The Caucasus is devoted to many poems, poems and short stories, but many are not in vain interested in the work “The Prisoner of the Caucasus”. Who wrote it, let's try to figure it out further. Once a literary critic Belinsky wrote that the Caucasus for the Russians has become a treasured country of "free will and inexhaustible poetry, ebullient life and bold dreams." Today, it is not in vain that they consider Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov and Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy to be the three Caucasian captives. The Caucasus left an indelible mark in their souls, since from the 18th century this wonderful land in itself began to cause great interest among writers, historians, researchers, as a result of which numerous historical, scientific and literary works began to appear.
"Prisoner of the Caucasus": who wrote?
Pushkin is considered the discoverer of the Caucasus in Russian poetry. It was here that he drew his inspiration, communicating through poetry with the romantic landscapes of the majestic mountains, green valleys and fast rivers. And the acute and dangerous events of the Caucasian War (1816-1964) and the life of the highlanders began to serve as sources of various literary plots. It was then that the poet plunged into the atmosphere of various dramatic stories and legends about the military confrontation and heroism of Russian officers in captivity and irreconcilable highlanders.
Pushkin began to write his poem "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" in August 1820 in the Crimea in Gurzuf. She became the first work dedicated to the Caucasus, which was a huge success with readers. According to the author himself, the character of the captive hero did not come out very well for him, but he described the mountains of the fertile land with unusual admiration, and the Circassian love also touched his soul to the depths.
"Prisoner of the Caucasus". Lermontov
Unfortunately, for all his short life, he felt a tremulous love for the Caucasus and M. Yu. Lermontov. In 1825 he visited this fabulously beautiful land. He greatly excited his imagination and subsequently took center stage in his work. He received all information about the Caucasus from his relatives living in Mineralnye Vody. In addition, the Pushkin "captive" made an indelible impression on him. Therefore, already at the age of 14 (1818) Mikhail Yuryevich began to write his "Prisoner of the Caucasus." Plots have a strong resemblance and talk about how a Russian servant is captured by the Circassians. He was very fond of the Circassian woman, who later helped him escape. Only Lermontov gave this plot his unique and unique cut.
Tolstoy
And other authors had the work “Prisoner of the Caucasus”. Who wrote the story on this topic? Of course, the “third prisoner” is Leo Tolstoy. He came to the Caucasus when he was 23 years old. And fell in love with these lands. He did not know what to do with himself, so he began to write a story about local beauties, people's lives, traditions. After more than three years (1851-1854), lived here, he left this region as a famous writer. Many years later, in his memoirs, he emphasized that the Caucasus became for him a school of life. Then he first learned what fighting, danger and death are.
As a child, Tolstoy read Lermontov’s fascinating Caucasian compositions, which he enjoyed. Then among his acquaintances appeared highlanders-Chechens, he wrote down their stories and songs, especially about the war. So the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” was born in his head. The author describes in it the life of two Russian prisoners - Zhilin and Kostylin, who ended up in the Caucasus. Tolstoy's young years spent in the Caucasian War will evoke the best memories. Here he was lonely and unhappy, so it was the most painful, but good time to think, start writing and achieve high thought.
Now, it seems, the confusion over the question of what constitutes the "Caucasian Captive", who wrote it and what he tells about, will disappear by itself. As it turned out, there are already three such works, and not one.