Constantin Negruzzi
Encyclopedia
Constantin Negruzzi was a Romania
n poet, novelist, translator, playwright and politician.
Born in Trifeştii Vechi
, Moldavia
, he studied at home with a Greek teacher. He admitted in a later article that he learnt Romanian by himself, from a book written by Petru Maior
. During the 1821 Revolution
, his family took refuge in Chişinău
, Bessarabia
, where he met Alexander Pushkin and became interested in literature.
Notable among his writings are his memoirs - Amintiri din juneţe ("Memories of youth") - and his historical writings, Fragmente istorice ("Historical fragments"), Negru pe alb ("Black on white"), Aprodul Purice (an aprod was a minor noble title, typically the son of a lord; Purice is a proper name, but literally means "flea"; see Movileşti
). He translated some of the ballads of Victor Hugo
, some of Thomas Moore
's poetry and Antioch Kantemir
's poetry. Negruzzi wrote two plays, Muza de la Burdujeni ("The Muse of Burdujeni") and Cârlani ("Lambs"), while translating several other plays.
Negruzzi also held several functions, including finance minister
and deputy under Sturdza-Vodă
. A supporter of liberal causes, he was twice exiled to his house in Trifeşti for criticism of the government.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n poet, novelist, translator, playwright and politician.
Born in Trifeştii Vechi
Trifesti, Iasi
Trifeşti is a commune in Iaşi County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Hermeziu, Trifeşti, Vladomira and Zaboloteni.-References:...
, Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, he studied at home with a Greek teacher. He admitted in a later article that he learnt Romanian by himself, from a book written by Petru Maior
Petru Maior
Petru Maior was a Romanian writer who is considered one of the most influential personalities of the Age of Enlightenment in Transylvania...
. During the 1821 Revolution
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
, his family took refuge in Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, where he met Alexander Pushkin and became interested in literature.
Notable among his writings are his memoirs - Amintiri din juneţe ("Memories of youth") - and his historical writings, Fragmente istorice ("Historical fragments"), Negru pe alb ("Black on white"), Aprodul Purice (an aprod was a minor noble title, typically the son of a lord; Purice is a proper name, but literally means "flea"; see Movileşti
Movilesti
The Movileşti were a family of boyars in the principality of Moldavia, which became related through marriage with the Muşatin family - the traditional House of Moldavian Princes....
). He translated some of the ballads of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
, some of Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
's poetry and Antioch Kantemir
Antioch Kantemir
Prince Antiokh Dmitrievich Kantemir was a Moldavian-born Russian Enlightenment man of letters and diplomat.Kantemir was born to the Moldavian Prince Dimitrie Cantemir and Princess Kassandra Cantacuzene in...
's poetry. Negruzzi wrote two plays, Muza de la Burdujeni ("The Muse of Burdujeni") and Cârlani ("Lambs"), while translating several other plays.
Negruzzi also held several functions, including finance minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
and deputy under Sturdza-Vodă
Mihail Sturdza
Mihail Sturdza was a prince of Moldavia from 1834 to 1849. A man of liberal education, he established the Mihaileana Academy, a kind of university, in Iaşi. He brought scholars from foreign countries to act as teachers, and gave a very powerful stimulus to the educational development of the...
. A supporter of liberal causes, he was twice exiled to his house in Trifeşti for criticism of the government.