Contents
Alexander Pushkin
Writing Eugene Onegin and helping shape modern Russian literature.
Boris Godunov · Eugene Onegin
- Born
- 6 June 1799
- Birthplace
- Moscow, Russia
- Died
- 10 February 1837
More people
Alexander Pushkin
Alexander Pushkin was a Russian poet, dramatist and prose writer whose flexible literary language influenced generations. His work moved between romantic adventure, social observation, folklore and psychological conflict.
Early life
Noble family
Grew up in an aristocratic household with strong French cultural influences.
Lyceum education
Began publishing poetry while studying at Tsarskoye Selo.
Career
- 1817
Government service
Entered the foreign affairs administration in St Petersburg.
- 1820s
Exile and writing
Political poems led to restrictions and periods away from the capital.
- 1826 onwards
Imperial scrutiny
Returned to public literary life under continuing censorship.
Selected work
Boris Godunov
Historical drama about power and legitimacy.
Eugene Onegin
A verse novel about missed possibilities and social convention.
The Queen of Spades
A story linking obsession, gambling and the uncanny.
Beyond work
Family history
His great-grandfather Abram Gannibal was an African-born military engineer in Russia.
Fatal duel
Died after being wounded in a duel in 1837.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Orest Kiprensky. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
