26 February 1938 year
A 75-year-old man has died in Italy. Alexander Amfiteatrov — writer, poet, satirist. Author of the feuilletons about the royal family, "The Deceitful Lords" and "God, Shake Off the Tsar."
Freedom of the press! To the light! To the light!
I am the paladin of the voice of truth!
But they’ll slam an honest newspaper…
So I'll subscribe to "Citizen"!
Born in 1862 Kaluga. My father was the rector of the Archangel Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin and was known among the people as a miracle worker.
He studied law at Moscow University. While still a student, he published in the magazines Oskolki and Budilnik, where he met Anton Chekhov. He used different pseudonyms - Amphi, Mephistopheles, Spiritus familiaris, Old Gentlemen, Moscow Faust.
At 27, he decided to dedicate himself entirely to literature and journalism, abandoning his opera career (he had a wonderful baritone). He worked for newspapers in Tiflis and Baku.
From the age of 29 he lived in Moscow, published in the liberal “Russian News”, and collaborated with the newspaper “New Time”.
At 35, after a trip to Poland and student unrest in Petersburg, changed his views from moderate to liberal. Together with a popular journalist Vlas Doroshevich with money from patrons Mamontova и Morozov He founded the newspaper "Russia." His poems and feuilletons became rich in satire on censorship and the tsarist regime.
Let me recommend myself:
I am a St. Petersburg liberal.
I love to get lost in ideas...
But who hasn't lied? But who hasn't lied?
In 1902, at 40, he published the novel-feuilleton “The Obmanovs” and was exiled for five years to Minusinsk — the publication was seen as a satire on the royal family.
When Alexei Alexeevich Obmanov found peace in the family chapel at his ancestral church in the village of Bol'shiye Golovotyapy, the impressions and gossip in the district were varied and endless. At the funeral, there were tears:
— We will never find such a benefactor again.
And at the same time, everyone without exception felt:
- Phew, maybe it will get easier now.
He continued writing from exile under a pseudonym. A year later, in recognition of his elderly father's contributions, Amfiteatrov was returned to Petersburg.
I read the draft... Although it is not yet in force,
But I see the coming dawn clearly:
You only put me away for five years.
Thank you!
We've waited for flowers, now we'll wait for berries...
I will not reproach the Russian authorities in any way from now on:
According to the constitution, this means a year in prison...
Thank you!
In my reading room, I have very nimble brochures,
But I will not close the cabinets from the gendarme from now on:
After all, the risk now is only three months of imprisonment...
Thank you!
(The Romance of a Writer, Touched by the Cadet Bill on the Press)
In 1904 - the second exile in Vologda, for an article in the newspaper "Rus" in support of students from the Mining Institute, who were accused of pro-Japanese sentiments. That same year, 42-year-old Amfiteatrov left the country "for health reasons."
Savoring foreign thoughts,
I send a compliment to the emigrants,
But in the depths of Russia, I am on guard:
I'm not a student! I'm not a student!
In exile, he published even more pointed works criticizing tsarism.
God, shake off the king!
Autocratic,
He is a king - a shame, a shame to us!
He is a king - a laughingstock to his enemies!
Evil, wayward,
He's stupid, no matter where you look!
God, shake off the king!!!
(Romanov verse, 1906)
Contain your roaring, my friend.
And shut your mouth.
About the Constituent Assembly
Do not say
From the ceiling to the foundation
The abuse was going on.
Ah, at the Russian parliament
Manners are rubbish!
In 1916, he returned to Russia and continued to publish in magazines and newspapers. In February 1917, he was punished for publishing a feuilleton about the Minister of Internal Affairs in Russkaya Volya. Alexandra Protopopova was sent to Irkutsk, but thanks to the February Revolution he did not reach his destination and returned to Petrograd. The October Revolution was met with hostility.
In the summer of 1921, after being arrested, interrogated, and threatened, he fled Petrograd with his family by boat to Finland. He lived in the Czech Republic and Italy, publishing in Russian émigré publications. He published around 30 novels, including "Poisoned Conscience," "Fire Blossom," and "The Twilight of the Old Century."
I am angry that our morals are rude:
Rus' is perishing from tyranny!
But - the walker will crack me in the teeth...
I'll wipe myself off! I'll wipe myself off!