Kuprin years. Pre-war, war and post-war years

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870 - 1938)

"We should be grateful to Kuprin for everything - for his deep humanity, for his subtlest talent, for his love for his country, for his unshakable faith in the happiness of his people, and, finally, for the ability that never died in him to light up from the slightest contact with poetry and free and leto write about it."

K. G. Paustovsky

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovichwas bornSeptember 7 in the city of Narovchat, Penza province, in the family of a petty official who died a year after the birth of his son. mother (of ancient family Tatar princes Kulanchakovs) after the death of her husband moved to Moscow, where the future writer spent his childhood and youth. At the age of six, the boy was sent to the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school (orphan), from where he left in 1880. In the same year he entered the Moscow Military Academy, transformed into the Cadet Corps,after which he continued military education at the Alexander Junker School (1888 - 90) " military youth"is described in the stories "At the Break (Cadets)" and in the novel "Junkers". Already then he dreamed of becoming a "poet or novelist."Kuprin's first literary experience was the remaining unpublished poems. Firstth story "The Last Debut" was published in 1889.

In 1890, after graduating from a military school, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was enrolled in an infantry regiment stationed in the Podolsk province. The life of an officer, which he led for four years, provided rich material for his future works. In 1893 - 1894 in the St. Petersburg magazine "Russian wealth" his story "In the Dark" and stories " moonlit night"and" Inquiry. "A series of stories is devoted to the life of the Russian army:" Overnight "(1897)," Night shift "(1899)," Campaign ". In 1894, Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, having no civilian profession and having small life experience. traveled a lot around Russia, tried many professions, eagerly absorbed life experiences that formed the basis of future works.

In the 1890s he published the essay "Yuzovsky Plant" and the story "Moloch", the stories "Forest Wilderness", "The Werewolf", the stories "Olesya" and "Kat" ("Army Ensign").During these years, Kuprin met Bunin, Chekhov and Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg, began working as a secretary for the Journal for All, married M. Davydova, and had a daughter, Lydia.

Kuprin's stories appeared in St. Petersburg magazines: "Swamp" (1902); "Horse Thieves" (1903); " white poodle"(1904). In 1905, his most significant work was published - the story "Duel", which was a great success. The writer's speeches with the reading of individual chapters of the "Duel" became an event cultural life capital Cities. His works of this time were very well-behaved: the essay "Events in Sevastopol" (1905), the stories "Staff Captain Rybnikov" (1906), "The River of Life", "Gambrinus" (1907). In 1907 he married a second marriage to sister of mercy E. Heinrich, daughter Ksenia was born.

Kuprin's work in the years between the two revolutions opposed the decadent moods of those years: the cycle of essays "Listrigons" (1907 - 11), stories about animals, the stories "Shulamith", "Garnet Bracelet" (1911). His prose became a prominent phenomenon in Russian literature at the beginning of the century.

After the October Revolution, the writer did not accept the policy of war communism, the "Red Terror", he experienced fear for the fate of Russian culture. In 1918 he came to Lenin with a proposal to publish a newspaper for the village - "Earth". At one time he worked in a publishing house " world literature founded by Gorky.

In the autumn of 1919, while in Gatchina, cut off from Petrograd by Yudenich's troops, he emigrated abroad. The seventeen years that the writer spent in Paris were an unproductive period. Constant material need, homesickness led him to the decision to return to Russia.

In the spring of 1937, the seriously ill Kuprin returned to his homeland, warmly welcomed by his admirers. Published an essay "Moscow dear". However, new creative plans was not destined to come true.

It is rather difficult to write about Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and at the same time it is easy. Easy because I know his works since childhood. And who among us does not know them? Capricious, sick girl, demanding an elephant to visit, wonderful doctor who fed two chilled boys on a cold night and saved an entire family from death; the knight from the fairy tale "Blue Star" who is immortally in love with the princess...

Or the poodle Artaud, making incredible cubrets in the air, to the sonorous commands of the boy Seryozha; cat Yu - yu, gracefully sleeping under the newspaper. How memorable, from childhood and from childhood all this, with what skill, how convex - easily written! It's like flying! Childishly - directly, lively, brightly. And even in tragic moments, bright notes of love of life and hope resound in these ingenuous narrations.

Something childish, surprised, always, almost to the very end, to death, lived in this big and overweight man with clearly defined oriental cheekbones and a slightly cunning squint of his eyes.

Svetlana Makorenko

On September 6 and 7, Penza and Narovchat will host the XXVIII Kuprinskiy literary holiday and debriefing XII creative competition « Garnet bracelet».

