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Alexander Kuprin - biography, information, personal life. Kuprin's works

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin is a famous Russian writer. His works, woven from real life stories are filled with "fatal" passions and exciting emotions. Heroes and villains come to life on the pages of his books, from privates to generals. And all this against the backdrop of unfading optimism and piercing love for life, which the writer Kuprin gives to his readers.

Biography

He was born in 1870 in the city of Narovchat in the family of an official. A year after the birth of the boy, the father dies, and the mother moves to Moscow. Here is the childhood of the future writer. At the age of six, he was sent to the Razumovsky Boarding School, and after graduation in 1880, to the Cadet Corps. At the age of 18, after graduation, Alexander Kuprin, whose biography is inextricably linked with military affairs, enters the Alexander Cadet School. Here he writes his first work, The Last Debut, which was published in 1889.

creative way

After graduating from college, Kuprin was enrolled in an infantry regiment. Here he spends 4 years. Officer life provides the richest material for him. During this time, his stories “In the Dark”, “Overnight”, “ moonlit night" and others. In 1894, after the resignation of Kuprin, whose biography begins with clean slate, moves to Kyiv. The writer tries various professions, gaining precious life experience, as well as ideas for their future works. In subsequent years, he traveled a lot around the country. The result of his wanderings are the famous stories "Moloch", "Olesya", as well as the stories "The Werewolf" and "The Wilderness".

In 1901 new stage life begins the writer Kuprin. His biography continues in St. Petersburg, where he marries M. Davydova. Here his daughter Lydia and new masterpieces are born: the story "Duel", as well as the stories "White Poodle", "Swamp", "River of Life" and others. In 1907, the prose writer marries again and has a second daughter, Xenia. This period is the heyday in the author's work. He's writing famous stories « Garnet bracelet and Shulamith. In his works of this period, Kuprin, whose biography unfolds against the backdrop of two revolutions, shows his fear for the fate of the entire Russian people.

Emigration

In 1919 the writer emigrates to Paris. Here he spends 17 years of his life. This stage creative way is the most fruitless in the life of a prose writer. Homesickness, as well as a constant lack of funds, forced him to return home in 1937. But creative plans not destined to come true. Kuprin, whose biography has always been associated with Russia, writes the essay "Moscow is dear." The disease progresses, and in August 1938 the writer dies of cancer in Leningrad.

Artworks

Among the most famous works of the writer are the stories "Moloch", "Duel", "Pit", the stories "Olesya", "Garnet Bracelet", "Gambrinus". Kuprin's work affects various aspects human life. He writes about pure love and prostitution, about heroes and the decaying atmosphere of army life. There is only one thing missing in these works - that which can leave the reader indifferent.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin; Russian empire, Penza province; 08/26/1870 - 08/25/1938

One of the most significant figures in Russian literature of the early 20th century is, of course, Alexander Kuprin. The work of this writer was appreciated not only by Russian, but also by world critics. Therefore, many of his works are included in the classics of world literature. Largely due to this, Kuprin is still being read now, and the best proof is the high place of this author in our rating.

Biography of Kuprin A.I.

Death in 1904 causes great pain to Kuprin. After all, Kuprin knew this writer personally. But he does not stop his literary activity. The first big success for Alexander Kuprin comes after the release of the story "Duel". Thanks to this, Kuprin is becoming more and more popular to read, and the author is trying to resist the decadent mood of society with his new stories.

After the revolution, Kuprin did not accept new government. And although at first he tried to cooperate and even published a newspaper for the village - "Earth", he was still arrested. After three days in prison, he moved to Gatchina, where he joined the North-Western Army, which fought against the Bolsheviks. Since to bear military service Alexander Kuprin was already old enough, then he is engaged in the release of the newspaper "Prinevsky Krai". After the defeat of the army, he emigrated to France with his family.

In 1936, Alexander Kuprin received an offer to return to his homeland. Taking advantage of the advice with which Bunin corresponded, Kuprin agreed. In 1937, he returned to the USSR, and a year later he died of a serious illness, just one day before he reached his 68th birthday.

Bunin's books on Top Books website

The popularity of reading Kuprin's books is now so high that this allowed many of the author's books to be featured in our ratings. So in the rating five works of the author are presented at once. It is most popular to read "Yu-yu" and "Garnet bracelet". It is with these two works that the author is presented in our rating. All this allows us to say that Kuprin's reading is as relevant as it was half a century ago. Though not small role this was played by schoolchildren, for whom it is obligatory to read Kuprin's stories according to the school curriculum.

