Social origin of Ostrovsky. Writer's personal life

Born March 31 (April 12), 1823 in Moscow, grew up in merchant environment. His mother died when he was 8 years old. And the father married again. There were four children in the family.

Ostrovsky was educated at home. His father had large library, Where little Alexander I began to read Russian literature for the first time. However, the father wanted to give his son a legal education. In 1835, Ostrovsky began his studies at the gymnasium, and then entered Moscow University at the Faculty of Law. Due to his interests in theater and literature, he never completed his studies at the university (1843), after which he worked as a scribe in court at the insistence of his father. Ostrovsky served in the courts until 1851.

Ostrovsky's creativity

In 1849, Ostrovsky’s work “Our People – Let’s Be Numbered!” was written, which brought him literary fame; he was highly appreciated by Nikolai Gogol and Ivan Goncharov. Then, despite censorship, many of his plays and books were published. For Ostrovsky, writings are a way to truthfully depict the life of the people. The plays “The Thunderstorm”, “Dowry”, “Forest” are among his most important works. Ostrovsky's play "Dowry", like other psychological dramas, describes characters in a non-standard way, inner world, the torment of heroes.

Since 1856, the writer has been participating in the publication of the Sovremennik magazine.

Ostrovsky Theater

In the biography of Alexander Ostrovsky, theater takes pride of place.
Ostrovsky founded the Artistic Circle in 1866, thanks to which many talented people in the theater circle.

Together with the Artistic Circle, he significantly reformed and developed the Russian theater.

Ostrovsky's house was often visited famous people, among whom I. A. Goncharov, D. V. Grigorovich, Ivan Turgenev, A. F. Pisemsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky, P. M. Sadovsky, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Leo Tolstoy, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, M. N. Ermolova and other.

In a brief biography of Ostrovsky, it is worth mentioning the emergence in 1874 of the Society of Russian Dramatic Writers and opera composers, where Ostrovsky was chairman. With his innovations, he achieved improvement in the lives of theater actors. Since 1885, Ostrovsky headed drama school and was the head of the repertoire of Moscow theaters.

Writer's personal life

It can't be said that personal life Ostrovsky was successful. The playwright lived with a woman from a simple family, Agafya, who had no education, but was the first to read his works. She supported him in everything. All their children died in early age. Ostrovsky lived with her for about twenty years. And in 1869 he married the artist Maria Vasilyevna Bakhmetyeva, who bore him six children.

Last years of life

Until the end of his life, Ostrovsky experienced financial difficulties. Hard work greatly depleted the body, and the writer’s health increasingly failed. Ostrovsky dreamed of reviving a theater school in which it would be possible to teach professional acting, however, the death of the writer prevented the implementation of long-conceived plans.

Ostrovsky died on June 2(14), 1886 on his estate. The writer was buried next to his father, in the village of Nikolo-Berezhki, Kostroma province.

Chronological table

Other biography options

  • Ostrovsky knew Greek, German and French languages, and in more late age I also learned English, Spanish and Italian. All his life he translated plays into different languages Thus, he increased his skills and knowledge.
  • The writer’s creative path covers 40 years of successful work on literary and dramatic works. His activities influenced an entire era of theater in Russia. For his works, the writer was awarded the Uvarov Prize in 1863.
  • Ostrovsky is the founder of modern theatrical arts, whose followers were such outstanding personalities as Konstantin Stanislavsky and Mikhail Bulgakov.
  • see all

A. N. Ostrovsky

Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky is one of the most outstanding Russian playwrights, whose work has become important stage in development Russian literature And national theater. We can safely say that it was Ostrovsky’s works that laid the foundation for the Russian repertoire in the theater.

Ostrovsky's plays are known and loved by many generations of Russian viewers and readers. Filmed based on them feature films, the questions that Ostrovsky raises in his works are still relevant today.

Childhood and youth

The Russian playwright was born on March 13, 1823 in Moscow, in the family of a court official. The future playwright's mother died early; the family had six children. Ostrovsky's father really wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. After graduating from the Moscow Gymnasium, Alexander entered the Faculty of Law of Moscow University. Ostrovsky never finished it.

