Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and Russian literature of the early 20th century are inseparable. This happened because the writer, in his own works, covered contemporary life, discussed topics and sought answers to questions that are usually classified as eternal. All his work is based on life prototypes. Alexander Ivanovich drew plots from life, he only refracted this or that situation into artistically. According to generally accepted opinion, the work of this author belongs to literary direction realism, but there are pages that are written in the style of romanticism.
In 1870, a boy was born in one of the cities of the Penza province. They named him Alexander. Sasha's parents were poor nobles.
The boy's father served as a secretary in court, and his mother was in charge of household. Fate decreed that after Alexander was one year old, his father died suddenly from illness.
After this sad event, the widow and children go to live in Moscow. Later life Alexandra, one way or another, will be connected with Moscow.
Sasha studied at a cadet boarding school. Everything indicated that the boy’s fate would be connected with military affairs. But in reality it turned out completely wrong. The theme of the army became firmly entrenched in Kuprin’s literary work. Such works as “Army Ensign”, “Cadets”, “Duel”, “Junkers” are dedicated to military service. It is worth noting that the image of the main character of “The Duel” is autobiographical. The author admits that he created the image of the second lieutenant based on the experience of his own service.
The year 1894 was marked for the future prose writer by his resignation from military service. This happened thanks to his explosive nature. At this time, the future prose writer is looking for himself. He tries to write, and his first attempts are successful.
Some stories from his pen are published in magazines. This period until 1901 can be called a fruitful period literary creativity Kuprina. The following works were written: “Olesya”, “Lilac Bush”, “ Wonderful doctor"and many others.
In Russia during this period of time, popular unrest was brewing due to opposition to capitalism. The young author reacts creatively to these processes.
The result was the story "Moloch", where he addresses ancient Russian mythology. Under the guise of a mythological creature, he shows the soulless power of capitalism.
Important! When “Moloch” was published, its author began to closely communicate with the luminaries of Russian literature of that period. These are Bunin, Chekhov, Gorky.
In 1901, Alexander met his only one and tied the knot. After marriage, the couple moved to St. Petersburg. At this time, the writer was active both in the literary field and in public life. Works written: “ White poodle", "Horse Thieves" and others.
In 1911, the family moved to Gatchina. At this time, creativity appears new topic– love. He writes, "Shulamith".
A. I. Kuprin “Garnet Bracelet”
In 1918, the couple emigrated to France. Abroad, the writer continues to work fruitfully. More than 20 stories have been written. Among them are “Blue Star”, “Yu-Yu” and others.
1937 became a landmark year in that Alexander Ivanovich was allowed to return to his homeland. The sick writer returns to Russia. He lives in his homeland for only a year. The ashes rest in the Volkovsky cemetery in Leningrad.
The most important thing you need to know about the life and work of this outstanding author is located in the chronological table:
| Date | Event |
| September 26 (August 7), 1870 | Birth of Kuprin |
| 1874 | Moving with my mother and sisters to Moscow |
| 1880–1890 | Studying at military schools |
| 1889 | Publication of the first story “The Last Debut” |
| 1890–1894 | Service |
| 1894–1897 | Moving to Kyiv and writing activities |
| 1898 | "Polessye Stories" |
| 1901–1903 | Marriage and move to St. Petersburg |
| 1904–1906 | Printing of the first collected works |
| 1905 | "Duel" |
| 1907–1908 | Addresses to love theme in creativity |
| 1909–1912 | Received the Pushkin Prize. “Garnet Bracelet” has been published. |
| 1914 | Military service |
| 1920 | Emigration to France with family |
| 1927–1933 | A fruitful period of creativity abroad |
| 1937 | Return to Russia |
| 1938 | Death in Leningrad |
The most important thing about Kuprin
A brief biography of the writer can be summarized in several main milestones of his life. Alexander Ivanovich comes from an impoverished noble family. It so happened that the boy was left without a father early on. For this reason, the formation of personality was quite difficult. After all, as you know, a boy needs a father. The mother, having moved to Moscow, decides to send her son to study at military school. Therefore, the army structure quite strongly influenced Alexander Ivanovich and his worldview.
Main stages of life:
- Until 1894, that is, until he retired from military service, the aspiring author tried his hand at writing.
- After 1894, he realized that writing was his calling, so he devoted himself entirely to creativity. Makes acquaintance with Gorky, Bunin, Chekhov and other writers of that time.
