Which writer was a teacher in the Tobolsk province. Beginning of literary activity

In 1831-1835 he studied at the philosophical and legal department of St. Petersburg University. IN student years Ershov becomes close to the professor of Russian literature Pyotr Pletnev, meets Vasil Zhukovsky, Alexander Pushkin... To their judgment, the nineteen-year-old student submits his first major work - the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse”, after reading which Pushkin said with praise to the aspiring poet: “Now this type of writing can be leave it to me." Pletnev, during one of his lectures from the university department, read an excerpt from “The Little Humpbacked Horse” and introduced the author to the amazed listeners wonderful fairy tale- their fellow student Pyotr Ershov, who was sitting in the audience.

An excerpt from “The Little Humpbacked Horse” appeared in the “Library for Reading” (, vol. 3), and in mid-1834 Ershov’s fairy tale was published separate publication. Success accompanied the young poet: in December of the same year, the first part of “The Siberian Cossack” was approved for publication, and then the second part of this “ancient story”.

The approaching graduation from university was associated with problems for the young Siberian. He could not get the desired position, he had to part with friends, of whom he had few, and break with the literary environment. Conflicting feelings were also caused by saying goodbye to St. Petersburg itself: many things here became dear and merged with the soul of the poet, and on the other hand, Ershov was attracted by Siberia, which he called the “northern beauty,” dreaming of exploring the then little-explored region.

Returning to his homeland in the summer of 1836, he worked as a teacher at the Tobolsk gymnasium, then as an inspector (from 1844) and director (from 1857) of the gymnasium and the directorate of schools in the Tobolsk province. One of his students is the future chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. Ershov's stepdaughter became his wife.

He was the initiator of the creation of an amateur gymnasium theater. He worked as a director in the theatre. He wrote several plays for the theater: “Rural Holiday”, “Suvorov and stationmaster", comic opera "Yakut Gods", "Skull Apostle".

He published his poems in Senkovsky’s “Library for Reading” and in Pletnev’s “Contemporary”.

Literary activity

Ershov became famous thanks to his fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” written by him while still a student and first published as an excerpt in volume 3 of “Library for Reading” in 1834, with a commendable review from Senkovsky.

For some time it was believed that the first four verses of the fairy tale were sketched by Pushkin, who read it in manuscript. Ershov's fairy tale was published as a separate book in 1834 and went through seven editions during the author's lifetime, with the second edition of 1856 being heavily revised by the author and is today a canonical text.

“The Little Humpbacked Horse” is a folk work, almost word for word, according to the author himself, taken from the lips of the storytellers from whom he heard it; Ershov only brought it into a more slender form and supplemented it in places. A unique style, folk humor, successful and art paintings(horse market, zemstvo fish court, mayor) brought this tale to wide circulation.

In addition to “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” Ershov wrote several dozen poems. There are also indications that he published poems, stories and dramatic works under pseudonyms.

Possibly known as Prutkov's Father.

Literature

• Vinokurova N.V. Pyotr Ershov in the family circle // Yearbook-2002 of the Tobolsk Museum-Reserve. - Tobolsk, 2003. - P. 257-261.
• Egorova I. L. To the 170th anniversary of the writing of the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” by P. P. Ershov // Yearbook-2003 of the Tobolsk Museum-Reserve. - Tobolsk, 2004. - P. 120-131. (about works that copy the style and plot of “The Little Humpbacked Horse”)
• Ershov Pyotr Pavlovich // North Kazakhstan region. Encyclopedia. - Almaty, 2004. - P. 246.
• Ershov Pyotr Pavlovich: Bibliographic index. - Ishim, 1989. - 69 p.
• Zhuravleva N.V. The fate of the descendants of P.P. Ershov // Yearbook-2003 of the Tobolsk Museum-Reserve. - Tobolsk, 2004. - P. 132-140.
• Kopylov V. E. Ershov in Ershov // Korkina Sloboda. Historical and local history almanac. - Vol. 2. - Ishim, 2000. - P. 107-112. ISBN 5-900142-38-8
• Russian history literature of the 19th century V. Bibliographic index. - M.-L., 1962.
• Kreknina L.I. Ermak’s theme in the works of P.P. Ershov // TOKM Yearbook: 1994. - Tyumen, 1997. - P. 240-245. ISBN 5-87591-004-6
• Malyshev V.N. Ershovs in the Ishim region // Korkina Sloboda. - Vol. 1. - Ishim, 1999. - pp. 47-51. ISBN 5-900142-50-7
• Maltseva T.I. Folklore and linguistic elements in the tale of P.P. Ershov // West Siberian local history. - Ishim, 1994. - P. 117-143. (including full bibliography and name index)
• Rogacheva N. A. The plot of “The Little Humpbacked Horse” (No. 531 SUS) in the fairy tale tradition Western Siberia//Regional cultural landscapes: history and modernity. Materials of the All-Russian scientific conference. - Tyumen, 2004. - P. 206-211.
• Savchenkova T. P. Newly found autographs of P. P. Ershov from the Tobolsk archive // ​​Slovtsov Readings-2002: Materials of reports and messages of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical local history conference. - Tyumen, 2002. - pp. 178-179.