In 1843, Ostrovsky was hired as a court scribe and worked in various Moscow courts until 1851. This period of his life greatly helped Ostrovsky in his future work. While working in the courts, he perfectly studied the world of the Russian merchants and the philistine class, which he later brilliantly described in his works. Many characters and personalities were taken by the playwright from his real life.

First plays

In 1847, Ostrovsky’s essays entitled “Notes of a Zamoskvoretsky Resident” were published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Gorodnogo Leaflet”. However, the playwright gained wide popularity after the publication of the play “Our People - We Will Be Numbered.” This work, written in the comedy genre, was enthusiastically received by the public and received excellent reviews from critics. Gogol and Goncharov spoke approvingly of this play.

However, representatives of the merchant class did not like the work very much and after their complaint to the authorities, the play was banned from being staged, and its author was fired from his job. “We Will Be Numbered Our Own People” was allowed to be staged only after the death of Emperor Nicholas, in 1861. With the second play, Alexander Nikolaevich was much more fortunate. “Don’t Sit in Your Own Sleigh” was written by him in 1852 and already in 1853 appeared on the stage of theaters. Since 1856, Ostrovsky has been constantly working for the Sovremennik magazine.

Since 1853, every year Moscow and St. Petersburg theaters staged new plays by the playwright, and all of them were favorably received by both the public and domestic critics.

At the peak of popularity

In 1856, Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky went to the Volga region to study the way of life of the inhabitants of the region. It was after this trip that Ostrovsky wrote one of his most striking plays, “The Thunderstorm.” In 1859, the first collected works of Ostrovsky were published, which were enthusiastically received by critics. In the 1860s, Ostrovsky began to study Russian history, he was especially interested in the period of the Time of Troubles.

In 1863 he was awarded the Uvarov Prize and became a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In the 60s, the playwright founded the Artistic Circle, which gave a start in life to many future stars Russian stage. In 1874, on the initiative of Ostrovsky, the Society of Russian Dramatic Writers and Opera Composers was founded. In 1885, Alexander Nikolaevich became the head of the repertoire of all Moscow theaters.

All his life Ostrovsky worked extremely hard, this seriously undermined his health. In June 1886, he died on his estate in the Kostroma province. Emperor Alexander III granted a large sum for the funeral of the playwright, and also awarded a pension to his widow and allocated funds for the education of his children.

Ostrovsky's significance for Russian literature and his role in the development of Russian theater are undeniable and enormous. For Russian theater he was a figure of the same magnitude as Moliere for the French theater, and Shakespeare for the English. He has 47 plays written by him personally, and several more were written in collaboration.

Ostrovsky's plays show life and everyday life ordinary people, his works are very realistic, but at the same time pose deep and eternal problems to the viewer.

Ostrovsky can be called the founder of the Russian theater; he created a new drama school and a new concept of acting.

Times and street scenery change, but people in Russia remain the same. Writers of the 19th century wrote about their time, but many relationships in society remained the same. There are global patterns of social relations.

Melnikov-Pechorsky described events in the Volga region, and many wrote about Moscow life in the 19th century, including A.N. Ostrovsky.

Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky (March 31 (April 12), 1823 - June 2 (14), 1886) - Russian playwright, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. He wrote about 50 plays, of which The most famous are “Profitable Place”, “Wolves and Sheep”, “Thunderstorm”, “Forest”, “Dowry”.

Russian theater in its modern sense begins with Ostrovsky: the writer created a theater school and a holistic concept of acting in the theater . Staged performances in Moscow Maly Theater.

The main ideas of theater reform:

  • the theater must be built on conventions (there is a 4th wall separating the audience from the actors);
  • constancy of attitude towards language: mastery speech characteristics, expressing almost everything about the heroes;
  • the bet is on the entire troupe, and not on one actor;
  • “People go to watch the game, not the play itself - you can read it.”

Ostrovsky's ideas were brought to their logical conclusion by Stanislavsky.