- The revolution of 1917 confirmed Kuprin in the idea that perhaps they were right in their views on power. Therefore, the writer and his family cannot stay in Russia and are forced to emigrate. Alexander Ivanovich has been living in France for almost 20 years and working fruitfully. A year before his death, he was allowed to return to his homeland, which he did.
- In 1938, the writer’s heart stopped beating forever.
Useful video: the early period of creativity of A. I. Kuprin
Biography for children
Children become acquainted with the name Kuprin while studying at elementary school. Below we give biographical information about the writer that students need.
For younger children school age It is important to know that Alexander Ivanovich turned to the topic of children and childhood for a reason. He writes on this topic simply and naturally. In this cycle he creates large number stories about animals. In general, in works of this orientation, Kuprin expresses a humane attitude towards all living things.
In stories whose heroes are children, the theme of orphanhood is acutely expressed. Perhaps this is due to the fact that their author himself was left without a father early on. But it is worth noting that he shows orphanhood as social problem. Works about children and for children include “The Wonderful Doctor”, “Yu-Yu”, “Taper”, “Elephant”, “White Poodle” and many others.
Important! Undoubtedly, the contribution of this outstanding writer in the development and formation of children's literature is extremely large.
A. I. Kuprin in Gatchina
Kuprin's last years
Kuprin had many difficulties in his childhood, not less problems it was in recent years life. In 1937 he was allowed to return to Soviet Union. He was greeted solemnly. Among those greeting the famous prose writer were many famous poets and writers of that time. In addition to these people, there were a lot of fans of Alexander Ivanovich’s work.
By this time, Kuprin was diagnosed with cancer. This disease greatly undermined the resources of the writer’s body. Returning to his homeland, the prose writer hoped that staying in his native land would only benefit him. Unfortunately, the writer's hopes were not destined to come true. A year later, the talented realist passed away.
Last years of life
Kuprin in videos
IN modern world informatization, a lot of biographical information about creative people digitized. The TV channel “My Joy” broadcasts a series of programs “My Live Journal”. In this series there is a program about the life and work of Alexander Kuprin.
On the TV channel “Russia. Culture" broadcasts a series of lectures about writers. The duration of the video is 25 minutes. Moreover, lectures about Alexander Ivanovich also form a cycle. There are those that tell about childhood and adolescence and the period of emigration. Their duration is approximately the same.
There are collections of videos about Kuprin on the Internet. Even an entire virtual page is dedicated to the famous Russian writer. This page also contains links to audiobooks. Reader reviews are posted at the very end.
Return to Homeland
Wikipedia about Kuprin
The electronic encyclopedia Wikipedia contains a voluminous information article about Alexander Ivanovich. It talks in detail about life path prose writer. Dans detailed descriptions his main works. The information concerning the writer’s family is covered quite fully. This text is accompanied by personal photographs of Kuprin.
After the basic information, the author's bibliography is presented, with electronic links to almost all books. Anyone who is truly interested in his work can read what interests them. There are also links to videos with filmed works of Alexander Ivanovich. Listed at the end of the article memorable places, associated with the name of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, many are illustrated with photographs.
Useful video: biography of A.I. Kuprina
Conclusion
70 years have passed since Kuprin's death. This is a fairly long period of time. But, despite this, the popularity of Alexander Ivanovich’s works does not decrease. This is due to the fact that they contain things that are understandable to everyone. The works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin should be read by everyone who wants to better understand the nature of relationships and the motives that drive different people. They are a kind of encyclopedia moral qualities and deep experiences of any person.
Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26 (September 7), 1870 in the city of Narovchat (Penza province) into a poor family of a minor official.
1871 was a difficult year in Kuprin’s biography - his father died, and the poor family moved to Moscow.
Training and the beginning of a creative path
At the age of six, Kuprin was sent to a class at the Moscow Orphan School, from which he left in 1880. After that, Alexander Ivanovich studied at the military academy, the Alexander Military School. The time of training is described in such works by Kuprin as: “At the Turning Point (Cadets)”, “Junkers”. “The Last Debut” is Kuprin’s first published story (1889).
From 1890 he was a second lieutenant in an infantry regiment. During the service, many essays, stories, stories were published: “Inquiry”, “ Moonlit night", "In the Dark".
Creativity flourishes
Four years later, Kuprin retired. After this, the writer travels a lot around Russia, tries his hand at different professions. At this time, Alexander Ivanovich met Ivan Bunin, Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky.
Kuprin builds his stories of those times on life impressions gleaned during his travels.