All books by Kuprin A.I.

Al Issa
Anathema
Balt
Barbos and Zhulka
Poor Prince
No title
white locust
Blissful
Blondel
Swamp
Bonze
Breguet
Dragnet
Brikki
diamonds
In the menagerie
In the barracks
In the cage of the beast
In Crimea (Medzhid)
In the bear's corner
In the bowels of the earth
In the tram
At the circus
woodcocks
wine barrel
magic carpet
Sparrow
in the dark
Gambrinus
Gem
Hero Leander and the shepherd
Goga Veselov
Eggnog
Grunya
Caterpillar
Demir-Kaya
Kindergarten
Inquiry
small house
Daughter of the great Barnum
Friends
bad pun
Janet
liquid sun
Zhydovka
Life
Zavirayka
Sealed Babies
Star of Solomon
animal lesson
golden rooster
Toy
Interview
Art
Temptation
giants
To glory
How I was an actor
Cantaloupe
Captain
Painting
Nag
goat life
horse thieves
royal park
winged soul
Laurel
Legend
Lenochka
Backwoods
lemon peel
Curl
Lolly
moonlit night
lucia
Marianne
The Bears
Small fry
mechanical justice
Millionaire
peaceful life
My passport
My flight
Moloch
Seasickness
Peregrine Falcon's thoughts about people, animals, objects and events
On capercaillie
At the turning point (Cadets)
at rest
At the siding
On the river
Narcissus
Natalya Davydovna
Head of thrust
Secret revision
Accommodation
Night shift
night violet
Night in the forest
About poodle
Resentment
Loneliness
One-Armed Commandant
Olga Sur
Executioner
daddy
skewbald horses
firstborn
First person
Dog-Black Nose
Pirate
By order
Lost Power

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26, 1870 in the county town of Narovchat, Penza province. His father, a collegiate registrar, died at thirty-seven of cholera. The mother, left alone with three children and practically without a livelihood, went to Moscow. There she managed to arrange for her daughters in a boarding house "on a state budget", and her son settled with his mother in the Widow's House on Presnya. (The widows of military and civilians who had served for the benefit of the Fatherland for at least ten years were accepted here.) military school, and after that he was sent to the 46th Dnieper regiment. Thus, early years the writer passed in a state-owned environment, the strictest discipline and drill.

His dream of a free life came true only in 1894, when, after his resignation, he arrived in Kyiv. Here, having no civilian profession, but feeling a literary talent in himself (as a cadet he published the story “The Last Debut”), Kuprin got a job as a reporter in several local newspapers.

The work was easy for him, he wrote, by his own admission, "on the run, on the fly." Life, as if in compensation for the boredom and monotony of youth, now did not skimp on impressions. In the next few years, Kuprin repeatedly changes his place of residence and occupation. Volyn, Odessa, Sumy, Taganrog, Zaraysk, Kolomna... Whatever he does: he becomes a prompter and actor in a theater troupe, a psalmist, a forest ranger, a proofreader and an estate manager; even studying to be a dental technician and flying an airplane.

In 1901, Kuprin moved to St. Petersburg, and here begins his new, literary life. Very soon he became a regular contributor to well-known St. Petersburg magazines - Russian Wealth, World of God, Magazine for Everyone. One after another, stories and novels are published: "Swamp", "Horse Thieves", "White Poodle", "Duel", "Gambrinus", "Shulamith" and unusually thin, lyrical work about love - "Garnet Bracelet".

The story "Garnet Bracelet" was written by Kuprin in the heyday of Silver Age in Russian literature, which was distinguished by an egocentric attitude. Writers and poets then wrote a lot about love, but for them it was more a passion than the highest pure love. Kuprin, despite these new trends, continues the tradition of Russian literature XIX century and writes a story about a completely disinterested, high and pure, true love which does not go “directly” from person to person, but through love for God. This whole story is a wonderful illustration of the hymn of love of the Apostle Paul: “Love endures long, is merciful, love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, is not irritated, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. ; covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never ceases, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished. What does the hero of the story Zheltkov need from his love? He does not look for anything in her, he is happy only because she is. Kuprin himself noted in one letter, speaking about this story: "I have not written anything more chaste yet."

Kuprin’s love is generally chaste and sacrificial: the hero of the later story “Inna”, being rejected and excommunicated from home for a reason he does not understand, does not try to take revenge, forget his beloved as soon as possible and find solace in the arms of another woman. He continues to love her all the same selflessly and humbly, and all he needs is just to see the girl, even from a distance. Even having finally received an explanation, and at the same time learning that Inna belongs to another, he does not fall into despair and indignation, but, on the contrary, finds peace and tranquility.