Russian poet, Siberian storyteller, writer, playwright, teacher.

Family and childhood

Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov was born in Western Siberia in the village of Bezrukovo, in the Ishim district of the Tobolsk province (in 1960 the village of Bezrukovo will be renamed to).

Father - Pavel Alekseevich Ershov, came from “children of clerks”. He served as an official in various positions in the judicial, financial, and police departments. He was not rich and lived “from service.” Mother - Efimiya Vasilievna Ershova, née Pilenkova, daughter of a wealthy Tobolsk merchant. Her ancestors were gunsmiths; they came to Siberia during the reign. Subsequently, the artisans moved to the merchant rank. Her father traded with China and also sold livestock.

Pavel Ershov was forced to move frequently for work reasons. Having begun his service in 1801 in the ancient Siberian city, he was subsequently transferred to, where he served as head of the office, and later as treasurer in the local treasury. In Tobolsk, he met his future wife, a merchant’s daughter, Efimiya Vasilievna Pilenkova. They got married there - in 1807 in the Zakharyevskaya Church, about which there is a corresponding entry in the registry book. In the same year, Pavel Alekseevich was appointed to the post of commissar in the Cheremshan part of the Ishim district.

After the appointment the family moved to permanent place residence in the village of Bezrukovo - the native village of the poet’s father. It was there, in Bezrukovo, that Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov, the future author of the immortal “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” was born. Interesting fact: due to the fact that the child was born very weak, the parents decided to immediately baptize him, which was done on his birthday. Since Bezrukovo did not have its own church, the christening took place in the Epiphany Church. This temple was famous for organizing the winter Nikolsky fairs, famous throughout Siberia.

But despite the hot parent prayers, the boy became increasingly weaker. The child was slowly fading away and was already dying. The unhappy parents decided to take a desperate step. They performed a local magical ceremony. Its essence was this: the child was sold to a beggar for a penny; it was believed that in this way the “buyer” took with him all the illnesses of the newborn. Subsequently citing this incident from his infancy, Ershov liked to joke, saying that the price was only one penny.

Ershov’s childhood itself took place in different Siberian towns. Stepnoy Petropavlovsk, and, finally, . A city very famous in history thanks to its famous exiles: His Serene Highness, Prince Alexey Grigorievich Dolgorukov, Count different times lived in Berezovo. All these places became a temporary refuge for the Ershov family.

By 1825, after changing several places of service, the Ershovs again found themselves in Tobolsk. They live in the house of their uncle, Nikolai Stepanovich Pilenkov. Nikolai Stepanovich was a famous man in the city, a millionaire philanthropist. Uncle showed great concern in relation to his nephews - Peter and Nikolai Ershov. Pavel Alekseevich was well aware of the importance and usefulness of quality education for his sons. For this reason, in 1827, Pyotr Ershov, together with his brother Nikolai, entered the Tobolsk gymnasium.

Since 1827 Ivan Pavlovich Mendeleev, who was the father of the future brilliant chemist, becomes the new director of the gymnasium. Ivan Pavlovich was a remarkable man in many ways. He began his activities by transforming the gymnasium from a four-grade school to a seven-grade school. Such a system provided the opportunity for more in-depth study all necessary disciplines, and in addition, graduates of the gymnasium now had the right to enter higher educational institutions. New director was a supporter creative approach to teaching children. “Literary Sundays” were organized for high school students, which were conducted personally by Ivan Pavlovich. They hosted public readings of Russian and foreign authors, discussions took place, and students were given the opportunity to read own works, if there were any. It was then that Ivan Pavlovich noted the abilities of young Ershov. The boy's father was constantly traveling on business. Since the Ershov and Mendeleev families were related, Ivan Pavlovich took upon himself the difficult task of instructing the boy on the righteous path of education. He invited him to his home, talked, and gave him many interesting books to read. In the future, Pyotr Ershov will speak of his mentor with great gratitude. Subsequently, already being an inspector of the Tobolsk gymnasium, Ershov will take an active part in the fate of Ivan Pavlovich’s son, the talented scientist Dmitry Mendeleev. By the will of fate, an amazing change of roles will occur. Dmitry Mendeleev will lose his wonderful father at the age of 13, and it is Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov who will become his support, as well as a mentor and loyal friend. He advises him to enter the St. Petersburg Pedagogical University. And that’s not all, after years, already living in, Dmitry Mendeleev marries Ershov’s stepdaughter, Feozna Nikitichna Leshcheva.