Kuprin's short stories cover many topics: military, social, love. The story “The Duel” (1905) brought Alexander Ivanovich real success. Love in Kuprin’s work is most vividly described in the story “Olesya” (1898), which was his first major and one of his most beloved works, and the story of unrequited love, “The Garnet Bracelet” (1910).
Alexander Kuprin also loved to write stories for children. For children's reading he wrote the works “Elephant”, “Starlings”, “White Poodle” and many others.
Emigration and last years of life
For Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, life and creativity are inseparable. Not accepting the policy of war communism, the writer emigrated to France. Even after emigration, in the biography of Alexander Kuprin, the writer’s fervor does not subside; he writes novellas, short stories, many articles and essays. Despite this, Kuprin lives in material need and yearns for his homeland. Only 17 years later he returns to Russia. Then it is published last essay writer - the work “Native Moscow”.
After a serious illness, Kuprin died on August 25, 1938. The writer was buried at the Volkovsky cemetery in Leningrad, next to the grave
Photo from 1912
A.F. Marks
Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin born on September 7 (August 26, old style) 1870 in the city of Narovchat in the Penza province (now the village of Narovchat in the Penza region) into a noble family. Father - Ivan Ivanovich Kuprin (1834-1871). Mother - Lyubov Alekseevna Kuprina (maiden name Kulunchakova) (1838-1910). When Alexander Ivanovich was one year old, his father died, and Lyubov Alekseevna and her son moved to Moscow. The education of the future writer begins at the Moscow Razumov School in 1876, at the age of six. After graduating from school in 1880, he entered the Second Moscow Military Gymnasium. And in 1887 he already entered the Alexander Military School. During training, a test of the pen takes place: unsuccessful attempt write poetry and the story “The Last Debut”, which was published in 1889 in the magazine “Russian Satirical Leaflet”. The writer wrote about this period of his life in the novel “Junker” and the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets).”
After graduating from college in 1890, he began serving with the rank of lieutenant in the 46th Dnieper Infantry Regiment in the Podolsk province (now part of the Vinnitsa, Khmelnytsky and Odessa regions in Ukraine). But already in 1894 he resigned and moved to Kyiv.
Since 1894, Kuprin traveled a lot around Russian Empire and tried himself in different professions, which gave him rich material for his works. During this period, get acquainted with Chekhov, Gorky and Bunin. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg.
In 1902 he married Maria Karlovna Davydova (1881-1966), with whom he lived until 1907, and in the same year he began to live with Elizaveta Moritsovna Heinrich (1882-1942), and signed with her in 1909, after receiving official divorce with his first wife.
In the nineties, some of Alexander Ivanovich’s works were published, but he gained fame in 1905, after the publication of the story “The Duel.” From 1905 to 1914, many of Kuprin’s works were published. In 1906 he was a candidate for deputy of the State Duma.
After the outbreak of the First World War in the summer of 1914, he opened a hospital at home, but in December 1914 he was mobilized. In 1915 he was demobilized for health reasons.
Accepts with enthusiasm February revolution 1917. After October Revolution, for some time tries to work with the Bolsheviks, but does not accept their views and joins White movement. In the North-Western Army, Yudenich was engaged in editorial work in the newspaper “Prinevsky Krai”. After a major defeat, the army left first for Finland in 1919, and then for France in 1920. In Paris, Kuprin writes three long stories, many short stories and essays. In 1937, at the invitation of the government and personal permission of Stalin, he returned to the USSR. Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin died on August 25, 1938 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) from cancer. He was buried at the Volkovsky cemetery next to Turgenev.
Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870 - 1938) - Russian writer. Social criticism marked the story “Moloch” (1896), in which industrialization appears in the image of a monster factory that enslaves a person morally and physically, the story “The Duel” (1905) - about the death of a mentally pure hero in the deadening atmosphere of army life, and the story “The Pit” (1909 - 15) - about prostitution. A variety of finely outlined types, lyrical situations in the stories and short stories “Olesya” (1898), “Gambrinus” (1907), “Garnet Bracelet” (1911). Cycles of essays (“Listrigons”, 1907 - 11). In 1919 - 37 in exile, in 1937 he returned to his homeland. Autobiographical novel"Junker" (1928 - 32).
Big encyclopedic dictionary, M.-SPb., 1998
Biography
Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870), prose writer.
