In the first third of the nineteenth century, Russians began to show remarkable interest in folk culture and folklore. In different cities, societies of old scholars appeared and ethnographic magazines were published. Even in gymnasiums, collections of poems and short stories were published, with which the creative path of most famous poets and writers began. Among them was Peter Ershov, whose biography will be described in this article. So let's get started.
Childhood
Ershov was born in 1815 in the village of Bezrukovo (Tobolsk province). From birth, he was a very weak child, so his parents, according to Siberian superstition, sold him through a window to a beggar for just one penny.
When the boy turned ten, his father, who worked as a police officer, was transferred to Tobolsk. The future poet was struck by huge stone houses, the ancient Kremlin and the deserted Chuvash cape, near which the armies of Khan Kuchum and Ermak once fought. But most of all, Peter liked going to crowded fairs.
Study
In 1830, the young man graduated from high school with honors and entered the University of St. Petersburg at the Faculty of Law. But Petr Ershov, whose biography is in any literary encyclopedia, was not considered an assiduous student. To be expelled he was helped only by luck. For example, preparing for an exam on law, he studied only one ticket, and he certainly came across it. After graduation, Peter himself was upset: “Being a university candidate, I do not speak a single foreign language.”
The Little Humpbacked Horse
In 1833, Professor Pletnev at one of his lectures read to students the first part of the fairy tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse" written by Ershov as a term paper. Everyone was thrilled. Later Pletnev showed a fairy tale to Pushkin. Alexander Sergeyevich liked it too, and he even edited the first four verses in it, telling his friends: “If this goes on, I can safely move away from this kind of essay. This Ershov has a good rhyme. ”
In 1834, the fairy tale was published by the library "Reading Library". In the same year it was published as a separate book, which brought the nineteen-year-old poet popular fame. During the life of the poet she was reprinted as much as seven times. Many authors of that time tried to imitate her. Only the strict Belinsky criticized the work, calling it a fake for folk art. It is worth noting that the harsh critic even considered Pushkin’s poems to be fake.
New works
After graduation, Pyotr Pavlovich was sent to work as a teacher in a gymnasium. In Tobolsk, the poet made friends with the composer Alyabyev and several Decembrists. He even sent Odoyevsky’s response to Pushkin’s poetic message to Petersburg.
At that time, the work of Peter Ershov takes on a new breath. He writes the story “Siberian Cossack”, composes the story “The resourcefulness of the poor” and the poem “Suzge”. But all these were ordinary works. The people were waiting for new tales of Ershov, but the poet seemed to have left the inspiration. Of course, Peter had many ideas. For example, he planned to write an entire epic about Ivan Tsarevich.
Many still wonder: “How many fairy tales did Ershov write?” According to official figures - only one. Perhaps he composed others, but they did not reach the descendants. According to the son of Peter Pavlovich, the poet had an archive of seven solid, well-bound volumes. But he is still not found.
Marriage
In Tobolsk, Petr Ershov, whose biography is well known to fans of his work, fell in love with Seraphim Leshova. He was not embarrassed by the fact that she was a widow burdened by four children. Seraphim was beautiful, educated and practical, so she did not immediately marry a twenty-three-year-old teacher. However, in early September 1939, the wedding of lovers still took place.
New position
Five years later, Petr Ershov (200 years since the poet’s birthday was celebrated this year) was appointed inspector of the gymnasium. But he himself dreamed of a completely different position. Here is what Pyotr Pavlovich wrote to Professor Pletnev: “The director of our gymnasium went on a three-month vacation, and, according to rumors, he will no longer return to Tobolsk. In its place there are many applicants and one of them was recommended to the minister. Meanwhile, this position was my main goal. I think that after 13 years of excellent service, I deserved it rightfully. Can you hope for your request from the Minister regarding the consideration of my candidacy? ” Unfortunately, the poet did not become the director of the gymnasium.
Conclusion
Ershov Petr Pavlovich, whose interesting facts of life were given in this article, went down in the history of literature as the author of one fairy tale. The poet himself took it calmly, realizing the boundaries of the gift granted to him. He wrote to Professor Pletnev: “You asked about my literary works? Well what to say. They ended with the transition of "Contemporary" in the hands of Nekrasov. If the previous editors remained there, then I would willingly participate in the work. But the new direction of the magazine is not for me at all. For a long time I was not an activist, but an observer of literature and learned to objectively evaluate the surrounding things. I believe that at present literary fame is not too flattering even for a mediocre author. And poetry? .. She was buried with Lermontov and Pushkin ... Zhukovsky’s swan song was drowned out by magazine screamers, and it would be very sad if it was interrupted, like Gogol’s song ... A bright poetic future is possible only if a powerful talent arrives that will make our cold age awe before the harmony of sound. "
Peter Ershov (biography described above) died in 1869 in the city of Tobolsk.