. He meets Kuchelbecker and Pushkin. Having joined the Masonic lodge, he communicates with Pestel, Chaadaev, Benckendorff. Intrigue, gossip secular society darkened this period of life. The shaky financial situation forced the writer to leave the service.

In the Caucasus

Since 1818, Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov has served as secretary at the Russian embassy in Persia. Responsibly public service, he simultaneously studies languages ​​and literature about the culture of the East. As part of the Russian mission in 1819, Griboyedov continued to serve in Tabriz. For successful negotiations with the Persians, which resulted in the release of captured Russian soldiers, he was presented with a reward. A successful diplomatic career does not prevent the writer from doing what he loves. It was here that the first pages of the immortal comedy “Woe from Wit” were written.

Return

In 1823, Griboyedov came to Moscow and continued to work on the comedy. To publish his work, the writer goes to St. Petersburg. But he was disappointed: he was unable to publish the comedy in its entirety or stage it on the theater stage. Readers admired the work, but this did not suit Alexander Sergeevich.

Connection with the Decembrists

To escape from sad thoughts, Griboyedov goes to Kyiv. A meeting with friends (Trubetskoy and Bestuzhev) brought him to the camp of the Decembrists. For his participation in the uprising, he was arrested and spent six months in prison.

last years of life

The defeat of the Decembrist uprising, tragic fate comrades had a detrimental effect on Griboyedov’s state of mind. He has a presentiment of his death and constantly talks about it.

In 1826, the government needed an experienced diplomat, as Russia's relations with Turkey were deteriorating. A great writer was appointed to this position.

On the way to his destination in Tiflis, Alexander Sergeevich marries the young princess Chavchavadze.

His happiness was short-lived. Griboedov's death occurred shortly after his arrival in Tehran. On January 30 (February 11), 1829, the Russian embassy was attacked. Heroically defending himself, the writer died.

A short biography of Griboyedov is not able to give a complete picture of the life of the great writer. For my short life he created several works: “Student”, “Young Spouses”, “Feigned Infidelity”. However, his most famous work is the comedy in verse “Woe from Wit.” Griboyedov's creativity is not large, many plans were not destined to come true, but his name will remain forever in people's memory.

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• Alexander Sergeevich was very talented person. He spoke many languages, composed music, and was interested in science.
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Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. Born on January 4 (15), 1795 in Moscow - died on January 30 (February 11), 1829 in Tehran. Russian diplomat, poet, playwright, pianist and composer, nobleman. State Councilor (1828).

Griboyedov is known as homo unius libri - the writer of one book, the brilliantly rhymed play "Woe from Wit", which is still very often staged in Russian theaters. It served as the source of numerous catchphrases.

Griboedov was born in Moscow into a wealthy, noble family. His ancestor, Jan Grzybowski (Polish: Jan Grzybowski), in early XVII century moved from Poland to Russia. The author's surname Griboyedov is nothing more than a peculiar translation of the surname Grzhibovsky. Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Fyodor Akimovich Griboyedov was a clerk and one of the five compilers of the Council Code of 1649.

The writer's father is retired Second Major Sergei Ivanovich Griboyedov (1761-1814). Mother - Anastasia Fedorovna (1768-1839), maiden name was also Griboedova.

According to relatives, as a child Alexander was very focused and unusually developed. There is information that he was the great-nephew of Alexander Radishchev (the playwright himself carefully hid this). At the age of 6 he was fluent in three foreign languages, in his youth already six, in particular fluent in English, French, German and Italian. He understood Latin and ancient Greek very well.

In 1803 he was sent to the Moscow University Noble Boarding School; Three years later, Griboedov entered the literature department of Moscow University. In 1808 he received the title of candidate of literary sciences, but did not leave his studies, but entered the moral and political department, and then the physics and mathematics department.