Born on August 26 (September 7, new year) in the city of Narovchat, Penza province, in the family of a minor official who died a year after the birth of his son. After the death of her husband, his mother (from the ancient family of Tatar princes Kulanchakov) moved to Moscow, where the future writer spent his childhood and youth. At the age of six, the boy was sent to the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school (orphanage), from where he left in 1880. The same year he entered the Moscow Military Academy, which was transformed into the Cadet Corps.
After completing his studies, he continued his military education at the Alexander Junker School (1888 - 90). Subsequently, he described his “military youth” in the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” and in the novel “Junkers”. Even then he dreamed of becoming “a poet or novelist.”
First literary experience Kuprin had poems that remained unpublished. The first work to see the light was the story “The Last Debut” (1889).
In 1890, after graduating from military school, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was enlisted in an infantry regiment stationed in the Podolsk province. The life of an officer, which he led for four years, provided rich material for his future works. In 1893 - 1894, his story “In the Dark” and the stories “On a Moonlit Night” and “Inquiry” were published in the St. Petersburg magazine “Russian Wealth”. A series of stories are dedicated to the life of the Russian army: “Overnight” (1897), “Night Shift” (1899), “Hike”. In 1894, Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, without any civilian profession and having a small life experience. In the following years, he traveled a lot around Russia, trying many professions, greedily absorbing life experiences that became the basis of his future works. In the 1890s, he published the essay “Yuzovsky Plant” and the story “Moloch”, the stories “Wilderness”, “Werewolf”, the stories “Olesya” and “Kat” (“Army Ensign”). During these years, Kuprin met Bunin, Chekhov and Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg, began working for the “Magazine for Everyone,” married M. Davydova, and had a daughter, Lydia. Kuprin's stories appeared in St. Petersburg magazines: “Swamp” (1902); "Horse Thieves" (1903); "White Poodle" (1904). In 1905, his most significant work was published - the story "The Duel", which was a great success. The writer’s performances with the reading of individual chapters of “The Duel” became an event cultural life capitals. His works of this time were very well-behaved: the essay “Events in Sevastopol” (1905), the stories “Staff Captain Rybnikov” (1906), “River of Life”, “Gambrinus” (1907). In 1907, he married his second wife, sister of mercy E. Heinrich, and had a daughter, Ksenia. Kuprin's work in the years between the two revolutions resisted the decadent mood of those years: the cycle of essays "Listrigons" (1907 - 11), stories about animals, the stories "Shulamith", "Garnet Bracelet" (1911). His prose became a notable phenomenon of Russian literature at the beginning of the century. After the October Revolution, the writer did not accept the policy of military communism, the “Red Terror”; he feared for the fate of Russian culture. In 1918 he came to Lenin with a proposal to publish a newspaper for the village - “Earth”. At one time he worked at the World Literature publishing house, founded by Gorky. In the fall of 1919, while in Gatchina, cut off from Petrograd by Yudenich's troops, he emigrated abroad. The seventeen years that the writer spent in Paris were an unproductive period. Constant material need and homesickness led him to the decision to return to Russia. In the spring of 1937, the seriously ill Kuprin returned to his homeland, warmly received by his admirers. Published the essay “Native Moscow”. However, new creative plans was not destined to come true. In August 1938, Kuprin died in Leningrad from cancer.
Brief biography of A.I. Kuprina - option 2
Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin (1870-1938) - famous Russian writer. His father, a small official, died a year after the birth of his son. His mother, originally from the Tatar princes Kulanchakov, after the death of her husband moved to the capital of Russia, where Kuprin spent his childhood and youth. At the age of 6, Alexander was sent to an orphanage, where he stayed until 1880. And immediately upon leaving, he entered the Moscow Military Academy.
Afterwards he studied at the Alexander School (1888-90). In 1889, his first work, “The Last Debut,” saw the light of day. In 1890, Kuprin was assigned to an infantry regiment in the Podolsk province, life in which became the basis for many of his works.
In 1894 the writer resigns and moves to Kyiv. The following years were devoted to wandering through Russia.
In 1890, he introduced readers to many publications - “Moloch”, “Yuzovsky Plant”, “Werewolf”, “Olesya”, “Kat”.
In 1901, Kuprin moved to St. Petersburg and worked as secretary of the “Magazine for Everyone.” In the same year he marries Davydova M. and life gives him a daughter.
Two years later Kuprin marries a second time. His chosen one is sister of mercy E. Heinrich, who gave birth to the writer’s daughter.
