Ivan Kozlov is a Russian poet who worked in the era of romanticism. Ivan did not receive such wide fame as his friend Vasily Zhukovsky, but Kozlov's works also belong to Russian classical literature. Ivan Kozlov was not appreciated during his lifetime, but left an unforgettable trace in the literature. Today he is honored and remembered as the most talented poet of the golden age of Russian classical literature.
Biography of Ivan Kozlov
The poet was born on April 22, 1779 in Moscow.
By his origin, Ivan Kozlov was a nobleman whose roots went back to the deep past.
The father of the future poet was a high-ranking civil servant, and his mother was the aunt of the Cossack chieftain. In addition, the mother of Ivan Kozlov had good mental abilities and a wide range of knowledge. This allowed her to give a good education to her son.
The family had a great fortune, which could provide Ivan in the future. It was she who saved the poet, suffering from paralysis, who deprived Ivan Ivanovich of not only the ability to walk, but also the ability to work. However, the marital status was only enough for a few years, despite the fact that the poet himself was responsible for the money, “not squandering” it unnecessarily.
Poet military service
As a child, the Russian poet and translator was already enlisted in the army and received the rank of sergeant. At that time, Kozlov was only six years old. Already at the age of sixteen, Ivan received the rank of ensign. For three years, Kozlov served in the Life Guard, after which he resigned and began civil service as secretary of the province.
After almost fifteen years, Ivan Kozlov was transferred to college assessors, he was sent to the office of the Prosecutor General Pyotr Lopukhin.
In 1799, Ivan began serving in the heraldry. It was there that the poet had the opportunity to work in the office of the provincial commander in chief Tutolmin. For his service, Kozlov received the rank of court adviser. This rank served in the future for the poet as a good chance to go further up the career ladder.
Personal life
In 1809, the poet and translator Kozlov connected his life with a beautiful girl - Sofia Davydova. Soon, the young couple had two children. Nothing is known about the future life of the son and daughter of one of the famous poets of the golden age of literature.
War years
In the summer of 1812, Kozlov held a good position on the committee, which was responsible for the entire military power of the Moscow province. Together with other well-known officials of that time, Ivan went on dismissal just three days before Napoleon Bonaparte launched an attack on Moscow. Together with his family, the poet left the capital and went to a small village with his mother's relatives.
End of war
After the Russian Empire won, the poet decided not to return to Moscow, which was burnt down. Instead, Ivan, talking with his wife, decided to try to settle in St. Petersburg. There he also began working in government agencies.
Severe Poetry Disease
In 1818, Ivan Kozlov could no longer walk: paralysis that could not be cured caused paralyzed limbs. A year later, the poet began to lose his sight, and by 1821 he was completely blind. It was at this time that Ivan Ivanovich began to engage in literary activity. He became interested in poetry. In addition, Kozlov was engaged in translations from Italian, German, French and English.
It is important to emphasize that Ivan knew Italian and French from childhood, but he learned English and German during his illness on his own. Speaking about the poet’s work, it should be noted that in the writer's archive there are several works that were originally written in French, because this language was, one might say, native to Ivan.
Literary activity of Ivan Kozlov
As a poet, Kozlov began to engage in literary activity not only because he had talent, but also because of his difficult financial situation - during the years of his illness, Ivan Ivanovich lost his ability to work, and all the money was spent on household items necessary for life. Having met with Vasily Zhukovsky , who began to provide constant support to the patient, Ivan Kozlov began to write his legendary poems.
The work of Zhukovsky undoubtedly had a strong influence on the works of Kozlov. But you can’t call Ivan a copy of Vasily. In the work of talented poets there are significant differences. If Zhukovsky became a prominent representative of romanticism, then Kozlov became the discoverer of such a trend as “real romanticism”. His works differed in how the author reliably described the inner experiences of his lyrical heroes.
In 1821, for the first time, poems by Ivan Kozlov appeared in print. The poet’s work “Towards Svetlana” was dedicated to a friend of Ivan, who, despite his illness, still remained close by and provided all kinds of support.
Speaking about this poem, I want to emphasize how Ivan managed to convey all the tenderness and cordiality that reigned in his soul. The work is filled with comparisons, personifications, which helps to recreate that magnificent image of the girl about whom the poet wrote.
Looking at what kind of love the author brought to the lines dedicated to his girlfriend, one might think that Svetlana was his lover. However, we know that Ivan was in a happy marriage with Sophia. Svetlana was the native niece of Vasily Zhukovsky, the girl's real name was Alexander. Being engaged in literary and journalistic activities, the girl took a pseudonym.
A little later, a poem “To Zhukovsky” was published, with which they worked at about the same time. The poem “Byron” was published simultaneously with a message to the future teacher of Pushkin. After the first poems, the poet became famous.
In 1824, Ivan’s poem “The Czernet” was published. Readers liked this work so much that Kozlov immediately joined the ranks of the most famous and read poets of the nineteenth century.
Translator Activities
Speaking about the poet’s activities as a translator, it is important to say that he translated the works of such famous authors as George Byron, Walter Scott, Dante Alighieri, Thomas Moore, Charles Wolf and many others.
His translation of the work of Moore's "Evening Ringing" has become a classic of Russian folk songs. Another famous translation made by Kozlov was Wolf's work “I didn’t beat the drum under a vague regiment ...”.
Memories of the poet
The disease greatly crippled the poet. But despite the fact that Ivan himself was practically unable to move, he looked after himself as best he could. There was no carelessness inherent in seriously ill patients. Kozlov was distinguished by a bright and expressive speech. In addition, the poet did not give rest to his brain: he constantly memorized poems by European poets, and from memory Ivan could tell them in several languages.
Looking at how the poet behaved among friends and relatives, no one ever realized that Ivan endlessly suffered from terrible and painful pains.
About the work of Kozlov
The first poem “To Svetlana”, as already mentioned above, became a triumph for Ivan Kozlov. After the publication of this work and its other poems, such famous and talented people like Ivan Turgenev, Alexander Pushkin and even Vasily Zhukovsky himself wanted to get to know the poet.
Speaking of the works of the poet
Kozlov’s poem “The Czernets” greatly influenced the manner of writing by Mikhail Lermontov. As Mikhail Yuryevich himself said, this is evident from the poem "Mtsyri." It was in this work that something new was reflected that was created under the influence of the work “Czernets”.
Death of poet
Russian poet Ivan Kozlov died on February 11, 1840 at the age of 60. Ivan Ivanovich was buried in the cultural capital of Russia - in St. Petersburg.
Today, the poet’s grave can be seen at the Tikhvin cemetery in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Another great writer, Karamzin, was buried near Kozlov.