22 February 1821 year
He was born in the Chernigov province into a wealthy noble family. Alexey Zhemchuzhnikov — a successful official who became an opposition poet. One of the founders of the satirical project Kozma Prutkov.
So that the boss is not a source of evil and misfortune, It is necessary to develop respect for authority among the people. Then, without a doubt, they will appear with the help of God In officials there is honesty, in papers there is elegance of style, And then the general well-being will be near - When will correspondence in the courts be reduced?
From the age of 20, he worked in the Senate, where he was responsible for fighting corruption and overseeing governors. At 26, he transferred to the Ministry of Justice, and at 29, to the State Council (equivalent to today's Federation Council).
At the same time, he wrote poetry and plays, and published in literary magazines under a pseudonym Kozma PrutkovHe came up with this project together with his siblings and cousins.
He ridiculed the stupidity and spiritual insignificance of government officials, the "hypnosis of rank," frivolity, and complacency. In January 1851, I saw his satirical play myself. Nicholas IWithout waiting for the end, the emperor stormed out of the theater in a rage. The play was banned.
Though you are shocked by fate, don't despair. If you want to be beautiful, join the hussars
He left the civil service at the age of 37: he did not want to give the appearance of “significant work.”
He devoted himself to literature. At first he lived in the provinces, then went to Europe for almost 20 years, then returned to Russia and settled on an estate near TambovHe reflected on freedom and glasnost, autocratic tyranny and political reaction, false patriotism and bureaucracy.
Where shame and conscience can be lulled We all wish for something If only we could clap our palms Into the "patriotic" chest!
Despite his resounding success, he was very strict with his work. He was perhaps the only gifted Russian poet who decided to publish a collection of poems only at the age of 70.
I wanted to write something better than before, and I never lost hope. Now I am publishing a complete collection of my poems, not because my hope has been fulfilled, but because finally—the time has come!
He died in April 1908, at the age of 87.