In 1918, Kuprin comes to Lenin and offers to publish a newspaper for village residents - “Earth”. In 1919 the author emigrated abroad. But the period when he stayed in Paris - 17 years - was unproductive. The reason for this is the material side, longing for the homeland. And as a result, the decision to return to Russia.
Already in 1937, Kuprin returned to Russia and published the essay “Native Moscow.” Death from cancer overtakes the author in 1938.
Biography of A.I. Kuprin |
A mysterious house on the outskirts of Gatchina had a bad reputation. It was rumored that there was a brothel here. Because music until late at night, songs, laughter. And, by the way, F. I. Chaliapin (1873-1938) sang, A. T. Averchenko (1881-1925) and his colleagues from the magazine “Satyricon” laughed. And Alexander Kuprin, a friend and neighbor of the owner of the house, the extravagant cartoonist P.E. Shcherbov (1866-1938), often visited here.
October 1919
Leaving Gatchina with the retreating Yudenich, Kuprin will run here for a few minutes to ask Shcherbov’s wife to pick up the most valuable things from his house. She will fulfill the request, and among other things, take a framed photo of Kuprin. Shcherbova knew that this was his favorite photo, so she kept it as a relic. She had no idea what deep secret the portrait hid.The Mystery of the Daguerreotype
And so the writer’s photograph becomes a museum exhibit.When drawing up an act by museum workers, under the cardboard frame, with back side A negative of another photograph was discovered. It shows an image of an unknown woman. Who is this lady, whose image Kuprin, like the reverse side of his soul, kept, protecting from prying eyes.
Biography of Kuprin, interesting facts
Once at a literary banquet, a young poetess (the future wife of the writer Alexei Tolstoy (1883-1945)) drew attention to a stout man who was looking at her point-blank, with what seemed to the poetess to be evil, bearish eyes.“Writer Kuprin,” the neighbor at the table whispered in her ear. - Don't look in his direction. He's drunk"
This was the only time when retired lieutenant Alexander Kuprin was impolite to a lady. In relation to ladies, Kuprin has always been a knight. Over the manuscript of the “Garnet Bracelet,” Kuprin cried and said that he had never written anything more chaste. However, readers' opinions were divided.
Some called "The Garnet Bracelet" the most tiresome and fragrant of all love stories. Others considered him gilded tinsel.
Failed duel
Already in exile, the writer A. I. Vvedensky (1904-1941) told Kuprin that in “ Garnet bracelet"The plot is not believable. After such words, Kuprin challenged his opponent to a duel. Vvedensky accepted the challenge, but then everyone who was nearby intervened and the duelists were reconciled. However, Kuprin still stood his ground, claiming that his work was true. It was clear that there was something deeply personal connected with the “Garnet Bracelet”.It is still unknown who the lady was, the inspirer of the writer’s great work.
In general, Kuprin did not write poems, but he did publish one in one of the magazines:
"You're funny with gray hair...
What can I say to this?
That love and death possess us?
That their orders cannot be avoided?
In the poem and “Pomegranate Bracelet,” you can see the same tragic leitmotif. Unrequited, somehow exalted and elevating love for an inaccessible woman. Whether she really existed or what her name was, we don’t know. Kuprin was a knightly chaste man. He didn’t let anyone into the recesses of his soul.
A Brief Love Story
In exile in Paris, Kuprin took upon himself the efforts of preparing the wedding of I. A. Bunin (1870-1953) and Vera Muromtseva (1981-1961), who lived in a civil marriage for 16 years. Finally, Ivan Alekseevich’s first wife agreed to the divorce, and Kuprin offered to organize a wedding. He was the best man. I negotiated with the priest and sang along with the choir. He really liked all church rituals, but this one especially.
In those days, Kuprin wrote about the romantic love of his youth to Olga Sur, a circus rider. Kuprin remembered Olga all his life, and in the hiding place of the writer’s portrait, it was quite possible that there was her image.
Parisian period
Parisians were tensely awaiting the decision of the Nobel Committee. Everyone knew that they wanted to give the prize to an exiled Russian writer, and three candidates were being considered: D. S. Merezhkovsky (1865-1941), I. A. Bunin and A. I. Kuprin. Dmitry Merezhkovsky's nerves could not stand it, and he suggested that Bunin conclude an agreement, whichever of the two would be given the prize, all the money would be divided in half. Bunin refused.Kuprin did not say a word about the Nobel Prize. He already received one for two with Bunin Pushkin Prize. In Odessa, having drunk his last banknote, Kuprin slobbered on the bill at a restaurant and stuck it on the forehead of the doorman standing next to him.
