Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky (1823-1886) - a famous writer and playwright in Russia. One of the founders of the modern theater, best known for his plays The Bride and The Storm, which are still very popular.
Birth and childhood
March 31, 1823 Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky was born on Malaya Ordynka in Moscow. Alexander's father, Nikolai Fedorovich studied at the Kostroma Seminary, Moscow Theological Academy. Nikolai Fedorovich was an employee of judicial institutions, rose to the rank of titular adviser, and in 1839 he received the nobility.
Mother - Lyubov Ivanovna Savvina died when Alexander was 7 years old. 5 years after the death of his wife, Nikolai Fedorovich offered a hand and heart to Baroness Emilia Andreevna von Tessin, who surrounded the children with care and attention. There were four children in the Ostrovsky family; getting education was in the first place. Alexander spent all his childhood in Zamoskvorechye. Thanks to his passionate reading in the family library, the boy is determined to become a writer.
Youth: Education and career start
Ostrovsky received a home education. Father insists on admission to the 1st Moscow gymnasium and in 1835 Alexander enters.
In 1840, he became a student at the law faculty of Moscow University, which he still could not finish due to a conflict with a teacher. After studying for 3 years, Alexander writes a letter of resignation. Insisting on the profession of a lawyer, the father writes his son to serve as a scribe in court, where Ostrovsky worked until 1851.
Creation
The comedy "Our people - count!" Alexander's first work, was written in 1846 and was originally called the “Insolvent Debtor”. The comedy was published in 1850 and brought Ostrovsky literary fame. Such great classics as N.V. spoke positively about the work. Gogol and I.A. Goncharov. However, the play was banned by Nicholas 1, the writer was dismissed from service and placed under supervision. Only 11 years later, the play began to be staged again in theaters.
Creative way A.N. Ostrovsky continues only after the coming to power of Alexander 2. In 1856, A.N. Ostrovsky begins to collaborate with the publication "Contemporary". After 3 years, the writer publishes the first collection of works.
In 1865, the play The Storm was written, which many famous critics, including Dobrolyubov, are reviewing.
Theater is an integral part in Ostrovsky's life. In 1886 he created the Artistic Circle, and at the same time Alexander took an active part in the development of the Russian national theater. I.A. Goncharov wrote A.N. Ostrovsky: “You have donated a whole library of literary works as a gift, for the stage you created your own special world. You alone completed the building, the foundation of which laid the cornerstones of Fonvizin, Griboedov, Gogol. But only after you, we Russians can proudly say: “We have our own Russian, national theater”
Personal life
The playwright’s first love, actress Lyubov Kositskaya, reciprocates with Ostrovsky, however, due to circumstances, young people still cannot create a family.
For 20 years, the writer has been living in a civil marriage with Agafya Ivanovna. Alexander's father was against this marriage and deprived the young family of material support. Despite the fact that Agafia was a poorly educated girl, she read all the works and understood Ostrovsky in a word. All children from this marriage died in infancy, later Agafya Ivanovna herself died.
However, Ostrovsky still managed to have children: four heirs and two daughters from actress Maria Bakhmetyeva. They got married 2 years after the death of Agafia.
Interesting Facts
- Ostrovsky spoke eight languages, including Russian.
- Due to problems with censorship, the writers were constantly refused to publish.
- When writing a new play, the playwright died of an attack.
- Alexander Nikolaevich often provoked mockery with his extravagant outfits.
- He was seriously fond of fishing.
Last years
Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky died on June 2, 1886, at the age of 63, at the Shchelykovo estate. The cause of death is considered angina.
The writer's health was greatly undermined by exhausting work, however, despite this, material difficulties haunted him all his life. 3,000 were allocated for burial, and children and widows were paid a pension.
A.N. Ostrovsky was buried in the village of Nikolo-Berezhki, Kostroma province, next to his father.