COMMANDMENTSKUPRINA

"one. If you want to portray something ... first imagine it quite clearly: color, smell, taste, position of the figure, facial expression ... Find figurative, unused words, best of all unexpected. Give me a juicy perception of what you have seen, and if you do not know how to see yourself, put down your pen ...

6. Do not be afraid of old stories, but approach them in a completely new way, unexpectedly. Show people and things your way, you are a writer. Do not be afraid of your real self, be sincere, do not invent anything, but give it as you hear and see.

9. Know what you actually want to say, what you love and what you hate. Carry out the plot in yourself, get used to it ... Go and see, get used to it, listen, take part yourself. Never write from your head.

10. Work! Do not be sorry to cross out, work hard. Sick with your writing, criticize mercilessly, do not read unfinished work to friends, be afraid of their praise, do not consult with anyone. And most importantly, work while living ... Stop worrying, take up the pen and then again do not give yourself rest until you achieve what you need. Strive hard, mercilessly."

The "Commandments", according to V. N. Afanasyev, were expressed by Kuprin at a meeting with one young author, and years later, reproduced by this author in the "Women's Journal" for 1927.

But, perhaps, the main commandment of Kuprin, left to posterity, is love for life, for what is interesting and beautiful in it: for sunsets and dawns, for the smells of meadow grass and forest preli, for a child and an old man, for a horse and a dog , to a pure feeling and a good joke, to birch forests and pine groves, to birds and fish, to snow, rain and hurricanes, to bell ringing and hot air balloon, to freedom from attachment to perishable treasures. And a complete rejection of everything that disfigures and stains a person.

A.I. Kuprin - bright representative Russian critical realism, whose work fell on the most difficult pre- and post-revolutionary years of the 20th century.

Writer Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870 - 1938).

Young years

Alexander was born in the small town of Narovchat (today it is the Penza region) on August 26, 1870. He was orphaned very early (his father died when the child was one year old; a period of considerable material difficulties began for a mother with a young son). Mother managed to give Sasha an education: having moved to Moscow, he studied at the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school.

In 1887, Alexander was accepted as a student at the Alexander Military School. The years of study became for him a period of accumulation of experience and the first literary works. In 1889 he published a story, which he gave the title "The Last Debut".

Stormy youth and the beginning of maturity

After studying for about 4 years, Kuprin served in the Dnieper Infantry Regiment, and then, after retiring, he traveled around the south of Russia and tried himself in various professions: from a loader to a dentist. At this time, he is already beginning to actively write. The story “Moloch”, the story “Olesya”, which later became classics, the stories “Shulamith” and “Garnet Bracelet” are published. From the writer's pen came the story "The Duel", which brought him literary fame.

During the First World War, Kuprin opened in own house military hospital, participated in hostilities. He was interested in politics, in his views he was close to the Social Revolutionaries.

Emigration and return home

Kuprin did not accept the October Revolution, joined the White movement, and emigrated in 1919. For 17 years he lived in Paris, while continuing to work. One of the most significant works of this period is the story "Junker", based on memoirs. Diseases, poverty, nostalgia for Russia forced the writer to return to the Soviet Union in 1937. But he had only a year to live - Alexander Ivanovich died on August 25, 1938.

His works, whose heroes are representatives of the poor intelligentsia and common people– have not lost relevance in our time. The heroes of Kuprin love life, they are trying to survive, to resist the surrounding cynicism and vulgarity. They live in a natural, changing world, where they are forever intertwined and have an endless dispute between Good and Evil.

Information about Kuprin briefly.

Alexander Kuprin is a great Russian writer who left a rich legacy of works to mankind. Observant, subtle and sensitive by nature, Alexander Ivanovich reflected in his works the life and morality of that time.

He was born on August 26 (September 7), 1870 in the family of a petty official in small town Narovchat, which is located in the Penza province. His father died a year after Alexander's birth. Three children remained in the arms of mother Lyubov Alekseevna - older sisters and Sasha himself. The girls are assigned to a boarding school, and Lyubov Alekseevna leaves for Moscow with her son.

It is worth noting that the writer's mother is a native of the ancient family of the Tatar princes Kulanchakovs. She has strong character, stubborn, she loves her children very much. Life in Moscow was hard, beggarly, and the mother enrolled her six-year-old son in the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school (1876). It was not easy for Alexander, the boy was sad and homesick, he even thought about escaping. He read a lot, knew how to invent stories, and was popular for this. Alexander composed his first creation, a poem, at the age of seven.