Meeting I. A. Bunin
I. A. Bunin and A. I. Kuprin met in Odessa. Their friendship was very much like rivalry. Kuprin called Bunin Richard, Albert, Vasya. Kuprin said: “I hate the way you write. It dazzles the eyes." Bunin considered Kuprin talented and loved the writer, but endlessly looked for errors in his language and more.Even before the 1917 revolution, he told Alexander Ivanovich: “Well, you are a nobleman after your mother.” Kuprin squeezed the silver spoon into a ball and threw it into the corner.
Moving to France
Bunin dragged Kuprin from Finland to France and found him an apartment in a house on Jacques Offenbach Street, on the same landing as his apartment. And then Kuprin’s guests began to irritate him, and the endless noisy farewells at the elevator. The Kuprins have moved out.Meeting Musya
Many years ago, it was Bunin who dragged Kuprin to St. Petersburg into a house on Razyezzhaya Street, 7. He had long known Musya, Maria Karlovna Davydova (1881-1960), and began to joke that he had brought Kuprin to her to woo her. Musya supported the joke, and a whole scene was enacted. Everyone had a lot of fun.At that time, Kuprin was in love with the daughter of his friends. He really liked the state of falling in love, and when it wasn’t there, he invented it for himself. Alexander Ivanovich also fell in love with Musya, he began to call her Masha, despite protests that this was the name of the cooks.
The publisher Davydova raised her to be an aristocrat, and few people remembered that the girl was thrown into this house as a baby. Young, pretty Musya was spoiled by laughter, unkind, not young. She could make fun of anyone. There were a lot of people milling around her. Fans courted, Musya flirted.
The beginning of family life
Having rather friendly feelings towards Kuprin, she still married him. It took him a long time to choose wedding gift, and finally bought a beautiful gold watch in an antique store. Musa didn't like the gift. Kuprin crushed the watch with his heel.Musya Davydova loved to tell after receptions who was courting her; she liked how jealous Kuprin was.
This large and wild beast turned out to be completely tame. Containing his rage, he somehow crushed a heavy silver ashtray into a cake. He smashed her portrait in a heavy massive frame, and once set Musa’s dress on fire. However, since childhood, his wife was distinguished by an iron will, and Kuprin experienced this himself.
Fine Line
Not knowing what would come of it, Musya Davydova brought him to visit her loved one. Their apartment was located in the same building. The head of the family, to entertain the guests, showed an album in which there were letters from a stranger to his fiancee, and then his wife Lyudmila Ivanovna. The unknown person sang and blessed every moment of this woman’s life, starting from birth.He kissed the footprints of her feet and the ground on which she walked, and for Easter he sent a gift - a cheap blown gold bracelet with several garnet stones. Kuprin sat as if struck by thunder. This is that same love, he was then working on “The Duel” and under the impression he wrote the following: “Love has its peaks, accessible only to a few out of millions.”
Unrequited love is an insane bliss that never fades. Precisely because it is not satisfied by the reciprocal feeling. This is the highest happiness." According to literary experts, this meeting gave rise to the “Garnet Bracelet”.
Recognition in society
Kuprin gained particular popularity after the words of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1828-1910): “Of the young people, he writes better.” A crowd of fans accompanied him from one restaurant to another. And after the release of the story “The Duel,” A. I. Kuprin became truly famous. The publishers offered him any royalties in advance, what could be better. But few people noticed that at this time he suffered greatly. Kuprin dealt with his feelings this way: he simply left for Balaklava, sometimes straight from the restaurant.Crimean period
Here in Balaclava, alone with himself, he wanted to make a decision. His wife's strong will suppressed his freedom. For the writer it was like death. He could give everything for the opportunity to be himself, so as not to sit at a desk all day, but to observe life and communicate with ordinary people.
In Balaklava, he especially enjoyed communicating with local fishermen. They even decided to buy their own plot of land to build their own garden and build a house. Generally speaking, he wanted to settle here. Kuprin passed all the tests to join the local fishing association. I learned how to knit nets, tie ropes, and tar leaky boats. The artel accepted Kuprin and he went to sea with the fishermen.
He liked all the signs that fishermen observed. You can’t whistle on a longboat, just spit overboard, and don’t mention the devil. Leave a small fish in the gear, as if by accident, for further fishing happiness.
