In what century did Kuprin live? Early life

Alexander Kuprin

Russian writer, translator

short biography

Born August 26 (September 7), 1870 in county town Narovchate (now Penza region) in the family of an official, hereditary nobleman Ivan Ivanovich Kuprin (1834-1871), who died a year after the birth of his son. Mother - Lyubov Alekseevna (1838-1910), née Kulunchakova, came from a family of Tatar princes (noblewoman, princely title Did not have). After the death of her husband, she moved to Moscow, where they held early years and the adolescence of the future writer. At the age of six, the boy was sent to the Moscow Razumov School, from where he graduated in 1880. In the same year he entered the Second Moscow Military Gymnasium.

In 1887 he was enrolled in Aleksandrovskoe military school. Subsequently he will describe his military youth in the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” and in the novel “Junkers”.

First literary experience Kuprin had poems that remained unpublished. The first published work was the story “ Last debut"(1889).

In 1890, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was released into the 46th Dnieper Infantry Regiment, stationed in the Podolsk province, in Proskurov. He served as an officer for four years; military service gave him rich material for future works.

In 1893-1894 in the St. Petersburg magazine " Russian wealth"his story "In the Darkness" and short stories " Moonlit night" and "Inquiry". Kuprin has several stories on the army theme: “Overnight” (1897), “ Night shift"(1899), "Hike".

In 1894, Lieutenant Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, without any civilian profession. In the following years, he traveled a lot around Russia, trying many professions, greedily absorbing life experiences that became the basis of his future works.

During these years, Kuprin met I. A. Bunin, A. P. Chekhov and M. Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg and began working as secretary of the “Magazine for Everyone.” Kuprin's stories appeared in St. Petersburg magazines: “Swamp” (1902), “Horse Thieves” (1903), “ White poodle"(1903).

In 1905, his most significant work was published - the story “The Duel”, which had big success. The writer’s performances with the reading of individual chapters of “The Duel” became an event cultural life capital Cities. His other works of this time: the stories “Staff Captain Rybnikov” (1906), “River of Life”, “Gambrinus” (1907), the essay “Events in Sevastopol” (1905). In 1906 he was a candidate for deputy State Duma first convocation from the St. Petersburg province.

In the years between the two revolutions, Kuprin published a series of essays “Listrigons” (1907-1911), stories “Sulamith” (1908), “ Garnet bracelet"(1911) and others, the story "Liquid Sun" (1912). His prose has become a notable phenomenon in Russian literature. In 1911 he settled with his family in Gatchina.

After the outbreak of World War I, he opened a military hospital in his house and campaigned in newspapers for citizens to take out war loans. In November 1914, he was mobilized and sent to the militia in Finland as commander of an infantry company. Demobilized in July 1915 for health reasons.

In 1915, Kuprin completed work on the story “The Pit,” in which he talks about the life of prostitutes in brothels. The story was condemned for excessive naturalism. Nuravkin’s publishing house, which published “Yama” in the German edition, was brought to justice by the prosecutor’s office “for distributing pornographic publications.”

Kuprin met the abdication of Nicholas II in Helsingfors, where he was undergoing treatment, and accepted it with enthusiasm. After returning to Gatchina, he worked as editor of the newspapers “Free Russia”, “Liberty”, “Petrogradsky Listok”, and sympathized with the Socialist Revolutionaries.

In 1917, he completed work on the story “The Star of Solomon”, in which, creatively reworking classic plot about Faust and Mephistopheles, raised questions about free will and the role of chance in human destiny.

After the October Revolution, the writer did not accept the policy of war communism and the terror associated with it, Kuprin emigrated to France. He worked at the World Literature publishing house, founded by M. Gorky. At the same time, he translated F. Schiller’s drama “Don Carlos”. In July 1918, after the murder of Volodarsky, he was arrested, spent three days in prison, was released and added to the list of hostages.

In December 1918, he had a personal meeting with V.I. Lenin on the issue of organizing a new newspaper for peasants, “Earth,” who approved the idea, but the project was “cut down” by the chairman of the Moscow Soviet, L.B. Kamenev.

On October 16, 1919, with the arrival of the Whites in Gatchina, he entered the North-Western Army with the rank of lieutenant and was appointed editor of the army newspaper “Prinevsky Krai,” headed by General P. N. Krasnov.

After the defeat of the North-Western Army, he was in Reval, from December 1919 - in Helsingfors, from July 1920 - in Paris.

In 1937, at the invitation of the USSR government, Kuprin returned to his homeland. Kuprin's return to Soviet Union was preceded by an appeal by the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in France V.P. Potemkin on August 7, 1936 with a corresponding proposal to I.V. Stalin (who gave the preliminary “go-ahead”), and on October 12, 1936 - with a letter to the People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs N.I. Ezhov . Yezhov sent Potemkin’s note to the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, which on October 23, 1936 decided: “to allow the writer A. I. Kuprin to enter the USSR” (voted “for” by I. V. Stalin, V. M. Molotov, V. Y. Chubar and A. A. Andreev; K. E. Voroshilov abstained).

Soviet propaganda tried to create the image of a repentant writer who returned to sing happy life in USSR. According to L. Rasskazova, in all memos Soviet officials recorded that Kuprin was weak, ill, incapacitated and unable to write anything. Presumably, the article “Native Moscow” published in June 1937 in the newspaper Izvestia, signed by Kuprin, was actually written by the journalist assigned to Kuprin, N.K. Verzhbitsky. An interview was also published with Kuprin’s wife Elizaveta Moritsevna, who said that the writer was delighted with everything he saw and heard in socialist Moscow.

Kuprin died on the night of August 25, 1938 from esophageal cancer. Buried in Leningrad on Literatorskie Mostki Volkovsky cemetery next to the grave of I. S. Turgenev.