Gradually, life got better, and Kuprin decided to become a military man. At the end of the boarding school in 1880, he immediately entered the Second Moscow Military Academy. Eight years later, he studies at the Moscow Alexander Military School. Years of study were not in vain for Alexander Ivanovich, later he would write and denounce in his works. There will be many thoughts about honor, uniform, courage, about the characters of the heroes, as well as about corruption.

He continues to read and study literature, in 1889 his first story "First Debut" is published. In 1890, after completing his studies, Kuprin joined an infantry regiment as a second lieutenant. Its new location is the Podolsk province. Four years later, Alexander Ivanovich retired. Having no specialty, Kuprin tries himself in various fields activities.

This person, greedy for impressions, takes on any job, he is not afraid of anything, he is interested in everything. His character is explosive, but he is ready for an adventure. It was important for him to communicate with people, to get used to their atmosphere of life, to capture the feelings, temper and subtleties of each personality. Then Kuprin will skillfully reflect his observations in his works.

Soon he gets acquainted with, and. Publications in Moscow and St. Petersburg begin to print his works, notes, essays. In 1901, Alexander Kuprin marries Maria Davydova, and a year later their daughter Lida is born. In 1905, the story "Duel" was published. In addition to the army impressions set forth in his works, Kuprin writes about love, about animals (“White Poodle” 1902), becomes popular, and is published a lot. In 1907, after a divorce from his first wife, Alexander Kuprin remarries Elizaveta Heinrich. Daughter Xenia is born.

Alexander Ivanovich served in Finland in 1914, but was discharged for health reasons. (1914-1918), then he and his wife Elizabeth and daughter Xenia set up an infirmary at home. They helped the wounded soldiers. Kuprin took the revolution negatively. He was on the side of the white movement, although at first he tried to cooperate with the Bolsheviks. Like many others creative personalities, Kuprin and his family leave Russia, they leave for France. Alexander Ivanovich continues to create, but not as productively, he misses his homeland. Actively involved in the anti-Bolshevik press.

In the spring of 1937, the writer and his family returned to their homeland. We met him warmly and cordially. Unfortunately, the writer was seriously ill, a year later he died. He died on August 25, 1938 in the city of Leningrad. Most popular works Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin:

"Duel", "Pomegranate Bracelet", "Olesya", "Pit".

The personal life of the writer is very interesting and will reveal inner world this creative person.

Alexander Kuprin personal life

The writer loved two charming beauties in his life - Maria Davydova and her friend Lisa Rotoni. It so happened that the first marriage ended without a "happy ending". Maria Davydovna was reputed to be a secular lioness and dreamed of making her husband a fashionable writer in a suit of curry, but this way of life was alien to Alexander Ivanovich because of his proud disposition and impatience with flattery. They had a daughter, Lydia.

Although, literary career Kuprin - in some part the merit of his first wife Maria. The writer was more fond of spending time in taverns, but walking along Nevsky Prospekt. But Maria was unhappy with this outcome and drove her husband out of the house to the hotel with a demand not to return until he wrote a new chapter. It was in this way that the work “Duel” was written, which made Kuprin a world writer!

Once, during the illness of her daughter Lyulusha, Maria invited her friend Elizabeth to look after the child for a small fee.
Over time, Kuprin fell passionately in love with Lisa Rotoni, but the woman proudly left her friend's house so as not to destroy the family. Only now Kuprin did not accept such a fate, broke up with Maria and fell into drunkenness.

After some time, Elizabeth still gave up and also confessed her feelings for the writer, so the lovers lived all their lives. They had two daughters, Ksenia and Zinaida.

After the First World War, Kuprin took his family to France with the hope of a brighter future. But abroad, the writer's work was not successful, earnings were negligible, out of desperation, Kuprin more and more often fell into drunkenness. The family returned to Russia only after 20 years, but in home country the writer, emaciated from cancer, could not live even a year, died on August 25, 1938 in Leningrad, and was buried near the grave of Turgenev. Kuprin's wife Elizaveta died during the siege of Leningrad 5 years after the death of the writer.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin - famous writer, classic of Russian literature, most significant works which are "Junkers", "Duel", "Pit", "Garnet Bracelet" and "White Poodle". Also high art considered short stories Kuprin about Russian life, about emigration, about animals.

Alexander was born in county town Narovchat, which is located in the Penza region. But the childhood and youth of the writer were spent in Moscow. The fact is that Kuprin's father, a hereditary nobleman Ivan Ivanovich, died a year after his birth. Mother Lyubov Alekseevna, also coming from a noble family, had to move to a large city, where it was much easier for her to give her son upbringing and education.