Compound Full meeting works in 16 volumes. Composition of the PSS in 16 volumes. M: GIHL, 1949 - 1953. With the attachment of translations not included in the PSS.
Moscow, State Publishing House fiction, 1949 - 1953, circulation - 100 thousand copies.

Volume 1: Plays 1847-1854

From the editor.
1. Family painting, 1847.
2. Our people - we will be numbered. Comedy, 1849.
3. Morning young man. Scenes, 1950, censor. permission 1852
4. Unexpected case. Dramatic sketch, 1850, publ. 1851.
5. Poor bride. Comedy, 1851.
6. Don’t sit in your own sleigh. Comedy, 1852, publ. 1853.
7. Poverty is not a vice. Comedy, 1853, publ. 1854.
8. Don’t live the way you want. Folk drama, 1854, publ. 1855.
Application:
Petition. Comedy (1st edition of the play "Family Picture").

Volume 2: Plays 1856-1861.

9. There’s a hangover at someone else’s feast. Comedy, 1855, publ. 1856.
10. Profitable place. Comedy, 1856, publ. 1857.
11. Holiday sleep - before lunch. Pictures of Moscow life, 1857, publ. 1857.
12. They didn’t get along! Pictures of Moscow life, 1857, publ. 1858.
13. Kindergarten. Scenes from village life, 1858, publ. 1858.
14. Thunderstorm. Drama, 1859, publ. 1860.
15. An old friend is better than two new ones. Pictures of Moscow life, 1859, publ. 1860.
16. Your own dogs squabble, don’t bother someone else’s! 1861, publ. 1861.
17. Whatever you go for, you will find (Balzaminov’s Marriage). Pictures of Moscow life, 1861, publ. 1861.

Volume 3: Plays 1862-1864.

18. Kozma Zakharyich Minin, Sukhoruk. Dramatic Chronicle (1st edition), 1861, publ. 1862.
Kozma Zakharyich Minin, Sukhoruk. Dramatic Chronicle (2nd edition), publ. 1866.
19. Sin and misfortune do not live on anyone. Drama, 1863.
20. Hard days. Scenes from Moscow life, 1863.
21. Jokers. Pictures of Moscow life, 1864.

Volume 4: Plays 1865-1867

22. Voevoda (Dream on the Volga). Comedy (1st edition), 1864, publ. 1865.
23. In a busy place. Comedy, 1865.
24. Abyss. Scenes from Moscow life, 1866.
25. Dmitry the Pretender and Vasily Shuisky. Dramatic Chronicle, 1866, publ. 1867.

Volume 5: Plays 1867-1870

26. Tushino. Dramatic Chronicle, 1866, publ. 1867.
27. Simplicity is enough for every wise man. Comedy, 1868.
28. Warm heart.. Comedy, 1869.
29. Crazy money. Comedy, 1869, publ. 1870.

Volume 6: Plays 1871-1874.

30. Forest. Comedy, 1870, publ. 1871.
31. Not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat. Scenes from Moscow life, 1871.
32. There wasn’t a penny, but suddenly it was altyn. Comedy, 1871, publ. 1872.
33. Comedian XVII century. Comedy in verse, 1872, publ. 1873.
34. Late love. Scenes from the life of the outback, 1873, publ. 1874.

Volume 7: Plays 1873-1876

35. Snow Maiden. Spring fairy tale, 1873.
36. Labor bread. Scenes from the life of the outback, 1874.
37. Wolves and sheep. Comedy, 1875.
38. Rich brides. Comedy, 1875, publ. 1878.


Volume 8: Plays 1877-1881

39. Truth is good, but happiness is better. Comedy, 1876, publ. 1877.
40. The last victim. Comedy, 1877, publ. 1878.
41. Dowryless. Drama, 1878, publ. 1879.
42. The heart is not a stone. Comedy, 1879, publ. 1880.
43. Slave girls. Comedy, 1880, publ. 1884?