Bibliography

Works by Alexander Kuprin

Editions

• A. I. Kuprin. Complete collection works in eight volumes. - St. Petersburg: Publishing house of A. F. Marx, 1912.
• A. I. Kuprin. Complete works in nine volumes. - St. Petersburg: Edition of A.F. Marx, 1912-1915.
• A. I. Kuprin. Favorites. T. 1-2. - M.: Goslitizdat, 1937.
• A. I. Kuprin. Stories. - L.: Lenizdat, 1951.
• A. I. Kuprin. Works in 3 volumes - M.: Goslitizdat, 1953, 1954.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 6 volumes. - M.: Fiction, 1957-1958.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 9 volumes. - M.: Pravda, 1964.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 9 volumes. - M.: Fiction, 1970-1973.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 5 volumes. - M.: Pravda, 1982.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 6 volumes. - M.: Fiction, 1991-1996.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 11 volumes. - M.: Terra, 1998. - ISBN 5-300-01806-6.
• A. I. Kuprin. Paris is intimate. - M., 2006. - ISBN 5-699-17615-2.
• A. I. Kuprin. Complete works in 10 volumes. - M.: Sunday, 2006-2007. - ISBN 5-88528-502-0.
• A. I. Kuprin. Collected works in 9 volumes. - M.: Knigovek ( Literary application“Spark”), 2010. - ISBN 978-5-904656-05-8.
• A. I. Kuprin. Garnet bracelet. Stories. / Comp. I. S. Veselova. Entry Art. A. V. Karaseva. - Kharkiv; Belgorod: Family Leisure Club, 2013. - 416 pp.: ill. - (Series “Great Masterpieces of World Classics”). - ISBN 978-5-9910-2265-1
• A. I. Kuprin. Voice from there // “Roman-newspaper”, 2014. - No. 4.

Film incarnations

• Garnet Bracelet (1964) - Grigory Gai
• The Aeronaut (1975) - Armen Dzhigarkhanyan
• White Snow of Russia (1980) - Vladimir Samoilov
• Kuprin (2014) - Mikhail Porechenkov

Memory

• 7 people in Russia are named after Kuprin settlements and 35 streets and alleys in cities and villages of Russia, 4 of them in the Penza region (in Penza, Narovchat, Nizhny Lomov and Kamenka).
• In the village of Narovchat, Penza region, in Kuprin’s homeland, on September 8, 1981, the world’s only house-museum of Kuprin was opened and the first monument to the writer in Russia was erected (a marble bust by sculptor V. G. Kurdov). The writer’s daughter, Ksenia Aleksandrovna Kuprina (1908-1981), took part in the opening of the museum and monument.
• IN Vologda region, in the village of Danilovsky, Ustyuzhensky district, there is a museum-estate of the Batyushkovs and Kuprin, where there are several authentic things of the writer.
• In Gatchina, the central city is named after Kuprin. city ​​Library(since 1959) and one of the streets of the Marienburg microdistrict (since 1960). Also in 1989, a bust-monument to Kuprin by sculptor V.V. Shevchenko was erected in the city.
• In Ukraine, major streets in the cities of Donetsk, Mariupol, Krivoy Rog, as well as streets in the cities of Odessa, Makeevka, Khmelnitsky, Sumy and some others are named after A.I. Kuprin.
• In Kyiv, at house number 4 on the street. Sagaidachny (Podol, former Alexandrovskaya), where the writer lived in 1894-1896, a memorial plaque was unveiled in 1958. A street in Kyiv is named after Kuprin.
• In St. Petersburg, on the site of the “Vienna” restaurant, which A.I. Kuprin often visited, there is a mini-hotel “Old Vienna”, one of the rooms of which is entirely dedicated to the writer. There are also rare pre-revolutionary editions of his books and many archival photographs.
• In 1990, a memorial marker was installed in Balaklava in the area of ​​Remizov’s dacha, where Kuprin lived twice. In 1994, Balaklava Library No. 21 on the embankment received the name of the writer. In May 2009, a monument to Kuprin by sculptor S. A. Chizh was unveiled.
• A memorial plaque was erected to the writer in Kolomna.
• In 2014, the series “Kuprin” was filmed (directed by Vlad Furman, Andrey Eshpai, Andrey Malyukov, Sergey Keshishev).
• One of the lanes in the city of Rudny (Kustanay region, Kazakhstan) is named after Alexander Kuprin.

Objects associated with the name of A. I. Kuprin in Narovchat

Family

• Davydova (Kuprina-Iordanskaya) Maria Karlovna(March 25, 1881-1966) - first wife, adopted daughter of cellist Karl Yulievich Davydov and publisher of the magazine “World of God” Alexandra Arkadyevna Gorozhanskaya (the wedding took place on February 3, 1902, divorce in March 1907, but officially the divorce documents were received only in 1909). Subsequently - wife statesman Nikolai Ivanovich Jordansky (Negorev). She left memories “Years of Youth” (including about the time life together with A.I. Kuprin) (M.: “Fiction”, 1966).
  • Kuprina, Lidia Alexandrovna(January 3, 1903 - November 23, 1924) - daughter from her first marriage. Graduated from high school. At the age of sixteen she married a certain Leontyev, but divorced a year later. In 1923 she married Boris Egorov. At the beginning of 1924, she gave birth to a son, Alexei (1924-1946), and soon separated from her husband. When her son was ten months old, she died. Alexey was brought up by his father, and later participated in the Great Patriotic War with the rank of sergeant, died of heart disease, which was a consequence of a shell shock received at the front.
• Heinrich Elizaveta Moritsovna(1882-1942) - second wife (since 1907, married on August 16, 1909). Daughter of Perm photographer Moritz Heinrich, younger sister actress Maria Abramova (Heinrich). She worked as a nurse. She committed suicide during the siege of Leningrad.
  • Kuprina Ksenia Alexandrovna(April 21, 1908 - November 18, 1981) - daughter from her second marriage. Model and actress. She worked at the Paul Poiret Fashion House. In 1958 she moved from France to the USSR. She played at the A. S. Pushkin Theater in Moscow. She left her memories “Kuprin is my father.” She was buried with her parents.
  • Kuprina, Zinaida Alexandrovna(October 6, 1909-1912) - daughter from her second marriage, died of pneumonia. She was buried at the Gatchina cemetery.

