Gleb Uspensky
Encyclopedia
Gleb Ivanovich Uspensky , (October 25, 1843 – April 6, 1902), was a Russian writer.
, where his father was a government official. He attended the gymnasiums at Tula and Chernihiv
, devoting much of his time to the reading of the Russian classics. He studied at the university of St. Petersburg for a short time in 1861, until it was temporarily closed because of student disturbances. He then transferred to Moscow University, but was forced to leave without graduating in 1863, due to a lack of money. His father's death in 1864 left him with the added responsibility of supporting his family.
journal Yasnaya Polyana and in the journal Spectator. In 1864-65 he contributed to the journal Russian Word, and in 1865-66, to The Contemporary
. In 1866 he published a series of sketches about life in the suburbs of his native city of Tula under the title Manners of Rastaraev Street, which established his reputation. In 1868 he became one of the main contributors to the popular magazine Notes of the Fatherland
, working with Nikolay Nekrasov and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
.
In the 1870s, his finances being much improved, he traveled widely, becoming acquainted with a number of revolutionary populists
, such as Pyotr Lavrov and Sergey Stepnyak. From this time on, he was under police surveillance. He published his observations of life abroad in a number of works, including Letters from Serbia
.
Throughout the 1870s and '80s he continued to write about the living and working conditions of the Russian peasants. His best-known work The Power of the Land, based on his studies of life in Nizhni Novgorod, was published in 1882.
and Maxim Gorky
. Tolstoy especially liked Uspensky's story "The Incubator Chicken," first published in 1888, and translated into English as "The Steam Chicken" in 1895.
Uspensky began suffering from mental illness in the mid 1890s, and was unable to continue his literary work. He died at an asylum in St. Petersburg in 1902.
Early life
Uspensky was born in the city of TulaTula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
, where his father was a government official. He attended the gymnasiums at Tula and Chernihiv
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
, devoting much of his time to the reading of the Russian classics. He studied at the university of St. Petersburg for a short time in 1861, until it was temporarily closed because of student disturbances. He then transferred to Moscow University, but was forced to leave without graduating in 1863, due to a lack of money. His father's death in 1864 left him with the added responsibility of supporting his family.
Career
Uspensky's works were first published in 1862, in Leo Tolstoy'sLeo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
journal Yasnaya Polyana and in the journal Spectator. In 1864-65 he contributed to the journal Russian Word, and in 1865-66, to The Contemporary
Sovremennik
Sovremennik was a Russian literary, social and political magazine, published in St. Petersburg in 1836-1866. It came out four times a year in 1836-1843 and once a month after that...
. In 1866 he published a series of sketches about life in the suburbs of his native city of Tula under the title Manners of Rastaraev Street, which established his reputation. In 1868 he became one of the main contributors to the popular magazine Notes of the Fatherland
Otechestvennye Zapiski
Otechestvennye Zapiski was a Russian literary magazine published in St Petersburg on a monthly basis between 1818 and 1884. The journal served liberal-minded readers, known as the intelligentsia...
, working with Nikolay Nekrasov and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
Mikhail Yevgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin , better known by his pseudonym Shchedrin , was a major Russian satirist of the 19th century. At one time, after the death of the poet Nikolai Nekrasov, he acted as editor of the well-known Russian magazine, the Otechestvenniye Zapiski, until it was banned by...
.
In the 1870s, his finances being much improved, he traveled widely, becoming acquainted with a number of revolutionary populists
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, such as Pyotr Lavrov and Sergey Stepnyak. From this time on, he was under police surveillance. He published his observations of life abroad in a number of works, including Letters from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
Throughout the 1870s and '80s he continued to write about the living and working conditions of the Russian peasants. His best-known work The Power of the Land, based on his studies of life in Nizhni Novgorod, was published in 1882.
Last years
Uspensky's works had a considerable influence on Russian literature and society, and were praised by many of his fellow writers, including Leo Tolstoy, Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
and Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
. Tolstoy especially liked Uspensky's story "The Incubator Chicken," first published in 1888, and translated into English as "The Steam Chicken" in 1895.
Uspensky began suffering from mental illness in the mid 1890s, and was unable to continue his literary work. He died at an asylum in St. Petersburg in 1902.
English translations
- "The Steam Chicken" and "A Trifling Defect in the Mechanism" (stories), from The Humor of Russia, Trans. E.L. Voynich. Introduction by Stepnyak. Illustrations by Paul Frenzeny. London: Walter Scott, Ltd./New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1895. from Archive.org
- "Ivan Petrov" (sketch from The Power of the Land), from Anthology of Russian Literature, Leo WienerLeo WienerLeo Wiener was an Americanhistorian, linguist, author and translator of Polish-Jewish origin. Wiener was born in Russia and spent the early part of his childhood there, before coming to the United States alone, with the purpose of creating a vegetarian commune in Belize...
, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1903. from Archive.org - "Inspecting the Bride" (sketch), from Little Russian Masterpieces, Vol 2, Ragozin, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1920.