In the story "Holy Love" - all the same sublime feeling, the object of which is an unworthy woman, a cynical and prudent Elena. But the hero does not see her sinfulness, all his thoughts are so pure and innocent that he is simply not able to suspect the evil.

In less than ten years, Kuprin becomes one of the most widely read authors in Russia, and in 1909 he receives the academic Pushkin Prize. In 1912, his collected works were published in nine volumes as an appendix to the Niva magazine. Real glory came, and with it stability and confidence in tomorrow. However, this prosperity did not last long: the First World War. Kuprin arranges an infirmary for 10 beds in his house, his wife Elizaveta Moritsovna, a former sister of mercy, takes care of the wounded.

Kuprin could not accept the October Revolution of 1917. He took the defeat of the White Army as a personal tragedy. “I ... bow my head respectfully before the heroes of all volunteer armies and detachments, who disinterestedly and selflessly offered their souls for their friends,” he would later say in his work “The Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia.” But the worst thing for him is the changes that happened to people overnight. People "bruised" before our eyes, lost their human appearance. In many of his works (“The Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia”, “Search”, “Interrogation”, “Pinto Horses. Apocrypha”, etc.), Kuprin describes these terrible changes in human souls that took place in the post-revolutionary years.

In 1918 Kuprin met with Lenin. "In the first and probably last time all my life I went to a man with the sole purpose of looking at him,” he admits in the story “Lenin. Instant photo. The one he saw was far from the image that Soviet propaganda imposed. “At night, already in bed, without fire, I again turned my memory to Lenin, called up his image with extraordinary clarity and ... was frightened. It seemed to me that for a moment I seemed to have entered into it, I felt like it. “In essence,” I thought, “this man, so simple, polite and healthy, is much more terrible than Nero, Tiberius, Ivan the Terrible. Those, with all their spiritual ugliness, were still people accessible to the whims of the day and fluctuations in character. This one is something like a stone, like a cliff, which has broken away from the mountain range and is rapidly rolling down, destroying everything in its path. And besides - think! - a stone, by virtue of some kind of magic, - thinking! He has no feelings, no desires, no instincts. One sharp, dry, invincible thought: falling, I destroy.

Fleeing from the devastation and hunger that engulfed post-revolutionary Russia, the Kuprins leave for Finland. Here the writer is actively working in the emigrant press. But in 1920, he and his family had to move again. “It is not my will that fate itself fills the sails of our ship with wind and drives it to Europe. The newspaper will be out soon. I have a Finnish passport until June 1, and after this period they will only be allowed to live on homeopathic doses. There are three roads: Berlin, Paris and Prague ... But I, a Russian illiterate knight, do not understand well, turn my head and scratch my head, ”he wrote to Repin. Bunin's letter from Paris helped to resolve the issue of choosing a country, and in July 1920 Kuprin and his family moved to Paris.

However, neither the long-awaited peace nor well-being comes. Here they are strangers to everyone, without housing, without work, in a word - refugees. Kuprin is engaged in literary day labor. There is a lot of work, but it is paid low, money is sorely lacking. He tells his old friend Zaikin: "... he was left naked and poor, like a stray dog." But even more than need, he is exhausted by homesickness. In 1921, he wrote to the writer Gushchik in Tallinn: “... there is not a day that I do not remember Gatchina, why I left. It is better to starve and get cold at home than to live out of the mercy of a neighbor under a bench. I want to go home ... ”Kuprin dreams of returning to Russia, but is afraid that he will be met there as a traitor to the Motherland.

Gradually, life got better, but nostalgia remained, only “lost its sharpness and became chronic,” Kuprin wrote in the essay “Motherland”. “You live in a beautiful country, among smart and good people, among the monuments of the greatest culture ... But everything is just for fun, as if a film of cinema is unfolding. And all the silent, dull grief that you no longer cry in your sleep and see in your dream neither Znamenskaya Square, nor Arbat, nor Povarskaya, nor Moscow, nor Russia, but only a black hole. Longing for the lost happy life is heard in the story “At the Trinity-Sergius”: “But what can I do with myself if the past lives in me with all the feelings, sounds, songs, cries, images, smells and tastes, and the present life stretches out before me like a daily one, never changeable, boring, battered film. And do we not live in the past sharper, but deeper, sadder, but sweeter than in the present?