The writer’s daughter Ksenia and his grandson Alexei Egorov died childless, so to date there are no direct descendants of the writer.

• Sofya Ivanovna Mozharova (née Kuprina) (1861-1919 or 22 years old), sister, wife of Ivan Alexandrovich Mozharov (1856-?). The last years of her life she lived in the city of Sergiev Posad.
• Georgy Ivanovich Mozharov (12/14/1889-1943), nephew

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin is a famous realist writer whose works resonated in the hearts of readers. His work was distinguished by the fact that he sought not only to accurately reflect events, but most of all by the fact that Kuprina inner world the person was interested in much more than just a reliable description. A brief biography of Kuprin will be described below: childhood, youth, creative activity.

The writer's childhood

Kuprin's childhood could not be called carefree. The writer was born on August 26, 1870 in the Penza province. Kuprin's parents were: hereditary nobleman I. I. Kuprin, who held the position of official, and L. A. Kulunchakova, who came from a family of Tatar princes. The writer was always proud of his origins on his mother’s side, and Tatar features were visible in his appearance.

A year later, Alexander Ivanovich’s father died, and the writer’s mother was left with two daughters and a young son in her arms without any financial support. Then the proud Lyubov Alekseevna had to humiliate herself in front of senior officials in order to place her daughters in a government boarding school. She herself, taking her son with her, moved to Moscow and got a job in the Widow's House, in which future writer lived with her for two years.

Later he was enrolled in the state account of the Moscow Guardianship Council in an orphan school. Kuprin's childhood there was joyless, full of sorrow and reflections on the fact that they are trying to suppress his feelings in a person. self-esteem. After this school, Alexander entered a military gymnasium, which was later transformed into a cadet corps. These were the prerequisites for the development of an officer's career.

The writer's youth

Kuprin’s childhood was not simple, and his studies in cadet corps It wasn’t easy either. But it was then that he first had a desire to engage in literature and he began to write his first poems. Of course, the strict living conditions of the cadets and military drill tempered the character of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and strengthened his will. Later his memories of childhood and youth will be reflected in the works “Cadets”, “Brave Fugitives”, “Junkers”. It’s not for nothing that the writer always emphasized that his works are largely autobiographical.

Kuprin's military youth began with his admission to the Moscow Alexander Military School, after which he received the rank of second lieutenant. Then he went to serve in an infantry regiment and visited small provincial towns. Kuprin not only performed his official duties, but also studied all aspects of army life. Constant drill, injustice, cruelty - all this was reflected in his stories, such as, for example, “The Lilac Bush”, “Hike”, the story “The Last Duel”, thanks to which he gained all-Russian fame.

Beginning of a literary career

His entry into the ranks of writers dates back to 1889, when his story “The Last Debut” was published. Kuprin later said that when he left military service, the most difficult thing for him was that he had no knowledge. Therefore, Alexander Ivanovich began to thoroughly study life and read books.

The future famous Russian writer Kuprin began to travel throughout the country and tried himself in many professions. But he did this not because he could not decide on his future type of activity, but because he was interested in it. Kuprin wanted to thoroughly study the life and everyday life of people, their characters, in order to reflect these observations in his stories.

In addition to the fact that the writer studied life, he took his first steps on literary field- published articles, wrote feuilletons, essays. A significant event in his life was his collaboration with the authoritative magazine "Russian Wealth". It was there that “In the Dark” and “Inquiry” were published in the period from 1893 to 1895. During the same period, Kuprin met I. A. Bunin, A. P. Chekhov and M. Gorky.

In 1896, Kuprin’s first book, “Kyiv Types,” a collection of his essays, was published, and the story “Moloch” was published. A year later, a collection of short stories, “Miniatures,” was published, which Kuprin presented to Chekhov.

About the story "Moloch"

Kuprin's stories were distinguished by the fact that central place here it was not politics that was given attention, but the emotional experiences of the heroes. But this does not mean that the writer was not concerned with questions plight ordinary population. The story “Moloch,” which brought the young writer fame, tells of difficult, even disastrous, working conditions for workers at a large steel mill.

It is no coincidence that the work received such a name: the writer compares this enterprise with pagan god, Moloch, demanding constant human sacrifices. Exacerbation social conflict(the rebellion of workers against the bosses) was not the main thing in the work. Kuprin was more interested in how the modern bourgeoisie can have a detrimental influence on a person. Already in this work one can notice the writer’s interest in a person’s personality, his experiences, and thoughts. Kuprin wanted to show the reader how a person feels when faced with social injustice.

A Tale of Love - "Olesya"

Not fewer works was written about love. Love occupied a special place in Kuprin’s work. He always wrote about her touchingly and reverently. His heroes are people who are capable of experiencing, sincere feelings. One of these stories is “Olesya,” written in 1898.

All created images have a poetic character, especially the image main character Olesya. The work tells about the tragic love between a girl and the narrator, Ivan Timofeevich, an aspiring writer. He came to the wilderness, to Polesie, to get acquainted with the way of life of inhabitants unknown to him, their legends and traditions.

Olesya turned out to be a Polesie witch, but she has nothing in common with the usual image of such women. It combines beauty with inner strength, nobility, a little naivety, but at the same time one can feel a strong will and a little bit of authority in her. And her fortune telling is not connected with cards or other forces, but with the fact that she immediately recognizes the character of Ivan Timofeevich.

The love between the characters is sincere, all-consuming, noble. After all, Olesya does not agree to marry him, because she considers herself no equal to him. The story ends sadly: Ivan did not manage to see Olesya a second time, and he only had red beads as a memory of her. And all other works on a love theme are distinguished by the same purity, sincerity and nobility.