Volume 9: Plays 1882-1885

44. Talents and fans. Comedy, 1881, publ. 1882.
45. Handsome man. Comedy, 1882, publ. 1883.
46. ​​Guilty without guilt. Comedy, 1883, publ. 1884.
47. Not of this world. Family Scenes, 1884, publ. 1885.
48. Voevoda (Dream on the Volga). (2nd edition).

Volume 10. Plays written together with other authors, 1868-1882.

49. Vasilisa Melentyeva. Drama (with the participation of S. A. Gedeonov), 1867.

Together with N. Ya. Solovyov:
50. Happy day. Scenes from the life of the provincial outback, 1877.
51. Marriage of Belugin. Comedy, 1877, publ. 1878.
52. Savage. Comedy, 1879.
53. It shines, but does not warm. Drama, 1880, publ. 1881.

Together with P. M. Nevezhin:
54. A whim. Comedy, 1879, publ. 1881.
55. Old in a new way. Comedy, 1882.

Volume 11: Selected translations from English, Italian, Spanish, 1865-1879.

1) Pacification of the wayward. Shakespeare's Comedy, 1865.
2) Coffee shop. Comedy Goldoni, 1872.
3) Family of criminals. Drama by P. Giacometti, 1872.
Interludes by Cervantes:
4) Salaman cave, 1885.
5) Theater of Miracles.
6) Two talkers, 1886.
7) Jealous old man.
8) Judge divorce proceedings, 1883.
9) Biscayan impostor.
10) Election of alcaldes in Daganso.
11) The Vigilant Guardian, 1884.

Volume 12: Articles about the theater. Notes. Speeches. 1859-1886.

Volume 13: Artistic works. Criticism. Diaries. Dictionary. 1843-1886.

Artistic works. pp. 7 - 136.
The story of how the quarterly overseer started dancing, or there is only one step from the great to the ridiculous. Story.
Notes of a Zamoskvoretsky resident Essay.
[Biography of Yasha]. Essay.
Zamoskvorechye on holiday. Essay.
Kuzma Samsonych. Essay.
They didn't get along in character. Tale.
“I dreamed of a large hall...” Poem.
[Acrostic]. Poem.
Carnival. Poem.
Ivan Tsarevich. Fairy tale in 5 acts and 16 scenes.

Criticism. pp. 137 - 174.
Diaries. pp. 175 - 304.
Dictionary [Materials for a dictionary of the Russian folk language].

Volume 14: Letters 1842 - 1872.

Volume 15: Letters 1873 - 1880

Volume 16: Letters 1881 - 1886

Translations not included in the Complete Collection

William Shakespeare. Antony and Cleopatra. Excerpt from an unfinished translation. , first published 1891
Staritsky M.P. Chasing two birds with one stone. A comedy from bourgeois life in four acts.
Staritsky M.P. Last night. Historical drama in two paintings.

    Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky V.G. Perov. Portrait of A.N. Ostrovsky (1877) Date of birth: March 31 (April 12) 1823 (18230412) Place of birth ... Wikipedia

    Ostrovsky, Alexander Nikolaevich- Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. OSTROVSKY Alexander Nikolaevich (1823 86), Russian playwright. Ostrovsky's creativity laid the foundations national repertoire Russian theater. In comedies and social psychological dramas Ostrovsky brought out the gallery... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

    Ostrovsky, Alexander Nikolaevich, famous dramatic writer. Born on March 31, 1823 in Moscow, where his father served in civil chamber, and then engaged in private advocacy. Ostrovsky lost his mother as a child and no... Biographical Dictionary

    Russian playwright. Born into the family of an official lawyer; mother comes from the lower clergy. Childhood and early youth spent in Zamoskvorechye ≈ special... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

    Ostrovsky Alexander Nikolaevich- (18231886), playwright. He came to St. Petersburg several times since 1853, was closely connected with social, literary and cultural life capitals. Most of Ostrovsky's plays were first published in St. Petersburg in the Sovremennik magazines... ... Encyclopedic reference book"Saint Petersburg"

