Alexander Pushkin – 19th-century Russian poet and novelist, author of Eugene Onegin and Boris Godunov. Founder of modern Russian literary language, he blended Romanticism and Realism, shaping future literature. Killed in a duel in 1837, he became a national symbol of poetry.
📚 At the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, his verses were read before Zhukovsky and Derzhavin. 🖋️ Placed under censorship and exiled to the south for his “liberty-loving” poems. 🌍 Blended European literary influences with Russian folklore. ❤️ His wife, Natalia Goncharova, was considered one of St. Petersburg’s great beauties. 📖 Eugene Onegin took over 7 years to complete and was called an “encyclopaedia of Russian life.” 🎭 His play Boris Godunov marked a milestone in Russian drama. ⚔️ Faced multiple duel challenges before the fatal one with D’Anthès. ✍️ Fascinated by history, he wrote The History of Pugachev’s Rebellion. 😲 Curious fact: struggled with arithmetic as a child, but excelled in verse. 💰 Pushkin: after his fatal duel, only about 300 roubles were found in his house; by various estimates, his debts would amount to roughly €1 million in today’s money. 😄 Funny fact: at the Lyceum, classmates nicknamed him “the little Frenchman” for his love of French.