On September 8, 1812, cornet Griboyedov fell ill and remained in Vladimir, and, presumably, until November 1, 1812, due to illness, did not appear at the regiment's location. In the winter, during the Patriotic War of 1812, when the enemy appeared on Russian territory, he joined the Moscow Hussar Regiment (a volunteer irregular unit) of Count Pyotr Ivanovich Saltykov, who received permission to form it. Arriving at his place of duty, he found himself in the company of “young cornets from the best noble families” - Prince Golitsyn, Count Efimovsky, Count Tolstoy, Alyabyev, Sheremetev, Lansky, and the Shatilov brothers. Griboyedov was related to some of them. Subsequently, he wrote in a letter to S.N. Begichev: “I was in this squad for only 4 months, and now for the 4th year I have not been able to get on the right path.”

Until 1815, Griboedov served in the rank of cornet under the command of cavalry general A. S. Kologrivov. Griboyedov’s first literary experiments - “Letter from Brest-Litovsk to the Publisher”, the essay “On the Cavalry Reserves” and the comedy “The Young Spouses” (translation of the French comedy “Le secre”) - date back to 1814. In the article “On the Cavalry Reserves” Griboyedov acted as a historical publicist.

In 1815, Griboyedov came to St. Petersburg, where he met the publisher of the magazine “Son of the Fatherland” N.I. Grech and the famous playwright N.I. Khmelnitsky.

In the spring of 1816, the aspiring writer left military service, and already in the summer he published an article “On the analysis of the free translation of the Burger ballad “Lenora”” - a response to N. I. Gnedich’s critical remarks about P. A. Katenin’s ballad “Olga”. At the same time, Griboyedov’s name appears in the lists of active members of the Masonic lodge “Les Amis Reunis” (“United Friends”).

At the beginning of 1817, Griboyedov became one of the founders of the Masonic lodge "Du Bien". In the summer he entered the diplomatic service, taking the position of provincial secretary (from the winter - translator) of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. This period of the writer’s life also includes his acquaintances with A. S. Pushkin and V. K. Kuchelbecker, work on the poem “Lubochny Theater” (a response to M. N. Zagoskin’s criticism of “The Young Spouses”), and the comedies “Student” (together with P. A. Katenin), “Feigned Infidelity” (together with A. A. Gendre), “One’s own family, or the Married Bride” (co-authored with A. A. Shakhovsky and N. I. Khmelnitsky).

In 1817, the famous “quadruple duel” between Zavadovsky-Sheremetev and Griboyedov-Yakubovich took place in St. Petersburg. It was Griboyedov who gave the reason for the duel, bringing the ballerina Istomin to the apartment of his friend Count Zavadovsky (Griboyedov was 22 years old at that time). Cavalry guard Sheremetev, Istomina’s lover, summoned Zavadovsky. Griboedov became Zavadovsky’s second, and Yakubovich became Sheremetev’s cornet of the Life Ulan Regiment.

Griboyedov lived with Zavadovsky and, being a friend of Istomina, after the performance he brought her to his place, naturally, to Zavadovsky’s house, where she lived for two days. Sheremetev was in a quarrel with Istomina and was away, but when he returned, instigated by A.I. Yakubovich, he challenged Zavadovsky to a duel. Yakubovich and Griboyedov also promised to fight.

Zavadovsky and Sheremetev were the first to reach the barrier. Zavadovsky, an excellent shooter, mortally wounded Sheremetev in the stomach. Since Sheremetev had to be immediately taken to the city, Yakubovich and Griboyedov postponed their fight. It took place the following year, 1818, in Georgia. Yakubovich was transferred to Tiflis for service, and Griboedov also happened to be passing through there, heading on a diplomatic mission to Persia.

Griboedov was wounded in the left hand. It was from this wound that it was subsequently possible to identify the disfigured corpse of Griboyedov, killed by religious fanatics during the destruction of the Russian embassy in Tehran.

In 1818, Griboyedov, having refused the position of an official of the Russian mission in the United States, was appointed to the post of secretary under the Tsar's Charge d'Affaires of Persia. Before leaving for Tehran, he completed work on “Sideshow Trials.” He left for his duty station at the end of August, two months later (with short stops in Novgorod, Moscow, Tula and Voronezh) he arrived in Mozdok, and on the way to Tiflis he compiled a detailed diary describing his travels.