"Duel"

The work that brought fame to the writer and occupied an important place in Kuprin’s work was “The Duel.” It was published in May 1905, already at the end Russo-Japanese War. A.I. Kuprin wrote the whole truth of army morals using the example of one regiment located in a provincial town. Central theme The work is the formation of personality, its spiritual awakening using the example of the hero Romashov.

The “duel” can also be explained as a personal battle between the writer and the stultifying everyday life of the tsarist army, which destroys all that is best in a person. This work has become one of the most famous, despite the fact that the ending is tragic. The ending of the work reflects the realities that existed at that time in the tsarist army.

Psychological side of works

In the stories, Kuprin appears as an expert psychological analysis precisely because he always sought to understand what motivates a person, what feelings control him. In 1905, the writer went to Balaklava and from there traveled to Sevastopol to take notes on the events that took place on the mutinous cruiser Ochakov.

After the publication of his essay "Events in Sevastopol", he was expelled from the city and forbidden to come there. During his stay there, Kuprin creates the story “The Listriginovs,” where the main characters are simple fishermen. The writer describes their hard work and character, which were close in spirit to the writer himself.

In the story "Staff Captain Rybnikov" the writer's psychological talent is fully revealed. A journalist wages a hidden struggle with a secret agent of Japanese intelligence. And not for the purpose of exposing him, but in order to understand what a person feels, what motivates him, what kind of internal struggle is happening in him. This story was highly appreciated by readers and critics.

Love theme

Works on a love theme occupied a special place in the work of writers. But this feeling was not passionate and all-consuming; rather, he described selfless, selfless, faithful love. Among the most famous works"Shulamith" and "Garnet Bracelet".

Just so selfless, perhaps even sacrificial love, is perceived by the heroes as the highest happiness. That is, a person’s spiritual strength lies in the fact that one must be able to put the happiness of another person above one’s own well-being. Only such love can bring true joy and interest in life.

Writer's personal life

A.I. Kuprin was married twice. His first wife was Maria Davydova, the daughter of a famous cellist. But the marriage lasted only 5 years, but during this time they had a daughter, Lydia. Kuprin’s second wife was Elizaveta Moritsovna-Heinrich, whom he married in 1909, although before this event they had already lived together for two years. They had two girls - Ksenia (in the future - famous model and artist) and Zinaida (who died at the age of three.) The wife outlived Kuprin by 4 years and committed suicide during the siege of Leningrad.

Emigration

The writer took part in the war of 1914, but due to illness he had to return to Gatchina, where he made a hospital for wounded soldiers from his house. Kuprin was waiting for the February Revolution, but, like the majority, he did not accept the methods that the Bolsheviks used to assert their power.

After the White Army was defeated, the Kuprin family went to Estonia, then to Finland. In 1920 he came to Paris at the invitation of I. A. Bunin. The years spent during emigration were fruitful. The works he wrote were popular with the public. But, despite this, Kuprin became increasingly homesick for Russia, and in 1936 the writer decided to return to his homeland.

The last years of the writer's life

Just as Kuprin’s childhood was not easy, so last years his life was not easy. His return to the USSR in 1937 caused a lot of noise. On May 31, 1937, he was met by a solemn procession, which included famous writers and admirers of his work. Already at that time Kuprin had serious problems with health, but he hoped that in his homeland he would be able to regain his strength and continue to study literary activity. But on August 25, 1938, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin passed away.

A.I. Kuprin was not just a writer who talked about various events. He studied human nature, sought to know the character of every person he met. Therefore, reading his stories, readers empathize with the characters, feel sad and rejoice with them. Creativity of A.I. Kuprin occupies a special place in Russian literature.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and Russian literature of the early 20th century are inseparable. This happened because the writer, in his own works, covered contemporary life, discussed topics and sought answers to questions that are usually classified as eternal. All his work is based on life prototypes. Alexander Ivanovich drew plots from life, he only refracted this or that situation into artistically. According to generally accepted opinion, the work of this author belongs to literary direction realism, but there are pages that are written in the style of romanticism.

In 1870, a boy was born in one of the cities of the Penza province. They named him Alexander. Sasha's parents were poor nobles.

The boy's father served as a secretary in court, and his mother took care of the household. Fate decreed that after Alexander was one year old, his father died suddenly from illness.

After this sad event, the widow and children go to live in Moscow. Future life Alexandra, one way or another, will be connected with Moscow.

Sasha studied at a cadet boarding school. Everything indicated that the boy’s fate would be connected with military affairs. But in reality it turned out completely wrong. The theme of the army became firmly entrenched in Kuprin’s literary work. Such works as “Army Ensign”, “Cadets”, “Duel”, “Junkers” are dedicated to military service. It is worth noting that the image of the main character of “The Duel” is autobiographical. The author admits that he created the image of the second lieutenant based on the experience of his own service.

The year 1894 was marked for the future prose writer by his resignation from military service. This happened thanks to his explosive nature. At this time, the future prose writer is looking for himself. He tries to write, and his first attempts are successful.

Some stories from his pen are published in magazines. This period until 1901 can be called a fruitful period literary creativity Kuprina. The following works were written: “Olesya”, “Lilac Bush”, “ Wonderful doctor" and many others.

In Russia during this period of time, popular unrest was brewing due to opposition to capitalism. The young author reacts creatively to these processes.

The result was the story “Moloch”, where he turns to ancient Russian mythology. Under the guise of a mythological creature, he shows the soulless power of capitalism.

Important! When “Moloch” was published, its author began to closely communicate with the luminaries of Russian literature of that period. These are Bunin, Chekhov, Gorky.

In 1901, Alexander met his only one and tied the knot. After marriage, the couple moved to St. Petersburg. At this time, the writer was active both in the literary field and in public life. Written works: “White Poodle”, “Horse Thieves” and others.