Creativity in Yalta
From Balaklava, Alexander Kuprin loved to travel to Yalta to see A.P. Chekhov (1960-1904). He liked to talk to him about everything. A.P. Chekhov took an active part in the fate of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. Once he helped me move to St. Petersburg and recommended him to publishers. He even offered a room in his Yalta house so that Kuprin could work in peace. A.P. Chekhov introduced Alexander Ivanovich to the winemakers of the Massandra plant.The writer needed to study the process of making wine for the story “The Wine Barrel.” A sea of Madeira, Muscat and other Massandra temptations, what could be more beautiful. A.I. Kuprin drank little by little, enjoying the aroma of the magnificent Crimean wine. This is exactly how Anton Chekhov knew him, knowing very well the reasons for his comrade’s spree.
During this period of Kuprin's life, they were expecting the birth of a child.
Musya Davydova was pregnant (daughter Lydia was born in 1903). Constant whims and tears several times a day, a pregnant woman’s fears of the upcoming birth, were reasons for family quarrels. One day Musya broke a glass decanter over Kuprin’s head. Thus her behavior resolved all his doubts.
Nobel laureate
November 9, 1933 Nobel Committee announced his decision. The prize was received by I. A. Bunin. He allocated 120 thousand francs from it in favor of distressed writers. Kuprin was given five thousand. He didn’t want to take the money, but he had no means of subsistence. Daughter Ksenia Aleksandrovna Kuprina (1908-1981) is acting in films, she needs outfits, how many old ones can be altered.The writer's childhood
Alexander Kuprin called his childhood the most vile period of his life and the most beautiful. The district town of Narovchat, Penza province, in which he was born, seemed to Kuprin all his life as a promised land.His soul longed to go there and there were three heroes with whom he performed feats of arms. Sergei, Innokenty, Boris are three Kuprin brothers who died in infancy. The family already had two daughters, but the boys were dying.
Then the pregnant Lyubov Alekseevna Kuprina (1838-1910) went to the elder for advice. The wise old man taught her that when a boy was born, and this would be on the eve of Alexander Nevsky, to name him Alexander and order an icon of this saint the size of the baby and everything would be fine.
Exactly a year later, almost on the future writer’s birthday, his father, Ivan Kuprin (whose biography is little remarkable), died. The proud Tatar princess Kulanchakova (married to Kuprin) was left alone with three small children.
Kuprin's father was not an exemplary family man. Frequent sprees and drinking bouts with local comrades forced the children and wife to live in constant fear. The wife hid her husband's hobbies from local gossip. After the death of the breadwinner, the house in Narovchat was sold and she went with little Sasha to Moscow to a widow’s house.
Moscow life
Kuprin spent his childhood surrounded by old women. Rare visits to his mother's rich Penza friends were not a holiday for him. If they started delivering a sweet birthday cake, then the mother began to assure that Sashenka did not like sweets. That you can only give him the dry edge of the pie.Sometimes she presented a silver cigarette case to her son’s nose and amused the owner’s children: “This is my Sashenka’s nose. He’s a very ugly boy and it’s a shame.” Little Sasha decided to pray to God every evening and ask God to make him pretty. When the mother left so that her son would behave quietly and not anger the old women, she would tie his leg with a rope to a chair or draw a chalk circle beyond which he could not go. She loved her son and sincerely believed that she was making him better.
Mother's death
From his first writer's fee, Kuprin bought his mother boots and subsequently sent her a portion of all his earnings. More than anything else, he was afraid of losing her. Kuprin made a promise to his mother that it was not he who would bury her, but she who would bury him first.The mother wrote: “I am hopeless, but don’t come.” This was the last letter from my mother. The son filled his mother's coffin to the top with flowers and invited the best singers in Moscow. Kuprin called the death of his mother the funeral of his youth.
The village period from the life of A. I. Kuprin
That summer (1907) he lived in Danilovskoye, on the estate of his friend, the Russian philosopher F. D. Batyushkov (1857-1920). He really liked the color of the local nature and its inhabitants. The peasants greatly respected the writer, calling him Alexandra Ivanovich Kuplenny. The writer liked the village customs of ordinary residents. Once Batyushkov took him to his neighbor, famous pianist Vera Sipyagina-Lilienfeld (18??-19??).