    - (1823 86) Russian playwright, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1863). Ostrovsky's work laid the foundations for the national repertoire of the Russian theater. In comedies and socio-psychological dramas, Ostrovsky brought out a gallery of types from those covered... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    - (1823 1886), playwright. He came to St. Petersburg several times since 1853 and was closely connected with the social, literary and cultural life of the capital. Most of O.'s plays were first published in St. Petersburg in the magazines Sovremennik and Vremya. In the magazine... ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

    Dramatic writer, head of the repertoire of the Imperial Moscow Theater and director of the Moscow Theater School. A. N. Ostrovsky was born in Moscow on January 31, 1823. His father, Nikolai Fedorovich, came from a clergy background, and... ... Big biographical encyclopedia

    - (1823 1886), Russian playwright, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1863). Brother of M. N. Ostrovsky. Ostrovsky's work laid the foundations for the national repertoire of the Russian theater. In comedies and social psychological dramas, Ostrovsky brought... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

    OSTROVSKY Alexander Nikolaevich- (182386), Russian playwright. Organizer and prev. About va rus. dramatic writers and opera composers (since 1870). Plays (comedies and dramas): in prose “Family Picture” (1847, post. 1855), “Our People We Will Be Numbered” (1850, post. 1861), ... ... Literary encyclopedic dictionary

Books

  • Not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat, Ostrovsky, Alexander Nikolaevich. Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky was born and raised in Moscow, in the very center of Zamoskvorechye, which at that time was a completely special world. The people who lived there, their relationships, their way of life, living and...
  • Plays: Ostrovsky A.N., Chekhov A.P., Gorky M., Gorky Maxim, Ostrovsky Alexander Nikolaevich, Chekhov Anton Pavlovich. A. Ostrovsky, A. Chekhov and M. Gorky are brilliant reformers and stage innovators who radically changed the theater. This book includes five famous plays by great playwrights - “The Thunderstorm”,…

It is the surname of A. N. Ostrovsky that stands at the origins of the development of Russian drama theater. His dramas are still very popular to this day thanks to the extraordinary flavor of his talent as a writer and playwright, who always felt what the secular public expected from him. Therefore, it is interesting to know what kind of person Alexander Ostrovsky was. His books contained a huge creative heritage. Among his most famous works: “Guilty Without Guilt”, “Dowry”, “Thunderstorm”, “Wolves and Sheep”, “Snow Maiden”, “At someone else’s feast there is a hangover”, “What you go for is what you will find”, “Your own people” - let’s settle”, “Mad money”, etc.

Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. Brief biography

Alexander Nikolaevich was born in the spring of March 31 (April 12), 1823. He grew up on Malaya Ordynka in Moscow. His father was the son of a priest, and his name was Nikolai Fedorovich. Having received a seminary education in Kostroma, he went to study at the Moscow Theological Academy. But he never became a priest, but began to practice as a lawyer in judicial institutions. Over time, he rose to the rank of titular councilor and received the title of nobility.

Ostrovsky's biography (short) says that Ostrovsky's mother, Lyubov Ivanovna, died when he was 7 years old. There are six children left in the family. Subsequently, their stepmother, Emilia Andreevna von Tesin, who was the daughter of a Swedish nobleman, took care of the family. The Ostrovsky family did not need anything; much attention was paid to the education and upbringing of children.

Childhood

Ostrovsky spent almost his entire childhood in Zamoskvorechye. His father had a large library, the boy began studying Russian literature early and felt a craving for writing, but his father wanted his son to become a lawyer.

From 1835 to 1940, Alexander studied at the Moscow Gymnasium. Then he entered Moscow University and began studying to become a lawyer. But a quarrel with a teacher did not allow him to complete his last year of university. And then his father got him a job in court. He received his first salary in the amount of 4 rubles, but then it increased to 15 rubles.

Creation

Further, Ostrovsky’s (brief) biography indicates that Alexander Ostrovsky’s fame and popularity as a playwright was brought to him by the play “Our People - Let’s Be Numbered!”, published in 1850. This play was approved by I. A. Goncharov and N. V. Gogol. But the Moscow merchants did not like it, and the merchants complained to the sovereign. Then, by personal order of Nicholas I, its author was dismissed from service and placed under police supervision, which was lifted only under Alexander II. And in 1861 the play again saw the theatrical stage.