In 1911, the family moved to Gatchina. At this time, creativity appears new topic– love. He writes, "Shulamith".

A. I. Kuprin “Garnet Bracelet”

In 1918, the couple emigrated to France. Abroad, the writer continues to work fruitfully. More than 20 stories have been written. Among them are “Blue Star”, “Yu-Yu” and others.

1937 became a landmark year in that Alexander Ivanovich was allowed to return to his homeland. The sick writer returns to Russia. He lives in his homeland for only a year. The ashes rest in the Volkovsky cemetery in Leningrad.

The most important thing you need to know about the life and work of this outstanding author is located in the chronological table:

The most important thing about Kuprin

A brief biography of the writer can be summarized in several main milestones of his life. Alexander Ivanovich comes from an impoverished noble family. It so happened that the boy was left without a father early on. For this reason, the formation of personality was quite difficult. After all, as you know, a boy needs a father. The mother, having moved to Moscow, decides to send her son to study at a military school. Therefore, the army structure quite strongly influenced Alexander Ivanovich and his worldview.

Main stages of life:

• Until 1894, that is, until he retired from military service, the aspiring author tried his hand at writing.
• After 1894, he realized that writing was his calling, so he devoted himself entirely to creativity. Makes acquaintance with Gorky, Bunin, Chekhov and other writers of that time.
• The revolution of 1917 confirmed Kuprin in the idea that perhaps they were right in their views on power. Therefore, the writer and his family cannot stay in Russia and are forced to emigrate. Alexander Ivanovich has been living in France for almost 20 years and working fruitfully. A year before his death, he was allowed to return to his homeland, which he did.
• In 1938, the writer’s heart stopped beating forever.

Useful video: the early period of creativity of A. I. Kuprin

Biography for children

Children become acquainted with the name Kuprin while studying at primary school. Below we give biographical information about the writer that students need.

For younger children school age It is important to know that Alexander Ivanovich turned to the topic of children and childhood for a reason. He writes on this topic simply and naturally. In this cycle he creates a large number of stories about animals. In general, in works of this orientation, Kuprin expresses a humane attitude towards all living things.

In stories whose heroes are children, the theme of orphanhood is acutely expressed. Perhaps this is due to the fact that their author himself was left without a father early on. But it is worth noting that he shows orphanhood as social problem. Works about children and for children include “The Wonderful Doctor”, “Yu-Yu”, “Taper”, “Elephant”, “White Poodle” and many others.

Important! Undoubtedly, the contribution of this outstanding writer in the development and formation of children's literature is extremely large.

A. I. Kuprin in Gatchina

Kuprin's last years

Kuprin had many difficulties in his childhood, not less problems happened in the last years of my life. In 1937 he was allowed to return to the Soviet Union. He was greeted solemnly. Among those greeting the famous prose writer were many famous poets and writers of that time. In addition to these people, there were a lot of fans of Alexander Ivanovich’s work.

By this time, Kuprin was diagnosed with cancer. This disease greatly undermined the resources of the writer’s body. Returning to his homeland, the prose writer hoped that staying in his native land would only benefit him. Unfortunately, the writer's hopes were not destined to come true. A year later, the talented realist passed away.

last years of life

Kuprin in videos

IN modern world informatization, a lot of biographical information about creative people digitized. The TV channel “My Joy” broadcasts a series of programs “My Live Journal”. In this series there is a program about the life and work of Alexander Kuprin.

On the TV channel “Russia. Culture" broadcasts a series of lectures about writers. The duration of the video is 25 minutes. Moreover, lectures about Alexander Ivanovich also form a cycle. There are those that tell about childhood and adolescence and the period of emigration. Their duration is approximately the same.

There are collections of videos about Kuprin on the Internet. Even an entire virtual page is dedicated to the famous Russian writer. This page also contains links to audiobooks. Reader reviews are posted at the very end.

Homecoming

Wikipedia about Kuprin

IN electronic encyclopedia Wikipedia has posted a voluminous information article about Alexander Ivanovich. It talks in detail about life path prose writer. Are given detailed descriptions his main works. The information concerning the writer’s family is covered quite fully. This text is accompanied by personal photographs of Kuprin.

After the basic information, the author's bibliography is presented, with electronic links to almost all books. Anyone who is truly interested in his work can read what interests them. There are also links to videos with filmed works of Alexander Ivanovich. Listed at the end of the article memorable places, associated with the name of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, many are illustrated with photographs.

Useful video: biography of A.I. Kuprina

Conclusion

70 years have passed since Kuprin's death. This is a fairly long time period. But, despite this, the popularity of Alexander Ivanovich’s works does not decrease. This is due to the fact that they contain things that are understandable to everyone. The works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin must be read by everyone who wants to better understand the nature of relationships and the motives driving by different people. They are a kind of encyclopedia moral qualities and deep experiences of any person.

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870-1938), prose writer.

Born on August 26 (September 7, new year) in the city of Narovchat, Penza province, in the family of a minor official who died a year after the birth of his son. Mother (from ancient family Tatar princes Kulanchakov) 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 (orphanage), from where he left in 1880. In the same year he entered the Moscow military academy, transformed into the Cadet Corps.

After completing his studies, he continued his military education at the Alexander Junker School (1888 90). Subsequently, he described his “military youth” in the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” and in the novel “Junkers”. Even then he dreamed of becoming “a poet or novelist.”

Kuprin's first literary experience was poetry that remained unpublished. The first work to see the light was the story “The Last Debut” (1889).

In 1890, after graduating from military school, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was enlisted 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, his story “In the Dark” and the stories “On a Moonlit Night” and “Inquiry” were published in the St. Petersburg magazine “Russian Wealth”. A series of stories are dedicated to the life of the Russian army: “Overnight” (1897), “Night Shift” (1899), “Hike”. In 1894, Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, without any civilian profession and having a small life experience. In the following years, he traveled a lot around Russia, trying many professions, greedily absorbing life experiences that became the basis of his future works.

During these years, Kuprin met Bunin, Chekhov and Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg, began working as a secretary of the “Magazine for Everyone,” 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 “The Duel,” which was a great success. The writer’s performances reading individual chapters of “The Duel” became an event in the cultural life of the capital. His works of this time were very well-behaved: the essay “Events in Sevastopol” (1905), the stories “Staff Captain Rybnikov” (1906), “River of Life”, “Gambrinus” (1907). In 1907, he married his second wife, sister of mercy E. Heinrich, and had a daughter, Ksenia.

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

After October revolution The writer did not accept the policy of military communism, the “Red Terror”; he feared for the fate of Russian culture. In 1918 he came to Lenin with a proposal to publish a newspaper for the village, “Zemlya”. At one time he worked at the World Literature publishing house, founded by Gorky.

In the fall 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 and homesickness led him to the decision to return to Russia. In the spring of 1937, the seriously ill Kuprin returned to his homeland, warmly received by his admirers. Published the essay "Native Moscow". However, the new creative plans were not destined to come true. In August 1938, Kuprin died in Leningrad from cancer.

Articles about the biography of A. I. Kuprin. Complete works of A. I. Kuprin Biographies:

Berkov P. N. "A. I. Kuprin", 1956 (1.06mb)
Krutikova L.V. "A.I. Kuprin", 1971 (625kb)
Afanasyev V. N. "A. I. Kuprin", 1972 (980kb)
N. Luker "Alexander Kuprin", 1978 (excellent short biography, in English, 540kb)
Kuleshov F.I. " Creative path A. I. Kuprina 1883 1907", 1983 (2.6MB)
Kuleshov F. I. "The creative path of A. I. Kuprin 1907 1938", 1986 (1.9MB)

Memories, etc.:

Kuprina K. A. "Kuprin my father", 1979 (1.7MB)
Fonyakova N. N. "Kuprin in St. Petersburg Leningrad", 1986 (1.2MB)
Mikhailov O. M. "Kuprin", ZhZL, 1981 (1.7MB)
East. Russian lit., ed. "Science" 1983: A.I. Kuprin
Lit. history of the Academy of Sciences 1954: A.I. Kuprin
A Brief Introduction to Creativity
Kuprin Literary Code
O. Figurnova about Kuprin in exile
Lev Nikulin "Kuprin (literary portrait)"
Ivan Bunin "Kuprin"
V. Etov "Warmth to all living things (Lessons of Kuprin)"
S. Chuprinin "Rereading Kuprin" (1991)
Kolobaeva L. A. "Transformation of ideas" little man"in the works of Kuprin"
Paustovsky about Kuprin
Roshchin about Kuprin 1938

Army prose:

I.I. Gapanovich "War stories and tales of Kuprin" (Melbourne slavistic studies 5/6)
At the turning point (Cadets)
Duel (1.3 MB)
Juncker
Army ensign
Night shift
Staff Captain Rybnikov
Marianne
Wedding
Overnight
Breguet
Inquiry
In the barracks
Hike
Lilac bush
Rave
The Last Knights
In the bear's corner
One-Armed Commandant

Stories about the circus:

Allez!
In the menagerie
Lolly
At the circus
Daughter of the great Barnum
Olga Sur
Bad pun
Blondel
Lucia
In the cage of the beast
Marya Ivanovna
Clown (Play in 1 act)

About Polesie and hunting:

Olesya
Silver wolf
Enchanted Capercaillie
On wood grouse
Night in the forest
Backwoods
woodcocks

About horses and racing:

Emerald
Hoopoe
Red, bay, gray, black...

Last debut
In the dark
Psyche
Moonlit night
Slavic soul
About how Professor Leopardi gave me a voice
Al-Issa
Secret audit
To glory
Forgotten Kiss
Madness
At the crossing
Sparrow
Toy
Agave
Petitioner
Painting
Terrible moment
Meat
No title
Millionaire
Pirate
Holy love
Curl

Life
Kyiv types all 16 essays
Strange case
Bonze
Horror
Demigod
Natalya Davydovna
Dog happiness
Yuzovsky plant
On the river
Blissful
Bed
Fairy tale
Nag
Someone else's bread
Friends
Moloch
Stronger than death
Enchantment
Caprice
Narcissus
Firstborn
Barbos and Zhulka
The first person you meet
Confusion

Kindergarten
Wonderful doctor
Loneliness
In the bowels of the earth
Lucky card
Spirit of the century
Executioner
Lost Force
Travel pictures
Sentimental novel
Autumn flowers
By order
Tsaritsyn fire
Ballroom pianist

At rest
Swamp
Coward
Horse thieves
White poodle
Evening guest
Peaceful life
Measles
Frenzy
Jew
Diamonds
Empty dachas
White Nights
From the street
black mist
Good Society
Priest
Events in Sevastopol
Dreams
Toast
Happiness
Murderer
How I was an actor
Art
Demir-Kaya

River of Life
Gambrinus
Elephant
Fairy tales
Mechanical Justice
Giants
Small fry

Shulamith
A little bit of Finland
Seasickness
Student
My passport
The last word
Laurel
About the poodle
In Crimea
Above the ground
Marabou
Poor Prince
On the tram
Fashion martyr
Family style
The Tale of the Trampled Flower
Lenochka
Temptation
Dragonfly Jumper
My flight
Legend
Garnet bracelet
Royal Park
Listrigons
Easter eggs
Organizers
Telegraphist
Big fountain
Head of Traction
Sad story
Alien rooster
Travelers
Grass
Suicide
White acacia

Black Lightning
The Bears
elephant walk
Liquid sun
Anathema
Côte d'Azur
Hedgehog
Light cones
Captain
Wine barrel
Holy lie
Bricky
Dreams
Garden of the Blessed Virgin
Violets
Gad
Two saints
Sealed Babies
Gogol-mogol
Goga Veselov
Interview
Grunya
Starlings
Cantaloupes
Brave fugitives
Yama (1.7 MB)
Star of Solomon

Goat life
Bird People
Sapsan's thoughts about people, animals, objects and events
Sashka and Yashka
Caterpillar
Piebald horses
Tsar's clerk
Magic carpet
Lemon peel
Fairy tale
Doggie Black Nose
Fate
Golden Rooster
Blue Star
Crimson blood
Blessed South
Yu-yu
Poodle tongue
Animal Lesson
The Last of the Bourgeois
Paris home
Inna
Napoleon's Shadow
Yugoslavia
Stories in drops
Paganini violin
Balt
Zawiraika
Hero, Leander and the shepherd
Four beggars
House
Cape Huron
Rachel
Paradise
Motherland
red porch
Island
Meeting
pink pearl
Early music
Everyday singing
Easter bells

Paris and Moscow
Sparrow king
Avianetka
Lord's Prayer
Wheel of Time
Printing ink
Nightingale
At Trinity-Sergius
Paris intimate
Light of the kingdom
Bird People
Ust tribe
Lost Heart
The story of the fish "Raskass"
"N.-J." - an intimate gift from the emperor
Barry
System
Natasha
Mignonette
Gem
Dragnet
Night violet
Zhaneta
Interrogation
Tsarev guest from Narovchata
Ralph
Svetlana
Moscow native
Voice from there
Happy days
Search
Theft
Two celebrities
The Piebald Man's Tale

Works different years, articles, reviews, notes

Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia
Cab driver Peter (unpublished, with annotation by P.P. Shirmakov)
In Memory of Chekhov (1904)
Anton Chekhov. Stories, In Memory of Chekhov (1905), About Chekhov (1920, 1929)
In memory of A. I. Bogdanovich
In memory of N. G. Mikhailovsky (Garin)
About how I saw Tolstoy on the steamer "St. Nicholas"
Utochkin
About Anatoly Durev
A. I. Budishchev
Fragments of memories
Mysterious laughter
The sun of Russian poetry
Beaded ring
Ivan Bunin - Falling Leaves. G.A. Galina Poems
R. Kipling Brave Seafarers, Rudiard Kipling
N. N. Breshko-Breshkovsky Whisper of life, Operetta secrets
A. A. Izmailov (Smolensky) In the bursa, The Fish's Word
Alexey Remizov Watch
About Knut Hamsun
Dumas the Father
About Gogol, Laughter has died
Our justification, His malice will prevail for days
A note about Jack London, Jack London
Pharaoh's tribe
About Camille Lemonnier, Henri Rochefort
About Sasha Cherny, S.Ch.: Children's Island, S.Ch.: Frivolous stories, Sasha Cherny
Free Academy
Reading Minds, Anatoly II
Nansen Roosters, Aroma of the Premiere, Folklore and Literature
Tolstoy, Ilya Repin
Peter and Pushkin
The Fourth Musketeer
From an interview
Letter
Kuprin about Gumilyov
Yangirov about "The Voice from There"
Reply to O. Figurnova

Famous Russian writer, classic of Russian literature.

Date and place of birth: September 7, 1870, Narovchatsky district, Penza province, Russian Empire.

The most Interesting Facts from the life of Kuprin. To learn about Kuprin, we made this post just for you, where the whole life of the Russian writer is collected in facts.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26 (September 7), 1870 in the district town of Narovchat (now Penza region) in the family of an official, hereditary nobleman Ivan Ivanovich Kuprin (1834-1871), who died a year after the birth of his son.

Kuprin loved to sniff the people around him like a dog.

Garnet bracelet

A story by Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, written in 1910. Based on real events.

On her name day, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina received from her longtime anonymous admirer as a gift a gold bracelet with five large deep red cabochon garnets surrounding a green stone - a rare variety of garnet. Being married woman, she considered herself not entitled to receive any gifts from strangers.

Her brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, assistant prosecutor, together with Prince Vasily Lvovich found the sender. He turned out to be a modest official Georgy Zheltkov. Many years ago he accidentally circus performance I saw Princess Vera in the box and fell in love with her with pure and unrequited love. Several times a year, on major holidays, he allowed himself to write letters to her.

Mother - Lyubov Alekseevna (1838-1910), nee Kulunchakova, came from a family of Tatar princes (a noblewoman, did not have a princely title). After the death of her husband, she moved to Moscow, where the future writer spent his early years and adolescence.

Alexander Ivanovich had Tatar roots, and he was proud of it.

At the age of six, the boy was sent to the Moscow Razumov School, from where he graduated in 1880. In the same year he entered the Second Moscow Military Gymnasium.

Kuprin always behaved gently and politely with female representatives, as well as boldly and harshly with male individuals.

In 1887 he was enrolled in the Alexander Military School. Subsequently, he described his military youth in the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” and in the novel “Junkers”.

The story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. One of the first major works Kuprin, written in 1898 and published in the newspaper “Kievlyanin” in the same year. According to the author, this is one of his favorite works. main topic – tragic love the city master Ivan Timofeevich and the young girl Olesya, who has unusual abilities.

Kuprin liked to quarrel with everyone he could get his hands on when he was drunk.

In 1890, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was released into the 46th Dnieper Infantry Regiment, stationed in the Podolsk province, in Proskurov. He served as an officer for four years.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin changed about 10 professions before he became a famous writer.

In 1893-1894, the St. Petersburg magazine “Russian Wealth” published his story “In the Dark,” the stories “Moonlit Night” and “Inquiry.”

“The Garnet Bracelet,” written by Kuprin, is based on a story he heard as a child.

In 1894, Lieutenant Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, without any civilian profession. In the following years, he traveled a lot around Russia, trying many professions, greedily absorbing life experiences that became the basis of his future works.

Alexander Kuprin's story about prostitution. In the Yamskaya settlement (simply called "Yama") some southern city There are a number of open brothels on Bolshaya and Malaya Yamskaya streets.