At the beginning of 1819, Griboedov completed work on the ironic “Letter to the Publisher from Tiflis on January 21” and, probably, the poem “Forgive me, Fatherland!”, and then went on his first business trip to the Shah’s court. On the way to the appointed place through Tabriz (January - March) he continued to drive travel notes, started last year. In August he returned back, where he began to advocate for the fate of Russian soldiers who were in Iranian captivity. In September, at the head of a detachment of prisoners and fugitives, he set out from Tabriz to Tiflis, where he arrived the following month. Some events of this journey are described on the pages of Griboyedov’s diaries (for July and August/September), as well as in the narrative fragments “Vagin’s Story” and “Ananur Quarantine”.

In January 1820, Griboyedov went there again, adding new entries to his travel diary. Here, burdened with official chores, he spent more than a year and a half. His stay in Persia was incredibly burdensome for the writer-diplomat, and in the fall of the following year, 1821, due to health reasons (due to a broken arm), he finally managed to transfer closer to his homeland - to Georgia. There he became close to Kuchelbecker, who had arrived here for service, and began work on the draft manuscripts of the first edition of “Woe from Wit.”

Since February 1822, Griboyedov was the diplomatic secretary under General A.P. Ermolov, who commanded the Russian troops in Tiflis. The author’s work on the drama “1812” is often dated to the same year (apparently timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of Russia’s victory in the war with Napoleonic France).

At the beginning of 1823, Griboyedov left the service for a while and returned to his homeland, for more than two years he lived in Moscow, in the village. Dmitrovsky (Lakotsy) Tula province, in St. Petersburg. Here the author continued the work begun in the Caucasus with the text “Woe from Wit”, by the end of the year he wrote the poem “David”, a dramatic scene in verse “Youth of the Prophetic”, vaudeville “Who is the brother, who is the sister, or Deception after deception” (in cooperation with P. A. Vyazemsky) and the first edition of the famous waltz “e-moll”. It is customary to attribute the appearance of the first entries of his “Desiderata” - a journal of notes on controversial issues of Russian history, geography and literature - to the same period of Griboyedov’s life.

The following year, 1824, dates back to the writer’s epigrams on M.A. Dmitriev and A.I. Pisarev (“And they compose - they lie! And they translate - they lie!..”, “How magazine brawls spread!..”), the narrative fragment “Character my uncle,” the essay “Special Cases of the St. Petersburg Flood” and the poem “Teleshova.” At the end of the same year (December 15), Griboyedov became a full member of the Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.

At the end of May 1825, due to the urgent need to return to his place of duty, the writer abandoned his intention to visit Europe and left for the Caucasus.

Subsequently, he will learn Arabic, Turkish, Georgian and Persian. The first teacher who taught Griboedov the Persian language was Mirza Jafar Topchibashev. On the eve of this trip, he completed work on a free translation of the “Prologue in the Theater” from the tragedy “Faust”, at the request of F.V. Bulgarin, he compiled notes to “Extraordinary Adventures and Travels...” of D.I. Tsikulin, published in the April issues of the magazine “Northern” archive" for 1825. On the way to Georgia, he visited Kiev, where he met prominent figures of the revolutionary underground (M. P. Bestuzhev-Ryumin, A. Z. Muravyov, S. I. Muravyov-Apostol and S. P. Trubetskoy), lived for some time in Crimea, visiting the estate of his old friend A.P. Zavadovsky. On the peninsula, Griboyedov developed a plan for the majestic tragedy of the Baptism of the ancient Russians and kept a detailed diary travel notes, published only three decades after the author’s death. According to the opinion established in science, it was under the influence of the southern trip that he wrote the scene “Dialogue of Polovtsian Husbands.”

Upon returning to the Caucasus, Griboyedov, inspired by participation in the expedition of General A. A. Velyaminov, wrote the famous poem “Predators on Chegem.” In January 1826, he was arrested in the Grozny fortress on suspicion of belonging to the Decembrists; Griboyedov was brought to St. Petersburg, but the investigation could not find evidence of Griboedov’s belonging to secret society. With the exception of A.F. Brigen, E.P. Obolensky, N.N. Orzhitsky and S.P. Trubetskoy, none of the suspects testified to the detriment of Griboyedov. He was under investigation until June 2, 1826, but since it was not possible to prove his participation in the conspiracy, and he himself categorically denied his involvement in the conspiracy, he was released from arrest with a “cleansing certificate.” Despite this, Griboyedov was under secret surveillance for some time.

In September 1826 he returned to service in Tiflis and continued diplomatic activities; took part in the conclusion of the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty (1828), beneficial for Russia, and delivered its text to St. Petersburg. Appointed as Resident Minister (Ambassador) to Iran; On the way to his destination, he again spent several months in Tiflis and married there on August 22 (September 3), 1828, Princess Nina Chavchavadze, with whom he only lived for a few weeks.

Foreign embassies were not located in the capital, but in Tabriz, at the court of Prince Abbas Mirza, but soon after arriving in Persia, the mission went to present itself to Feth Ali Shah in Tehran. During this visit, Griboyedov died: on January 30, 1829 (6 Sha'ban 1244 AH), a crowd of thousands of rebellious Persians killed everyone in the embassy, ​​except for the secretary Ivan Sergeevich Maltsov.

The circumstances of the defeat of the Russian mission are described in different ways, but Maltsov was an eyewitness to the events, and he does not mention the death of Griboyedov, only writes that 15 people defended themselves at the door of the envoy’s room. Returning to Russia, he wrote that 37 people in the embassy were killed (all except him alone) and 19 Tehran residents. He himself hid in another room and, in fact, could only describe what he heard. All the defenders died, and there were no direct witnesses left.

Riza-Kuli writes that Griboyedov was killed with 37 comrades, and 80 people from the crowd were killed. His body was so mutilated that he was identified only by a mark on his left hand, received in the famous duel with Yakubovich.

Griboedov's body was taken to Tiflis and buried on Mount Mtatsminda in a grotto at the Church of St. David.

The Persian Shah sent his grandson to St. Petersburg to resolve the diplomatic scandal. To compensate for the blood shed, he brought rich gifts to Nicholas I, including the Shah diamond. This magnificent diamond, framed with many rubies and emeralds, once adorned the throne of the Great Mughals. Now it shines in the collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin.

At the grave, Griboyedov’s widow Nina Chavchavadze erected a monument to him with the inscription: “Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you!”

In recent years Yuri Tynyanov dedicated the novel “The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar” (1928) to the life of A. S. Griboedov.

Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:	Moscow, Russian Empire
Date of death:
A place of death:	Tehran, Persia
Citizenship:	Russian empire
Occupation:	Russian playwright, poet, orientalist, diplomat, pianist, composer

Death in Persia

Creation

Woe from mind

Interesting Facts

Addresses in St. Petersburg

Editions of essays

Literature

(January 4 (15), 1795, Moscow - January 30 (February 11), 1829, Tehran) - Russian playwright, poet and diplomat, composer (two “Griboyedov Waltzes” have survived), pianist. State Councilor (1828).

Griboyedov is known as homo unius libri- writer of one book, the brilliantly rhymed play "Woe from Wit", which is still one of the most popular theatrical productions in Russia, as well as the source of numerous catchphrases.

Biography

Griboedov was born in Moscow in 1795 into a wealthy, well-born family.

Father - Sergei Ivanovich Griboyedov (1761-1814). Mother - Anastasia Fedorovna Griboyedova (1768-1839).

According to relatives, as a child Griboyedov was very focused and unusually developed.

In 1803, Griboyedov was sent to the Noble boarding school. And three years later, as an eleven-year-old boy, he entered the university. Alexander Sergeevich graduated from the verbal department of the Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow University. Griboyedov was a “child prodigy” who graduated from university at age 15.

In 1810 he received the title of Candidate of Literary Sciences, but did not leave his studies, but entered the ethical and legal department, and then the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics.

In the summer of 1812, during the Patriotic War of 1812, when the enemy appeared on Russian territory, Griboyedov joined the Moscow Hussar Regiment (a volunteer irregular unit) of Count Saltykov, who received permission to form it. S. N. Begichev writes:

But they had barely begun to form when the enemy entered Moscow. This regiment received orders to go to Kazan, and after the expulsion of the enemies, at the end of the same year, it was ordered to follow to Brest-Litovsk, join the defeated Irkutsk Dragoon Regiment and take the name of the Irkutsk Hussars.

On September 8, 1812, cornet Griboyedov fell ill and remained in Vladimir, and until presumably November 1, 1813, due to illness, did not appear at the regiment's location. Arriving at his duty station, he found himself in the company “young cornets from the best noble families”- Prince Golitsyn, Count Efimovsky, Count Tolstoy, Alyabyev, Sheremetev, Lansky, the Shatilov brothers. Griboyedov was related to some of them. He subsequently wrote in a letter to Begichev: “I was in this squad for only 4 months, and now I haven’t been able to get on the right path for 4 years.”.

Until 1815, Griboedov served in the rank of cornet under the command of cavalry general A. S. Kologrivov. Griboyedov's first literary experiments - “Letter from Brest-Litovsk to the publisher”, feature article "About cavalry reserves" and comedy "Young Spouses"(translation of the French comedy “Le secret du Ménage”) - dates back to 1814. In the article "About cavalry reserves" Griboyedov acted as a historical publicist.

The enthusiastic and lyrical “Letter...” from Brest-Litovsk to the publisher of “Bulletin of Europe” was written by him after Kologrivov was awarded in 1814 with the “Order of St. Vladimir Equal to the Apostles, 1st degree” and the holiday of June 22 (July 4) in Brest-Litovsk, in the cavalry reserves on this matter.

At the end of 1814, Griboedov came to St. Petersburg, met and became close to the circle of “younger archaists,” where he gleaned the idea of ​​​​creating national art, the desire for loftiness and naturalness of style.

From 1817 he served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Petersburg; At this time I met Pushkin.

From 1818 he was secretary of the Russian mission in Tehran, from 1822 in Tiflis he was secretary for diplomatic affairs under the commander of the Russian troops A.P. Ermolov.

In January 1826 he was arrested in the Grozny fortress on suspicion of belonging to the Decembrists; during the arrest, friends destroyed the archive incriminating the poet; Griboyedov was brought to St. Petersburg, but the investigation could not find evidence of the poet’s membership in a secret society. By general agreement of all the suspects, no one gave evidence to the detriment of Griboedov.

In September 1826 he returned to Tiflis and continued his diplomatic activities; took part in the conclusion of the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty (1828), beneficial for Russia, and delivered its text to St. Petersburg. Appointed as Resident Minister (Ambassador) to Iran; on the way to his destination, he again spent several months in Tiflis and married there on August 22 (September 3), 1828, Princess Nina Chavchavadze, daughter of the head of the Erivan region and the Georgian poet Alexander Chavchavadze.

Death in Persia

Foreign embassies were not located in the capital, but in Tabriz, at the court of Prince Abbas Mirza, but soon after arriving in Persia, the mission went to present itself to Feth Ali Shah in Tehran. During this visit, Griboedov died: on January 30 (February 11), 1829 (6 Sha'ban 1244 AH), a crowd of religious fanatics defeated the Russian diplomatic mission, and all its members were killed, except for secretary Maltsov. The crowd broke into the house, looting and destroying everything around. Griboyedov is believed to have run out with a saber and was hit on the head with a stone, then pelted with stones and hacked to death. The circumstances of the pogrom of the Russian mission are described in different ways, but Maltsov was an eyewitness to the events, and he does not mention the death of Griboedov, only writes that 15 people defended themselves at the door of the envoy’s room. Maltsov writes that 37 people in the embassy were killed (all except him alone) and 19 Tehran residents. Riza-Kuli writes that Griboyedov was killed with 37 comrades, and 80 people from the crowd were killed. His body was so mutilated that he was identified only by a mark on his left hand, received in the famous duel with Yakubovich. Griboedov's body was taken to Tiflis and buried on Mount Mtatsminda in a grotto at the Church of St. David.

The Persian Shah sent his grandson to St. Petersburg to resolve the diplomatic scandal. To compensate for the shed blood, he brought rich gifts to Nicholas I, including the Shah diamond. This magnificent diamond, framed with many rubies and emeralds, once adorned the throne of the Great Mughals. Now it shines in the collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin.