During Ostrovsky’s disgraced period, the first play staged in St. Petersburg was called “Don’t Get in Your Own Sleigh.” Ostrovsky's biography (brief) includes information that for 30 years his plays were staged at the St. Petersburg Alexandrinsky and Moscow Maly Theaters. In 1856, Ostrovsky began working for the Sovremennik magazine.

Ostrovsky Alexander Nikolaevich. Works

In 1859, Ostrovsky, with the support of G. A. Kushelev-Bezborodko, published the first collection of essays in two volumes. At this point, the Russian critic Dobrolyubov will note that Ostrovsky is an accurate depiction of the “dark kingdom.”

In 1860, after “The Thunderstorm,” Dobrolyubov called him “a ray of light in a dark kingdom.”

Indeed, Alexander Ostrovsky knew how to captivate with his remarkable talent. "Thunderstorm" became one of the most bright works playwright, whose writing is also associated with his personal drama. Prototype main character the play was played by actress Lyubov Pavlovna Kositskaya, with her for a long time had a close relationship, although they were both not free people. She was the first to play this role. Ostrovsky made the image of Katerina tragic in its own way, so he reflected in it all the suffering and torment of the soul of a Russian woman.

Cradle of Talents

In 1863, Ostrovsky was awarded the Uvarov Prize and became an elected corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. Later, in 1865, he organized the Artistic Circle, which became the cradle of many talents.

Ostrovsky hosted such eminent guests in his house as F. M. Dostoevsky, L. N. Tolstoy, P. I. Tchaikovsky, M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, I. S. Turgenev, etc.

In 1874, the writer-playwright founded the Society of Russian Dramatic Writers and Opera Composers, of which Ostrovsky remained chairman until his death. He also served on the commission associated with the revision of the theater management regulations, which led to new changes, thanks to which the position of artists was significantly improved.

In 1881, a benefit performance of the opera “The Snow Maiden” by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov took place at the Mariinsky Theater. Ostrovsky's biography (short) indicates that at these moments Ostrovsky was incredibly pleased musical arrangement great composer.

Recent years

In 1885, the playwright became the head of the repertoire department of Moscow theaters and headed the theater school. Ostrovsky almost always had financial problems, although he collected good fees from his plays and had a pension assigned by Emperor Alexander III. Ostrovsky had many plans, he was literally burning at work, this affected his health and depleted his vitality.

On June 2, 1886, he died on his Shchelykovo estate near Kostroma. He was 63 years old. His body was buried next to his father’s grave at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Kostroma province in the village of Nikolo-Berezhki.

The widow, actress Maria Andreevna Bakhmetyeva, three sons and a daughter were awarded a pension by Tsar Alexander III.

His estate in Shchelykovo is now a memorial and natural museum Ostrovsky.

Conclusion

Ostrovsky created his own theater school with its holistic concept theatrical production. The main component of his theater was that there were no extreme situations in it, but depicted life situations, going into the everyday life and psychology of a person of that time, which Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky knew very well. Brief biography describes that Ostrovsky’s theater had many ideas, but to bring them to life, new stage aesthetics and new actors were needed. All this was later brought to mind by K. S. Stanislavsky and M. A. Bulgakov.

Ostrovsky's dramas served as the basis for film adaptations and television series. Among them are the film “Balzaminov’s Marriage”, shot in 1964 based on the play “What You Go For, That’s What You Will Find” by director K. Voinov, the film “ Cruel romance", filmed in 1984 based on "Dowry" by director Eldar Ryazanov. In 2005, Evgeny Ginzburg directed the film “Anna” based on the play “Guilty Without Guilt.”

Ostrovsky created an extensive repertoire for the Russian theater stage, which included 47 highly original plays. He worked in collaboration with talented young playwrights, including P. M. Nevezhin and N. Ya. Solovyov. Ostrovsky's dramaturgy became national due to its origins and traditions.