In the Yamskaya Sloboda (simply called “Yama”) of a certain southern city, on Bolshaya and Malaya Yamskaya streets there are a number of open brothels. We are talking about the establishment of Anna Markovna Shoibes, which was not luxurious, but not low-grade either, in competition with Treppel’s establishment. It describes the typical way of life of local prostitutes deprived of their passports, an attempt to “save” Lyubka, one of the girls, which ends with her being abandoned and her returning to the brothel.

One of the main storylines can be called the story of one of the prostitutes of Yama - Zhenya, who had the most bright character(proud and angry - Platonov would describe her). When a client infected her with syphilis, at the beginning she, not wanting to be treated, wanted to infect as many men as possible for the sake of revenge, but feeling sorry for the cadet boy who was the only one polite to her, she “confessed” to the reporter Platonov and hanged herself. It is important here that prostitutes were given fictitious, “beautiful” names, and only when Zhenya hanged herself, the author calls her real name - Susanna Raitsyna - which can be perceived as a kind of personification of liberation.

In 1909 he managed to receive a prize for a three-volume work.

Kuprin's first literary experience was poetry that remained unpublished. The first published work was the story “The Last Debut” (1889).

Kuprin took part in the military uprising of sailors that took place in Sevastopol.

1890-1900 Kuprin met I. A. Bunin, A. P. Chekhov and M. Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg and began working as secretary of the “Magazine for Everyone.” Kuprin's stories appeared in St. Petersburg magazines: “Swamp” (1902), “Horse Thieves” (1903), “White Poodle” (1903).

Kuprin was often called “Russia’s most sensitive nose.”

In the years between the two revolutions, Kuprin published a series of essays “Listrigons” (1907-1911), stories “Shulamith” (1908), “Garnet Bracelet” (1911), etc., and the story “Liquid Sun” (1912). His prose has become a notable phenomenon in Russian literature. In 1911 he settled with his family in Gatchina.

Duel

A story by Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, published in 1905. The story describes the history of the conflict between the young second lieutenant Romashov and a senior officer, developing against the backdrop of a clash between the romantic worldview of an intelligent young man and the world of a provincial infantry regiment, with his provincial morals, drill and vulgarity of officer society. The most significant work in Kuprin's work.

Kuprin was distinguished by excessive laziness.

After the outbreak of World War I, he opened a military hospital in his house and campaigned in newspapers for citizens to take out war loans. In November 1914, he was mobilized and sent to the militia in Finland as commander of an infantry company. Demobilized in July 1915 for health reasons.

Until his death, Kuprin had to do the “dirty work of journalism.”

In 1915, Kuprin completed work on the story “The Pit,” in which he talks about the life of prostitutes in brothels. The story was condemned for excessive naturalism. Nuravkin’s publishing house, which published “Yama” in the German edition, was brought to justice by the prosecutor’s office “for distributing pornographic publications.”

Russian soul

The book by A.I. Kuprin (1870-1938) includes works from different years, including the following recognized masterpieces, like “The Wonderful Doctor”, “White Poodle”, “Listrigons”, “Paganini’s Violin”.

.Kuprin wrote more than 20 works that are famous today.

In 1917, he completed work on the story “The Star of Solomon”, in which, creatively reworking the classic story of Faust and Mephistopheles, he raised questions about free will and the role of chance in human destiny.

Kuprin liked to wear a painted robe and skullcap because it emphasized his Tatar origin.

After the October Revolution, the writer did not accept the policy of war communism and the terror associated with it, Kuprin emigrated to France. He worked at the World Literature publishing house, founded by M. Gorky. At the same time, he translated F. Schiller’s drama “Don Carlos”. In July 1918, after the murder of Volodarsky, he was arrested, spent three days in prison, was released and added to the list of hostages.

A novel by Russian writer A.I. Kuprin, written in 1928-1932. It is a continuation of the story “At the Turning Point”. At first, individual chapters were published in the Vozrozhdeniya newspaper. In 1933 it was published as a separate edition.

Kuprin tried to describe only positive features own heroes.

After the defeat of the North-Western Army, he was in Reval, from December 1919 - in Helsingfors, from July 1920 - in Paris.

Surname famous writer comes from the name of a river in the Tambov province.

In 1937, at the invitation of the USSR government, Kuprin returned to his homeland. Kuprin’s return to the Soviet Union was preceded by an appeal from the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in France V.P. Potemkin on August 7, 1936 with a corresponding proposal to J.V. Stalin (who gave the preliminary “go-ahead”), and on October 12, 1936 - with a letter to the People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs N. I. Ezhov.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin loved animals very much and dedicated many of his works to them. “I have never seen Kuprin pass by a dog on the street and not stop to pet him,” recalls one of the writer’s friends. All the animals that became the heroes of his stories actually existed: some lived in the house of the writer himself or his friends, he learned about the fate of others from newspapers. Kuprin’s favorite was Sapsan, a beautiful and powerful dog of the ancient Medellian breed. This book will teach children to treat our smaller brothers with love and attention, to appreciate their devotion and affection for people. Expressive illustrations by Mikhail Solomonovich Mayofis perfectly complement the touching and good story O true friend Peregrine falcon.

Kuprin's first wife was Marya Karlovna Davydova, the adopted daughter of a publisher.

Soviet propaganda tried to create the image of a repentant writer who returned to sing about a happy life in the USSR. According to L. Rasskazova, in all the official notes of Soviet officials it is recorded that Kuprin is weak, sick, incapacitated and unable to write anything.

Kuprin had to work as an orderly in a morgue.

Kuprin died on the night of August 25, 1938 from esophageal cancer. He was buried in Leningrad on the Literary Bridge of the Volkovsky Cemetery next to the grave of I. S. Turgenev.

From his second marriage, Kuprin had a little daughter, Ksenia. She worked as a fashion model.

Source-Internet