That evening she played Beethoven’s “Appassionata,” putting into the music the suffering of a hopeless feeling that she was forced to hide deeply from everyone. At the age of well over 40, she fell in love with a handsome man who was old enough to be her son. It was love without a present and without a future. Tears rolled down her cheeks, the game shocked everyone. It was there that the writer met young Elizaveta Heinrich, the niece of another great writer, D. N. Mamin-Sibiryak (1852-1912).
F. D. Batyushkov: rescue plan
Kuprin confessed to F.D. Batyushkov: “I love Lisa Heinrich. I don’t know what to do.” That same evening in the garden during a blinding summer thunderstorm, Kuprin told Lisa everything. The next morning she disappeared. Lisa likes Kuprin, but he is married to Musa, who is like her sister. Batyushkov found Lisa and convinced her that Kuprin’s marriage had already broken up, that Alexander Ivanovich would become a drunkard, and Russian literature would lose a great writer.Only she, Lisa, can save him. And it was true. Musya wanted to mold Alexander into whatever she wanted, and Liza allowed this element to rage, but without devastating consequences. In other words, be yourself.
Unknown facts from the biography of Kuprin
The newspapers were choking on the sensation: “Kuprin as a diver.” After a free flight with the pilot S.I. Utochkin (1876-1916) on hot air balloon, he, a fan of strong sensations, decided to sink to the bottom of the sea. Kuprin had great respect for extreme situations. And he reached out to them in every possible way. There was even a case when Alexander Ivanovich and the wrestler I.M. Zaikin (1880-1948) crashed in an airplane.The plane is in pieces, but the pilot and passengers have nothing to do with it. “Nikolai Ugodnik saved us,” said Kuprin. At this time, Kuprin already had a newborn daughter, Ksenia. This news even caused Lisa to lose milk.
Moving to Gatchina
The arrest was a big surprise for him. The reason was Kuprin’s article about the cruiser Ochakov. The writer was evicted from Balaklava without the right to reside. Alexander Kuprin witnessed the rebel sailors of the cruiser "Ochakov" and wrote about it in the newspaper.
Besides Balaklava, Kuprin could only live in Gatchina. The family is here and bought a house. He had his own garden and vegetable garden, which Kuprin cultivated with great love, together with his daughter Ksenia. My daughter Lidochka also came here.
During the First World War, Kuprin organized a hospital in his house. Lisa and the girls became sisters of mercy.
Lisa allowed him to create a real menagerie in the house. Cats, dogs, monkey, goat, bear. Local kids ran after him around the city because he bought ice cream for everyone. Beggars lined up outside the town church because he gave to everyone.
One day the whole city ate black caviar with spoons. His friend, wrestler I.M. Zaikin sent him a whole barrel of the delicacy. But the most important thing is that Kuprin was finally able to write at home. He called it "pee period." When he sat down to write, the whole house froze. Even the dogs stopped barking.
Life in exile
In his desecrated and ruined house in 1919, an unknown rural teacher will collect from the floor burnt, covered with dust, fumes and earth, priceless sheets of manuscript. Thus, some of the saved manuscripts have survived to this day.The entire burden of emigration will fall on Lisa’s shoulders. Kuprin, like all writers, was very helpless in everyday life. It was during the period of emigration that the writer grew very old. My vision was getting worse. He saw almost nothing. The uneven and intermittent handwriting of the Juncker manuscript was evidence of this. After this work, all manuscripts for Kuprin were written by his wife, Elizaveta Moritsovna Kuprina (1882-1942).
For several years in a row, Kuprin came to one of the Parisian restaurants and at the table composed messages to an unknown lady. Perhaps the one that was on the negative in the writer’s portrait frame.
Love and Death
In May 1937, I. A. Bunin unfolded a newspaper on the train and read that A. I. Kuprin had returned home. He was shocked not even by the news he learned, but by the fact that in some ways Kuprin had surpassed him. Bunin also wanted to go home. They all wanted to die in Russia. Before his death, Kuprin invited the priest and talked to him about something for a long time. Until his last breath, he held Lisa's hand. So that the bruises on her wrist did not go away for a long time.On the night of August 25, 1938, A.I. Kuprin passed away.
Left alone, Liza Kuprina hanged herself in besieged Leningrad. Not from hunger, but from loneliness, from the fact that the one she loved with that same love that occurs once every thousand years was not nearby. That love that stronger than death. They took the ring off her hand and read the inscription: “Alexander. August 16, 1909." On this day they got married. She never took this ring off her hand.
Experts gave an unexpected expert opinion. The daguerreotype depicts a young Tatar girl, who many years later would become the mother of the great Russian writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin.