DOB: 1744-04-14
Version 1. What does the name Fonvizin mean?
The ancestors of the outstanding Russian playwright Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1745-1792) - from the long-Russified Baltic Germans - were called von Wiesen: particle background- “from” indicated the place of origin (toponym Wiese - German “ray”). End -e in Russian usage it was assimilated into -in- one of the most characteristic examples of Russian adaptation of surnames of foreign origin.
Version 2. What does the name Fonvizin mean?
The surname of the author of the wonderful comedy “Minor” is German, derived from von Wiesen. This is the traditional point of view, but at the same time in 1622. in Uglich and Kolomna the captain was Denis Petrovich Fonvizin, and his last name was written together, and not as in Pushkin’s times - separately.
After similar verbal transformations, the following took root in Rus': Villamov, Detlov, Dyatlov, Mintslov, Pogankov, Radlov, Siversov, Falyandin, Frantsbekov, Shvartov, Everlakov.
There are also Russified German surnames in -skip (tskiy): Kizeritsky, Kiparsky, Napiersky, Pilatsky, Shervinsky.
Fonvizina Natalya Dmitrievna (1805-69) - wife of the Decembrist M.A. Fonvizin (1788-1854). He was sentenced to eight years of hard labor in the Nerchinsk mines. In 1828 Natalya Dmitrievna followed her husband to Transbaikalia, then was with him at the settlement in Yeniseisk and Tobolsk. Three years after the death of her husband, in 1857, she married the Decembrist I.I. Pushchin.
Version 3
From german background Wiesen. The family of von Wiesens - descendants of the Livonian knight - to XVIII century Russified, and accordingly the spelling of the surname became Russified. In 1824, Pushkin wrote to his brother: “Don’t forget to write Von-Vizin as Fonvizin.” What kind of infidel is he? He’s Russian, a Per-Russian Russian.’ It was about writing the name of the wonderful Russian comedian, the author of 'The Minor'. (F). The ancestors of the outstanding Russian playwright Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1745-1792) - from the long-Russified Baltic Germans - were called von Wiesen: the particle von - 'iz' - indicated the place of origin (the toponym Wiese - German 'ray'). The ending -e in Russian use was assimilated into -in - one of the most characteristic examples of Russian adaptation of surnames of foreign origin. (N) In Veselovsky’s Onomasticon there is Fonvizin Denis Petrovich Berentov, captain, 1622, Uglich and Kolomna
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Fonvizin
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Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin was born on April 3 (14), 1745 in Moscow into a noble family descended from a Livonian knightly family. Primary education the future writer received a home. A patriarchal atmosphere reigned in the Fonvizin family.
Since 1755, Denis Ivanovich studied at the noble gymnasium at the university in Moscow, then at the Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow University. In 1760, Fonvizin, among the “selected students,” left for St. Petersburg, where he met Lomonosov and Sumarokov.
The beginning of a creative journey
Since the 1760s, Denis Ivanovich created his first works. Early creativity Fonvizin was distinguished by a sharp satirical orientation. In 1760, the so-called “early “Nedorosl”” was published in “Literary Heritage”. At the same time, the writer was engaged in translations. In 1761, Fonvizin translated Holberg's fables into Russian. In 1762 - works by Terrason, Voltaire, Ovid, Gresse, Rousseau.
Since 1762, Fonvizin has worked as a translator, and since 1763 - secretary of the cabinet minister Elagin in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. In 1769, Denis Ivanovich entered the service of Count Panin as his personal secretary.
In 1768, the writer created the satirical comedy “The Brigadier”. The play received a wide response and Fonvizin, whose biography was still unknown in high circles, was invited to Peterhof to read the work to Empress Catherine II herself.
Public service. Mature creativity
From 1777 to 1778, Fonvizin spent abroad and spent a long time in France. Returning to Russia in 1779, Denis Ivanovich entered the service as an adviser to the chancellery of the Secret Expedition. At the same time, the writer was translating the book “Ta-Gio”. In 1783, Fonvizin created one of best works Russian journalism - “Discourse on indispensable state laws.”
Since 1781, Denis Ivanovich has taken the place of state councilor. In 1782 he retired. In the autumn of the same year, the premiere of the playwright’s most important work, the comedy “Minor” (written in 1781), took place in St. Petersburg. In 1783 the play was staged in Moscow.
Disease. Recent years
Since 1783, Denis Ivanovich has been traveling around Europe, visiting Italy, Germany, and Austria. In 1785, the writer suffered his first apoplexy. In 1787, Fonvizin returned to Russia.
IN recent years In his short biography, Fonvizin suffered from a serious illness - paralysis, but did not stop engaging in literary activities. Despite the ban of Catherine II on the publication of a five-volume collected works, Denis Ivanovich at this time created the comedy “The Tutor’s Choice”, the feuilleton “Conversation with Princess Khaldina”, and was working on the autobiography “Pure Confession” (remained unfinished).
On December 1 (12), 1792, Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin died. The writer was buried at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.
Other biography options
- During a trip to St. Petersburg in 1760, Fonvizin attended for the first time theatrical performance. It was Holberg's play Henry and Pernille. What happened on stage made an indelible impression on the writer, and he retained his passion for theater throughout his life.
- The success of the premiere of "The Minor" during the premiere was so great that the audience, according to the custom of that time, threw wallets with money on the stage.
- Fonvizin special attention paid appearance, for which he was recognized as a dandy. The writer decorated his clothes with fresh flowers, wore a sable frock coat and shoes with large buckles.
- Denis Ivanovich was married to Katerina Ivanovna Rogovikova, the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
Biography test
The test will help you better remember Fonvizin’s short biography.
Fonvizin Denis Ivanovich was born on April 3, 1745. It is noteworthy that the writer’s surname comes from an ancient Livonian family. During the reign of John the Terrible, Peter Von Visin decided to leave his homeland, moved to Russia, and since then his last name has changed. Moreover, they began to write it together - Fonvizin.
In addition to himself, Denis Ivanovich had seven brothers and sisters in his family. Despite the fact that there were many children, the father of the future writer raised them independently, without the help of outsiders.
He not only instilled in them manners and taught them to behave correctly in society, but also taught them to read and write. This continued until the time when an educational institution for children was opened in Moscow, where the future writer was born. noble family.
After finishing his studies at the noble school, Denis Ivanovich entered the gymnasium, which was located in St. Petersburg. Training was quite easy for him. He soon became one of the best high school students and received the honor of being presented to Queen Elizabeth.
This is interesting! Since other influential personalities were also present at the reception, the young man managed to make many useful contacts. Among his new acquaintances was famous philanthropist one of the Moscow institutes - Ivan Shuvalov.
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin was frequent guest in the palace, he also often visited best performances and performances. The impression that the majestic city made on the young youth was indelible. The young man was simply fascinated by him. This inspired him to speak publicly. Moreover, he spoke in front of the public completely without fear. I read the reports in both Russian and German.
University years
In 1759, Denis Ivanovich graduated from high school and entered the Moscow Institute. An important feature of this educational institution there were 3 faculties. Students could choose to study law, medicine or philosophy.
In addition, the institute also housed a gymnasium, which consisted of two departments. At the first stage, only children with noble origin, the second was where commoners were trained.
And although in those years the institute, as Wikipedia says, was just beginning to develop, the student managed to get a lot useful knowledge. Denis mastered several foreign languages, took up translations famous works. Since in those years the magazine “Useful Entertainment” was actively published at the institute, many students turned out to be passionate about literature.
Fonvizin was among these students. This is partly why the young man began translating. Three years later, the institute was graduated. At that time, the young author was not yet 18 years old.
Career
The short biography of the writer contains few details about career growth. Immediately after college, the young man entered the military service. However, it cannot be said that the military position pleased him.
Over time, he found a new place for himself, took the position of translator at the College of Foreign Affairs and soon moved to St. Petersburg, where he short term made a dizzying career.
Although the young man was busy public service, but continued to be active literary activity. From the pen of Denis Ivanovich came many interesting works. And some were written under the influence of reading the works of atheist philosophers from France.
Important! Reading philosophical works, the young man temporarily abandoned faith. However, over time, I reconsidered my views and realized that I did not agree with most of the statements French philosophers. After that, he again became a deeply religious person.
The more works the author wrote, the more he changed. With age, he developed not only wit, but also the ability to use irony. He managed not only to notice all the shortcomings of society, but also to ridicule them. It is no coincidence that Vladimir Lukin became his enemy. At that time this gentleman held the office of Secretary to the Minister. Although Lukin did not deny that Fonvizin had a certain talent, the enmity between them continued for a long time.
Family
In 1774, Fonvizin tied the knot. His chosen one was Ekaterina Rogovikova (Khlopkova). The couple lived a long and happy life in mutual respect and trust. And since Fonvizin’s family lived amicably, it seemed that the husband was truly in love with his wife.
However, the writer's friends knew very well that the only woman the one he really loved was Anna Priklonskaya. Denis Ivanovich met her at the age of 23. The girl was amazed young man not at all external beauty, because she didn’t even have it, but she was smart and educated.
It was with her that the writer dreamed of connecting his life. However, this was not destined to come true, since the girl was already married.
This is interesting! Fonvizin met his future wife at the trial. It so happened that he had to understand a complicated matter by order of the empress herself. It was necessary to defend the rights of the widow Ekaterina Khlopkova to inheritance.
During the trial, it became known that the girl was in love with the defender. The lawyer on the opposite side decided to take advantage of this and attempted to denigrate the woman, saying that Fonvizin was protecting the widow because she was his mistress. To save the lady's honor, Denis Ivanovich agrees to marry.
Disease
In 1782 Denis Fonvizin retired. The Empress granted him a lifelong pension and hoped that her faithful subordinate would take a break from matters of national importance. But in 1783 the writer begins to travel around Europe. The trip turns out to be very exhausting, so two years after the start of the journey, Fonvizin suffers from an apoplexy. Because of this, in 1787 the writer returned to his homeland again.
Soon he was struck by a serious illness - paralysis. But this did not stop me from continuing to study literature. Even the empress’s ban was unable to prevent Denis Ivanovich from creating several good works.
He wrote such masterpieces as “The Tutor’s Choice”, “Conversation with Princess Khaldina”, and began writing an autobiography. I planned to present some facts from life that I had previously kept silent about, but I did not have time to finish it.
On December 1, 1792, the writer died. They buried his body at the Lazarevskoye cemetery in a remote area. After some time, it was decided to call this section the Fonvizinskaya path.
Let us bring to your attention interesting facts about Fonvizin, which most people do not even know about, because this man has always been very secretive.
Some interesting facts, which the biography stores:
- In 1760, the writer attended a theatrical performance for the first time. What he saw made a great impression on him. Fonvizin later admitted that it was that first production he saw that became the reason for his immense love for the theater. It was a production of the play Henry and Pernille. The author of the work was Holberg.
- The premiere of the play, which was staged by work of the same name, which came out from under the brush of Fonvizin, was a stunning success. In those years, it was customary to shower the stage not with flowers, but with money. On the day of the premiere, the entire stage was completely littered with wallets, which indicated unconditional success.
- Fonvizin was considered a real dandy; he not only loved to dress beautifully, but also believed that clothes must be decorated with fresh flowers.
- The only one considered the writer's favorite coat was the one made from sable fur.
Useful video
Let's sum it up
Some accused Fonvizin of marrying for convenience. Although the circumstances of the wedding were well known and many believed that Denis Ivanovich agreed to the marriage only to protect the honor of the girl about whom evil tongues spread gossip. After all, Ekaterina Rogovikova was from a wealthy family. Her father was a famous rich man, engaged in trade and was known as a wise merchant. It was the wife’s well-being that gave rise to gossip. The message that Fonvizin was an ordinary hunter of wealth quickly spread around St. Petersburg. The writer did not make excuses because he believed that he should not explain to others the motives for his marriage.
1744 or 1745 1792
Russian writer. In the comedy "The Brigadier" (staged in 1770), he satirically depicted the morals of the noble class and its passion for everything French. In the comedy "The Minor" (staged in 1782), a landmark work of Russian literature, Fonvizin, seeing the root of all ills in serfdom, ridiculed the system of noble upbringing and education. "Notes of the First Journey" (letters to P.I. Panin; published in the 1800s) played significant role in the formation of Russian prose.
Biography
Born on April 3 (14 NS) in Moscow into a wealthy noble family. Received an excellent home education.
In 1755–1760 he studied at the gymnasium at Moscow University, then for a year at the university’s Faculty of Philosophy. During his student years, he began publishing in Moscow magazines, made his first translation of Moral Fables by the Danish educator L. Holberg, and began translating Voltaire's tragedy Alzira (from 1762).
In 1762, Fonvizin moved to St. Petersburg and took the position of translator at the College of Foreign Affairs. In 1763 1769 he served as secretary to the cabinet minister I. Elagin, who was in charge of analyzing petitions to the highest name, and from 1766 also the imperial theaters.
During these same years, Fonvizin became close to a circle of young freethinking officers and, under their influence, created the satirical work “Message to My Servants...” (1769).
Interest in theater was expressed in work on an original Russian satirical comedy (before that he had adapted foreign comedies “to Russian customs”). "The Brigadier", written in 1766 1769 and staged in 1770, was published only in 1792 1795. N. Novikov said about this comedy: “... it was composed exactly in our customs.”
In 1769, Fonvizin became the secretary of the head of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs N. Panin, the teacher of the heir to the throne. They were brought together by their opposition to the government of Catherine II and the conviction that Russia needs “fundamental laws.”
In 1777 1778 he traveled abroad, to France and Germany, which he later wrote about in “Notes of the First Traveler,” which played a crucial role in the development of Russian prose.
In the atmosphere of reaction that set in after the suppression of the Pugachev rebellion, Fonvizin created his most significant work, the comedy “The Minor” (1781). It directly indicates the root of all Russia’s troubles serfdom and public ignorance, which, according to Fonvizin, can be overcome by reforms in the spirit of the Enlightenment.
In March 1782, after Panin was removed from business, Fonvizin resigned, deciding to completely surrender literary creativity. In 1783 he published a series satirical works: “The experience of a Russian class member”, “Petition to the Russian Minerva from Russian writers", "Narrative of an imaginary deaf and dumb man."
In 1784 1785 Fonvizin visited Germany and Italy, anonymously published in French “The Life of Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin,” painting the image of an ideal enlightened nobleman.
Subsequently, Fonvizin was not allowed to appear in print; the five-volume collection of his works was not published. His articles were distributed only in lists.
The last years of his life the writer was seriously ill, but literary studies didn't leave: started autobiographical story "Sincere confession in my deeds and thoughts" (was not finished, but even in its unfinished form it is a wonderful example of Russian prose).
December 1 (12 NS) 1792 Fonvizin died in St. Petersburg. He was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
FONVIZIN DENIS IVANOVICH - prose writer, playwright, translator. Creator of Russian domestic comedy. Secretary of the head of Russian diplomacy N.I. Panin, State Councilor. The elder brother of Senator P.I. Fonvizina.
Family. Youth
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin came from an old noble family: the Livonian knight von Vizin was captured at , then began to serve the Russian Tsar. The surname itself was distorted over time; initially it had the spelling von Wiesen and many researchers used it for a long time separate writing or spelling Von-Vizin, but in late XIX century researcher N.S. Tikhonravov established the modern spelling of the writer’s surname. Fonvizin's father, Ivan Andreevich, was an official of the revision board, close to many famous politicians.
Fonvizin received a good education at home. In 1755-1760 he studied at the gymnasium at Moscow University, where he successfully studied Latin, German and French languages and spoke at ceremonial acts with speeches in Russian and German. In 1760, among the best students, Fonvizin was taken to St. Petersburg to be presented to the curator of the university. There he was “promoted to student” at the Faculty of Philosophy. Denis Ivanovich actively participated in student life, played in the amateur theater M.M. Kheraskova.
First literary experiments
At this time, he made his debut in the literary field as a translator: he translated from German the collection of the Norwegian-Danish writer Ludwig Holberg, popular in Europe, “Moral Fables” (1761). Several minor translations of Fonvizin appeared in university publications in 1761-1762 (including in M.M. Kheraskov’s magazine “Useful Amusement,” where poems by Fonvizin’s older brother, Pavel, were also published). The translation of Voltaire's tragedy "Alzira" (1762) was not published at the time, but became widespread in copies (published 1894). At the same time, he began to translate a lengthy, four-volume adventure-didactic novel by Abbot Jean Terrason, “Heroic Virtue, or the Life of Seth, King of Egypt, from Mysterious Evidence.” ancient egypt taken" (1762-1768). Denis Ivanovich also translated Ovid’s huge poetic work “Metamorphoses”. Among other things, he translated more than two hundred different fables.
"Elaginsky circle". “The Brigadier” and the emergence of the “comedy of manners”
In 1762, Fonvizin left the university and moved to St. Petersburg, where he began working as a translator at the College of Foreign Affairs. Until 1769, he worked under the direction of the State Councilor of the Palace Chancellery, who managed "court music and theater" and patronized aspiring writers. Elagin appreciated Fonvizin's translation of Voltaire's tragedy and soon the young writer entered the so-called. “Elagin circle”, whose participants (Elagin himself, B.E. Elchaninov, etc.) were busy developing original Russian comedy. To do this, they remade foreign plays, imposing their content on Russian realities. Also in the circle, they mastered the traditions of the bourgeois “tearful drama” (“serious comedy”), of which he acted as a theorist. In this spirit, Fonvizin composed his first in 1764, verse comedy“Corion”, based on the drama “Sydney” by the French author Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset. The action in the play takes place in a village near Moscow and consists of a presentation of the sentimental story of lovers Corion and Xenovia, separated by a misunderstanding and happily united in the finale. Also at that time, Fonvizin became close to literary circle poet and translator Prince F.A. Kozlovsky, a friendship began between him and the outstanding actor I.A. Dmitrievsky.
In 1769 the first absolute independent work Fonvizin's play "The Brigadier", which was appreciated. It was staged at the theater in 1770, although it was not published until 1786. “The Brigadier” became the first “comedy of manners” in Russian literature, in contrast to the previously dominant satirical “comedy of characters”, when personified vices were brought to the stage. In "The Brigadier" all the vices, all the behavior of the characters is socially conditioned. Here, ignorance, bribery, bigotry and blind servility to foreigners, so characteristic of the local bureaucratic circles of Russian society, are cruelly ridiculed. The life-like credibility of such satirical comedy characters as the Brigadier, the Advisor, the Counselor and Ivanushka was achieved by the playwright without violating the principles of character depiction inherent in classicism. But in the Brigadier, the realistic tendencies of Denis Ivanovich’s work manifested themselves with great force. The main artistic merit of the play is its aptly individualized language characters: the military vocabulary of the Brigadier, the combination of clerical orders and Church Slavonic expressions in the speech of the Advisor, the salon Russian-French jargon of Ivanushka and the Advisor, the popular vernacular of the Brigadier. In contrast negative characters positive images comedies (Dobrolyubov, Sophia) are pale and sketchy. The figure of the “hallomaniac” Ivanushka is brought to the fore, with whom the most important topic for Fonvizin is the education of a nobleman.
In the 1760s, during the work of the Commission to draw up a new Code (1767), Denis Ivanovich spoke out on the issue of the rights and privileges of the nobility that concerned everyone. He translates the treatise of G.-F. Quaye’s “Trading Nobility” (1766), which substantiated the right of a nobleman to engage in industry and trade (it is no coincidence that in “Nedorosl” Starodum became rich as a Siberian industrialist, and not a courtier). The manuscript distributed a compilation he compiled in the late 1760s from the works of the German lawyer I.G. Justi "Abridgement of the liberty of the French nobility and the benefits of the third rank." As an appendix to the story translated by Fonvizin, F.-T.-M. Arno “Sidney and Scilly, or Beneficence and Gratitude” (1769) published one of his few poems, “Message to my servants Shumilov, Vanka and Petrushka” (here there are elements of anticlerical satire, believed to be inspired by Fonvizin’s close communication with the writer F .A. Kozlovsky, a famous Voltairian and freethinker). Fonvizin's activities as a translator literary prose crowned the translation of Paul Jérémie Bitobe's story into biblical story Joseph (1769): This is a sentimental, lyrical narrative written in rhythmic prose.
Service N.I. Panin. "Notes of the First Traveler"
In 1769, Denis Ivanovich took the position of one of the secretaries under the head of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, Count, who, in turn, became the tutor of the heir to the throne. Nikita Ivanovich made plans for the early transfer of the throne to the Tsarevich and the limitation of autocracy in favor of the Supreme Council of nobles. Having soon become Panin's confidant, Fonvizin plunged into an atmosphere of political projects and intrigues. In the 1770s, he only twice acted as a writer (more precisely, as a political publicist of the “Panin party”, instructing the monarch on how to rule for the good of the nation) - in the “Word for the recovery of Pavel Petrovich” (1771) and the translation of “Word of praise to Marcus Aurelius "A. Thomas (1777).
In 1777-1778, Fonvizin traveled through Germany and France. One of the reasons for this trip was the long-term illness of the writer’s wife Ekaterina Vasilievna (nee Dmitrieva-Mamonova, the couple had 8 children). His impressions from this trip were reflected in the “Notes of the First Traveler,” which became one of the important milestones in the process of changing the appearance of Russian prose during this period.
After disgrace and resignation of N.I. Panin, in March 1782 Fonvizin also resigned. In 1782-1783, “according to Panin’s thoughts,” he composed “Discourse on the Indispensable Laws of State” (the so-called “Testament of Panin”), which was supposed to become a preface to the prepared but unrealized N.I. and P.I. Panin’s project “Fundamental rights that cannot be applied at all times by any authority” (i.e., essentially, the project of a constitutional monarchy in Russia). Later, this “Testament of Panin,” replete with attacks against the autocracy, was used for propaganda purposes by the Decembrists. Immediately after the death of his patron (March 1783), Fonvizin composed the brochure “The Life of Count N.I. Panin", published in St. Petersburg, first in French (1784), and then in Russian (1786). In 1784, Denis Ivanovich again went abroad - to Italy and Germany, which was also due to the need for treatment for the partial paralysis that began in the writer.