Already at the age of 6, Kuprin was assigned to the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school, which operated on the principle of an orphanage. After 4 years, Alexander was transferred to the Second Moscow Cadet Corps, after which the young man enters the Alexander Military School. Kuprin graduated with the rank of second lieutenant and served exactly 4 years in the Dnieper Infantry Regiment.

After the resignation, the 24-year-old young man leaves for Kyiv, then to Odessa, Sevastopol and other cities Russian Empire. The problem was that Alexander did not have any civilian specialty. Only after meeting him can he find permanent job: Kuprin goes to St. Petersburg and gets a job in the "Magazine for All". Later, he will settle down in Gatchina, where during the First World War he will maintain a military hospital at his own expense.

Alexander Kuprin enthusiastically accepted the renunciation of the power of the tsar. After the arrival of the Bolsheviks, he even personally approached him with a proposal to publish a special newspaper for the village, Zemlya. But soon, seeing that new government imposes a dictatorship on the country, completely disillusioned with it.

It is Kuprin who owns the derogatory name Soviet Union- "Sovdepiya", which will firmly enter the jargon. During civil war joined the White Army as a volunteer, and after a major defeat he went abroad - first to Finland, and then to France.

By the beginning of the 30s, Kuprin was mired in debt and could not provide his family with even the most necessary things. In addition, the writer did not find anything better than to look for a way out of difficult situation in the bottle. Eventually the only solution was the return to his homeland, which in 1937 he personally supported.

Books

Alexander Kuprin began to write in the last years of the cadet corps, and the first attempts at writing were in the poetic genre. Unfortunately, the writer never published his poetry. And his first published story was "The Last Debut". Later, his story "In the Dark" and a number of stories on military topics were published in magazines.

In general, Kuprin devotes a lot of space to the topic of the army, especially in early work. Suffice it to recall his famous autobiographical novel"Junkers" and the story preceding it "At the Break", also published as "The Cadets".

The dawn of Alexander Ivanovich as a writer came at the beginning of the 20th century. Came out became later classic children's literature story "The White Poodle", memories of a trip to Odessa "Gambrinus" and, probably, his most popular work - the story "Duel". At the same time, such creations as "Liquid Sun", "Garnet Bracelet", stories about animals saw the light.

Separately, it must be said about one of the most scandalous works of Russian literature of that period - the story "The Pit" about the life and fate of Russian prostitutes. The book was mercilessly criticized, paradoxically, for "excessive naturalism and realism." The first edition of The Pit was withdrawn from print as pornographic.

In exile, Alexander Kuprin wrote a lot, almost all of his works were popular with readers. In France, he created four major works - "The Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia", "Wheel of Time", "Junker" and "Janet", as well as a large number of short stories, including the philosophical parable about beauty "The Blue Star".

Personal life

The first wife of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was the young Maria Davydova, daughter of the famous cellist Karl Davydov. The marriage lasted only five years, but during this time the couple had a daughter, Lydia. The fate of this girl was tragic - she died shortly after giving birth to her son at the age of 21.

The writer married his second wife Elizaveta Moritsovna Heinrich in 1909, although they had lived together for two years by that time. They had two daughters - Ksenia, who later became an actress and model, and Zinaida, who died at the age of three from a complex form of pneumonia. The wife survived Alexander Ivanovich for 4 years. She committed suicide during the blockade of Leningrad, unable to withstand the constant bombing and endless hunger.

Since the only grandson of Kuprin, Alexei Yegorov, died due to injuries received during the Second World War, the family famous writer interrupted, and today his direct descendants do not exist.

Death

Alexander Kuprin returned to Russia already in bad health. He was addicted to alcohol, plus old man rapidly losing sight. The writer hoped that in his homeland he would be able to return to labor activity but the state of health did not allow it.

A year later, while watching a military parade on Red Square, Alexander Ivanovich caught pneumonia, which was also aggravated by esophageal cancer. On August 25, 1938, the heart of the famous writer stopped forever.

Kuprin's grave is located on the Literary bridges of the Volkovsky cemetery, not far from the burial place of another Russian classic -.

Bibliography

• 1892 - "In the dark"
• 1898 - "Olesya"
• 1900 - "At the turning point" ("The Cadets")
• 1905 - "Duel"
• 1907 - "Gambrinus"
• 1910 - "Garnet Bracelet"
• 1913 - "Liquid Sun"
• 1915 - "Pit"
• 1928 - "Junkers"
• 1933 - "Janeta"