At his grave, the widow Nina Chavchavadze erected a monument to him with the inscription: “Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?”.

Yuri Tynyanov dedicated the novel “The Death of Vazir-Mukhtar” (1928) to the last years of A. S. Griboyedov’s life.

Creation

In terms of literary position, Griboedov belongs (according to the classification of Yu. N. Tynyanov) to the so-called “younger archaists”: his closest literary allies are P. A. Katenin and V. K. Kuchelbecker; however, the “Arzamas people” also appreciated him, for example, Pushkin and Vyazemsky, and among his friends were such different people, like P. Ya. Chaadaev and F. V. Bulgarin.

Even during his years of study at Moscow University (1805), Griboyedov wrote poems (only mentions have reached us), created a parody of Ozerov’s work “Dmitry Donskoy” - “Dmitry Dryanskoy”. In 1814, two of his correspondences were published in the Vestnik Evropy: “On Cavalry Reserves” and “Letter to the Editor.” In line with his polemics with Zhukovsky and Gnedich about the Russian ballad, he writes an article “On the analysis of the free translation of “Lenora”” (1815). In the same year, he published and staged the comedy “Young Spouses” - a parody of French comedies that made up the Russian comedy repertoire at that time. He uses the very popular genre of "secular comedy" - works with a small number of characters and an emphasis on wit.

In 1816 the comedy “The Student” was published. According to contemporaries, Katenin took a small part in it, but rather his role in creating the comedy was limited to editing. The comedy is polemical in nature, directed against the “younger Karamzinists”, parodying their works, a type of artist of sentimentalism. The main point of criticism is the lack of realism.

Techniques of parody: introducing texts into everyday context, exaggerated use of periphrasticism (all concepts in comedy are given descriptively, nothing is directly named). At the center of the work is a bearer of classicist consciousness (Benevolsky). All knowledge about life is gleaned from books, all events are perceived through the experience of reading. Saying “I saw it, I know it” means “I read it.” The hero strives to act out book stories; life seems uninteresting to him. Griboyedov will later repeat the lack of a real sense of reality in “Woe from Wit” - this is a trait of Chatsky.

In 1818, Griboedov took part in writing “Feigned Infidelity” together with A. A. Gendre. The comedy is an adaptation of Barthes's French comedy. The character Roslavlev, Chatsky's predecessor, appears in it. This is a strange young man, in conflict with society, uttering critical monologues. The same year the comedy “One’s Own Family, or a Married Bride” was released. Co-authors: A. A. Shakhovskoy, Griboyedov, N. I. Khmelnitsky

What was written before “Woe from Wit” was still very immature or was created in collaboration with more experienced writers at that time (Katenin, Shakhovskoy, Zhandre, Vyazemsky); written after “Woe from Wit” was either not brought further than rough drafts, or (which is also quite likely) died along with the author in Tehran. From big plans late period- dramas “1812”, “Georgian Night”. Griboedov's prose (essays and especially letters) is not without interest.

Woe from mind

The comedy in verse “Woe from Wit” was conceived in St. Petersburg around 1816 and completed in Tiflis in 1824; final edition - authorized list left in St. Petersburg with Bulgarin - 1828).

The comedy “Woe from Wit” is the pinnacle of Russian drama and poetry; The bright aphoristic style contributed to the fact that she was all “dispersed into quotes.”

“Never has any people been so scourged, never has any country been dragged so much in the mud, never has so much rude abuse been thrown into the public’s face, and yet never has more complete success been achieved” - P. Chaadaev. Apology for a madman.

• When Griboyedov finished work on the comedy “Woe from Wit,” the first person he went to show his work was the one whom he feared most, namely the fabulist Ivan Andreevich Krylov. With trepidation, Griboyedov went to him first to show off his work.