"Undergrown"
After 1773-1775 any manifestation liberal views could lead to serious consequences. But, despite this, in the early 1780s, the comedy “The Minor” (1779-1781, staged in September 1782, published in 1783) was released, bringing fame and universal recognition to Fonvizin. The first production of the play on the court stage on Tsaritsyn Meadow was an extraordinary success. At the center of the comedy is the image of Mrs. Prostakova, a tyrant and despot in her own family and among her peasants. Her cruelty in dealing with others is compensated by her unreasonable and ardent tenderness for her son Mitrofanushka, who, thanks to such maternal upbringing, grows up spoiled, rude, ignorant and completely unfit for any business. Prostakova is confident that she can do whatever she wants, because a decree on “noble freedom” has been given for this. Opposed to her and her relatives, Starodum, Pravdin, Sophia and Milon believe that the freedom of a nobleman lies in the right to study, and then serve society with his mind and knowledge, which justifies the nobility of the noble title. In the finale, retribution comes: Prostakova is cut off from her estate and abandoned by her own son.
What captivated contemporaries most of all in “The Minor” were Starodum’s prudent monologues; later comedy was appreciated for its colorful, socially characteristic language of characters and colorful everyday scenes(often these two plans of comedy - ideological and everyday - were contrasted, as, for example, in the epigram of I.F. Bogdanovich: The venerable Starodum, / Hearing the vile noise, / Where the woman is unbecoming / With her nails reaching into her face, / He went home quickly. / Dear writer, / Sorry, I did the same). “The Minor” became the only Russian play of the 18th century that took a strong place in the repertoire Soviet theater. This fact serves as clear evidence of the enduring significance of the work of the playwright and satirist.
Recent years
In 1783, the princess invited Fonvizin to participate in the magazine “Interlocutor”, which she published. Russian word" His “The Experience of a Russian Estates Member” appeared in the very first issue. Compiled as if for the needs of the “Dictionary” being prepared Russian Academy Sciences", Fonvizin's "Experience" was a hidden political satire, exposing the court order and the “idleness” of the nobles. In the same magazine in 1783, without a title or signature, Fonvizin’s politically acute and daring “questions” were published (in the manuscript they are entitled “Several questions that can arouse special attention in smart and honest people”), addressed to Catherine II and equipped with “answers” ” of the empress herself, who at first believed I.I. to be the author of the “questions”. Shuvalova. The truth soon became clear, and thus Fonvizin, with his “free speech,” incurred the displeasure of the authorities and subsequently experienced difficulties with the publication of his works.
Translation of the work by I.G. Zimmerman “On National Curiosity” (1785), a story about the persecution suffered by a sage, truth teller ruler (“Callisthenes”, 1786), and the poetic fable “The Fox-Kaznodey” (1787) were published anonymously. By 1788, the writer had prepared his “Complete Works and Translations in 5 Volumes”: a subscription was announced, but the publication was suspended by the Empress, and even his manuscript is now lost. In the same year, Fonvizin unsuccessfully sought permission to publish the author’s magazine “Friend” honest people, or Starodum" (part of the magazine materials prepared by Fonvizin was published only in 1830).
In recent years, Fonvizin's health has deteriorated greatly. In addition, the Fonvizin couple began to experience increasing financial difficulties. At the same time, the writer’s religious and repentant sentiments increased. They were reflected in an autobiographical essay written “in the footsteps” of “Confession” by J.-J. Rousseau, - “Frank confession of my deeds and thoughts” (1791). His last comedy, “The Tutor’s Choice” (between 1790 and 1792), which has not completely survived, is devoted, like “The Minor” in many ways, to issues of education, but is much inferior to the latter in artistic terms.
The satirist died on December 1 (12), 1792 in St. Petersburg after an evening spent visiting. Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin was buried in St. Petersburg at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Memory
In the name of D.I. Fonvizin named streets in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Korolev, Kherson, Alma-Ata, as well as the Fonvizinskaya metro station in Moscow.
Essays
First full meeting works of Fonvizin. M., 1888.
Plays. M., 2008.
Collected works in 2 volumes. M., 1959.
Works, letters and selected translations of Fonvizin. St. Petersburg, 1866.