Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin – 19th-century Russian writer, author of The History of a Town and The Golovlyov Family. A master satirist, he fiercely mocked bureaucracy, despotism, and social hypocrisy. Though he served as a civil servant, his biting satire made him a leading critic of Russian society.
📖 His early works were so sharp that he was exiled to Vyatka in 1848. 🖋️ Adopted the double surname to separate his civil service career from his literary one. 📚 The History of a Town satirises the entire course of Russian governance and absurdity. 👨💼 Served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, known as a diligent official. 🏠 The Golovlyov Family depicts the moral decay of a noble family. 📰 Edited the influential journal Otechestvennye Zapiski. 🎭 His grotesque allegories are often compared to Swift and Gogol. 📖 Created “fairy tales for adults” – biting satirical fables like The Wild Landowner and The Wise Minnow. 😲 Curious fact: friends nicknamed him “Shchedrin” for his generosity with biting satire. 😄 Funny fact: joked that the best censorship is “the healthy laughter of the reader.”