“I brought the manuscript! Comedy..." "Commendable. So what? Leave it." “I will read my comedy to you. If you ask me to leave from the first scenes, I will disappear.” “If you please, start right away,” the fabulist agreed grumpily. An hour passes, then another - Krylov sits on the sofa, hanging his head on his chest. When Griboyedov put down the manuscript and looked questioningly at the old man from under his glasses, he was struck by the change that had occurred in the listener’s face. Radiant young eyes shone, the toothless mouth smiled. He held a silk handkerchief in his hand, preparing to apply it to his eyes. “No,” he shook his heavy head. “The censors won’t let this pass.” They make fun of my fables. And this is much worse! In our time, the empress would have sent this play along the first route to Siberia.” So much for Griboyedov.

• Griboyedov was a true polyglot and spoke many foreign languages. He was fluent in French, English, German and Italian, and understood Latin and Greek. Later, while in the Caucasus, he learned Arabic, Persian and Turkish.

Memory

• In Moscow there is an institute named after A. S. Griboyedov - IMPE named after. A. S. Griboedova.
• In 1995, an Armenian postage stamp dedicated to Griboyedov was issued.
• In Tbilisi there is a theater named after A. S. Griboedov, a monument to A. S. Griboedov (author M. K. Merabishvili) and a street named after. A. S. Griboedova.

Addresses in St. Petersburg

• 11.1816 - 08.1818 - apartment building of I. Valkh - embankment of the Catherine Canal, 104;
• 01.06. - 07.1824 - Hotel "Demut" - Moika River embankment, 40;
• 08. - 11.1824 - apartment of A.I. Odoevsky in apartment building Pogodina - Torgovaya Street, 5;
• 11.1824 - 01.1825 - P. N. Chebyshev’s apartment in the Usov apartment building - Nikolaevskaya embankment, 13;
• 01. - 09.1825 - apartment of A.I. Odoevsky in the Bulatov apartment building - Isaac's Square, 7;
• 06.1826 - apartment of A. A. Zhandre in the Yegerman house - embankment of the Moika River, 82;
• 03. - 05.1828 - hotel "Demut" - embankment of the Moika River, 40;
• 05. - 06.06.1828 - house of A.I. Kosikovsky - Nevsky Prospekt, 15.

Awards

• Order of St. Anne, II degree with diamond insignia (March 14 (26), 1828)
• Order of the Lion and Sun, 1st class (Persia, 1829)
• Order of the Lion and Sun, 2nd class (Persia, 1819)

Editions of essays

• Full composition of writings. T. 1-3. - P., 1911-1917.
• Essays. - M., 1956.
• Woe from the mind. The publication was prepared by N.K. Piksanov. - M.: Nauka, 1969. (Literary monuments).
• Woe from the mind. The publication was prepared by N.K. Piksanov with the participation of A.L. Grishunin. - M.: Nauka, 1987. - 479 p. (Second edition, supplemented.) (Literary monuments).
• Essays in verse. Comp., prepared. text and notes D. M. Klimova. - L.: Sov. writer, 1987. - 512 p. (Poet's Library. Large series. Third edition).
• Complete works: In 3 volumes / Ed. S. A. Fomicheva and others - St. Petersburg, 1995-2006.

Museums

• “Khmelita” - State Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve of A. S. Griboyedov

Literature

• Belinsky V.G., “Woe from Wit”, Complete. collection op. - T. 3. - M., 1953.
• Goncharov I. A., “A million torments.” Collection op. - T. 8. - M., 1952.
• A. S. Griboedov in the memoirs of his contemporaries. - M., 1929.
• Piksanov N.K. Creative history of “Woe from Wit.” - M.-L., 1928.
• Literary heritage. - T. 47-48 [Griboyedov]. - M., 1946.
• Meshcheryakov V. The life and deeds of Alexander Griboyedov. - M.: Sovremennik, 1989. - 478 p. Circulation 50,000 copies. ISBN 5-270-00965-X.
• Nechkina M. V. A. S. Griboedov and the Decembrists. — 2nd ed. - M., 1951.
• Orlov V. N. Griboyedov. — 2nd ed. - M., 1954.
• Petrov S. A. S. Griboyedov. — 2nd ed. - M., 1954.
• A. S. Griboyedov in Russian criticism. - M., 1958.
• Popova O.I. Griboyedov - diplomat. - M., 1964.
• Russian history literature of the 19th century V. Bibliographic index. - M.-L., 1962.