The works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, as well as the life and work of this outstanding Russian prose writer, are of interest to many readers. He was born in 1870 on the twenty-sixth of August in the city of Narovchat.

His father almost immediately after his birth died of cholera. After some time, Kuprin's mother arrives in Moscow. He arranges his daughters there in state institutions, and also takes care of the fate of his son. The role of mother in the upbringing and education of Alexander Ivanovich cannot be exaggerated.

Education of the future prose writer

In 1880, Alexander Kuprin entered a military gymnasium, which was later transformed into cadet corps. Eight years later, he graduated from this institution and continues to develop his career in the military. He had no other option, since it was this one that allowed him to study at public expense.

And two years later he graduated from the Alexander Military School and received the rank of second lieutenant. This is a pretty serious officer rank. And it's time for self service. In general, the Russian army was the main career path for many Russian writers. Recall at least Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov or Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet.

The military career of the famous writer Alexander Kuprin

Those processes that took place at the turn of the century in the army later became the subject of many works of Alexander Ivanovich. In 1893, Kuprin makes an unsuccessful attempt to enter the General Staff Academy. There is a clear parallel here with his famous story "The Duel", which will be mentioned a little later.

And a year later, Alexander Ivanovich retired, without losing touch with the army and without losing that array of life impressions that gave rise to many of his prose works. He, while still an officer, tries to write and from some time begins to publish.

The first attempts at creativity, or a few days in a punishment cell

The first published story of Alexander Ivanovich is called "The Last Debut". And for this creation of his, Kuprin spent two days in a punishment cell, because officers were not supposed to speak in print.

Writer for a long time lives an unsettled life. He seems to have no destiny. He constantly wanders, for many years Alexander Ivanovich lives in the south, Ukraine or Little Russia, as they said then. He visits a huge number of cities.

Kuprin publishes a lot, and journalism gradually becomes his permanent occupation. He knew the Russian south, as few other writers do. At the same time, Alexander Ivanovich began to publish his essays, which immediately attracted the attention of readers. The writer tried himself in many genres.

Gaining fame in reading circles

Of course, there are many creations that Kuprin created, works that even an ordinary schoolboy knows the list of. But the very first story that made Alexander Ivanovich famous is "Moloch". It was published in 1896.

This work is based on real events. Kuprin visited Donbass as a correspondent and got acquainted with the work of the Russian-Belgian joint-stock company. Industrialization and the rise of production, all that many people aspired to public figures turned into inhuman working conditions. This is precisely the main idea of the story "Moloch".

Alexander Kuprin. Works, the list of which is known to a wide range of readers

Some time later, works are published that are known today to almost every Russian reader. These are "Garnet Bracelet", "Elephant", "Duel" and, of course, the story "Olesya". This work was published in 1892 in the newspaper "Kievlyanin". In it, Alexander Ivanovich very dramatically changes the subject of the image.

No longer factories and technical aesthetics, but Volyn forests, folk legends, pictures of nature and the customs of the local villagers. This is what the author puts into the work "Olesya". Kuprin wrote another work that has no equal.

The image of a girl from the forest, able to understand the language of nature

The main character is a girl, a forest dweller. She seems to be a sorceress who can command the forces surrounding nature. And the girl's ability to hear and feel her language is in conflict with church and religious ideology. Olesya is condemned, she is blamed for many troubles that fall on her neighbors.

And in this clash of the girl from the forest and the peasants who are in the bosom social life, which describes the work "Olesya", Kuprin used a kind of metaphor. It contains a very important contrast. natural life And modern civilization. And for Alexander Ivanovich this compilation is very typical.

Another work of Kuprin, which has become popular

Kuprin's work "Duel" has become one of the most famous creations of the author. The action of the story is connected with the events of the year 1894, when fights, or duels, as they were called in the past, were restored in the Russian army.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, with all the complexity of the attitude of the authorities and people to duels, there was still some kind of knightly meaning, a guarantee of compliance with the norms of noble honor. And even then, many fights had a tragic and monstrous outcome. At the end of the nineteenth century, this decision looked like an anachronism. The Russian army was already completely different.

And there is one more circumstance that must be mentioned when speaking about the story "Duel". It was published in 1905, when during the Russo-Japanese War Russian army suffered one defeat after another.

This had a demoralizing effect on society. And in this context, the work "Duel" caused a furious controversy in the press. Almost all of Kuprin's works caused a flurry of responses from both readers and critics. For example, the story "The Pit", referring to more late period the author's creativity. She not only became famous, but also shocked many of Alexander Ivanovich's contemporaries.

Later work of the popular prose writer

Kuprin's work "Garnet Bracelet" is bright story about pure love. About how a simple employee named Zheltkov loved Princess Vera Nikolaevna, who was completely unattainable for him. He could not claim either marriage or any other relationship with her.

However, suddenly after his death, Vera realizes that a real, genuine feeling passed by her, which did not disappear in debauchery and did not dissolve in those terrible faults that separate people from each other, in social obstacles that do not allow different circles of society to communicate with each other and join into marriage. This bright story and many other works of Kuprin are read today with unremitting attention.

Creativity of a prose writer dedicated to children

Alexander Ivanovich writes a lot of stories for children. And these works of Kuprin are another side of the author's talent, and they also need to be mentioned. He devoted most of his stories to animals. For example, "Emerald", "White Poodle" or famous work Kuprin "Elephant". The children's stories of Alexander Ivanovich are wonderful, an important part his heritage.

And today we can say with confidence that the great Russian prose writer Alexander Kuprin has taken his rightful place in the history of Russian literature. His creations are not just studied and read, they are loved by many readers and cause great admiration and reverence.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin

Novels and stories

Foreword

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26, 1870 in the county town of Narovchat, Penza province. His father, a collegiate registrar, died at thirty-seven of cholera. The mother, left alone with three children and practically without a livelihood, went to Moscow. There she managed to arrange for her daughters in a boarding house "on a state budget", and her son settled with his mother in the Widow's House on Presnya. (The widows of military and civilians who had served for the benefit of the Fatherland for at least ten years were accepted here.) At the age of six, Sasha Kuprin was admitted to an orphanage school, four years later to the Moscow Military Gymnasium, then to the Alexander Military School, and after that he was sent to 46th Dnieper Regiment. Thus, the young years of the writer passed in a state-owned environment, the strictest discipline and drill.

In 1901, Kuprin moved to St. Petersburg, and here his new, literary life began. Very soon he became a regular contributor to well-known St. Petersburg magazines - Russian Wealth, World of God, Magazine for Everyone. One after another, stories and novels are published: "Swamp", "Horse Thieves", "White Poodle", "Duel", "Gambrinus", "Shulamith" and an unusually subtle, lyrical work about love - "Garnet Bracelet".

The story "Garnet Bracelet" was written by Kuprin during the heyday of the Silver Age in Russian literature, which was distinguished by an egocentric attitude. Writers and poets then wrote a lot about love, but for them it was more a passion than the highest pure love. Kuprin, despite these new trends, continues the tradition of Russian literature of the 19th century and writes a story about completely disinterested, high and pure, true love, which does not go “directly” from person to person, but through love for God. This whole story is a wonderful illustration of the hymn of love of the Apostle Paul: “Love endures long, is merciful, love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, is not irritated, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. ; covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never ceases, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished. What does the hero of the story Zheltkov need from his love? He does not look for anything in her, he is happy only because she is. Kuprin himself noted in one letter, speaking about this story: "I have not written anything more chaste yet."

In less than ten years, Kuprin becomes one of the most widely read authors in Russia, and in 1909 he receives the academic Pushkin Prize. In 1912, his collected works were published in nine volumes as an appendix to the Niva magazine. Real glory came, and with it stability and confidence in the future. However, this prosperity did not last long: the First World War began. Kuprin arranges an infirmary for 10 beds in his house, his wife Elizaveta Moritsovna, a former sister of mercy, takes care of the wounded.

In 1918 Kuprin met with Lenin. “For the first and probably the last time in my life I went to a man with the sole purpose of looking at him,” he admits in the story “Lenin. Instant photo. The one he saw was far from the image that Soviet propaganda imposed. “At night, already in bed, without fire, I again turned my memory to Lenin, called up his image with extraordinary clarity and ... was frightened. It seemed to me that for a moment I seemed to have entered into it, I felt like it. “In essence,” I thought, “this man, so simple, polite and healthy, is much more terrible than Nero, Tiberius, Ivan the Terrible. Those, with all their spiritual ugliness, were still people accessible to the whims of the day and fluctuations in character. This one is something like a stone, like a cliff, which has broken away from the mountain range and is rapidly rolling down, destroying everything in its path. And besides - think! - a stone, by virtue of some kind of magic, - thinking! He has no feelings, no desires, no instincts. One sharp, dry, invincible thought: falling, I destroy.

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