During the same period, fate brought Ershov together with another famous fellow countryman- composer, pianist, author of brilliant romances - Alexander Alexandrovich Alyabyev. The composer was in Tobolsk as an honorary exile. Local high society gladly invites Alyabyev to all kinds of receptions and creative evenings. Alexander Alyabyev - an energetic man, a hero of the Patriotic War, the most talented musician of his time, in an indescribable way enlivens the atmosphere of the Siberian province. In Tobolsk, with the help of local patrons, he organizes a series of wonderful concerts, which attract audiences from all districts of the vast Tobolsk province. Ershov's uncle - merchant Nikolai Stepanovich Pilenkov, received active participation in organizing concerts, participated in resolving organizational and financial issues.

It was at one of these evenings that a wonderful meeting took place between the future author of the unique “The Little Humpbacked Horse” and the author of the delightful romance “The Nightingale.” Ershov loved music very much; he knew how to play the flute and organ. The young high school student enjoyed taking part in home concerts, which were often held at his uncle’s house.

In the 1830s. The Ershovs successfully graduate from high school. For their diligence, the brothers were awarded a certificate of merit and a book. In Tobolsk, young Ershov showed serious interest in Siberian folklore. He collected and wrote down ancient legends and fairy tales.

Petersburg youth

In 1830, the father of the future poet sought a transfer to St. Petersburg. He receives an officer position and appointment to a separate corps of internal guards. The move became possible thanks to the patronage given by the former Governor-General of Western Siberia, Pyotr Mikhailovich Kaptsevich. In Siberia, Pavel Ershov served under Kaptsevich, was noticed and noted. Having settled in St. Petersburg, the father summons the rest of the family. Thus, the Ershovs found themselves in the incomparable Northern Palmyra.

Sovereign St. Petersburg with its majestic architecture of the imperial capital greatly impressed the young Siberian. This city will bring him acquaintance with people who will later become eternal, bright beacons in the horizon of his difficult life.

The family rented an apartment on Grafsky Lane - in the house of the captain's widow, Madame Pomerantseva. Upon arrival in the capital, Pyotr Ershov submits a request to be enrolled as a student at the Faculty of History and Philology of the St. Petersburg Imperial University.

However, poor knowledge of Latin and Greek, as well as complete ignorance of any European language (at the Tobolsk gymnasium these subjects were taught poorly, and sometimes not taught at all) did not allow him to enter the Faculty of History and Philology. He was accepted to study philosophy and law. However, in further Ershov nevertheless, he will achieve the right to attend lectures in historical and philological studies, however, only as a volunteer listener. At the same time, Peter's older brother - Nikolai, who has a penchant for exact sciences, enters the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. At the university, Ershov, by his own admission, was not particularly diligent. The poet complained about his laziness and said that he was a dropout, especially when it came to speaking a foreign language.

In 1833, grief came to the Ershov family. His father died suddenly, and soon after this in August 1834, Peter’s older brother Nikolai. Ershov was left alone with his sick mother. Their financial situation becomes extremely difficult.

At the university, one of the teachers of the young Ershov was professor of Russian literature Pyotr Aleksandrovich Pletnev (since 1832 rector of St. Petersburg University). Pyotr Pletnev is a poet and critic, friend, and his closest associate in publishing. He helped in the printing of more than 20 books by Pushkin. A selfless assistant and comrade of the great Russian genius. Alexander Sergeevich dedicated the poem “Eugene Onegin” to him. In his dedication, Pushkin precisely defined Pletnev’s qualities, calling him a man of “a beautiful soul, a holy dream fulfilled, lively and clear poetry, lofty thoughts and simplicity.” Pushkin himself called him “breadwinner” and “benefactor.” They were family friends. Pletnev is an active contributor to Pushkin’s magazine Sovremennik. After the poet's death, he continued the business of publishing the magazine.

died down not long ago Patriotic War 1812, and the ideas of the Russian nationality were very popular in Russian society. At the university, in the student literary circle, new brilliant works of wonderful authors were lively discussed: “Tales of the Cossack Lugansky”, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”, and, of course, Pushkin’s fairy tales. In 1834, Professor Pyotr Pletnev proposed to students the topic of a new course work - folk art. When reviewing the completed tasks, Pletnev was completely delighted with the work of student Ershov. The teacher’s delight was so sincere that the professor considered it necessary to read the course work of their friend Ershov directly to the students sitting in the audience during the lecture. This was the first part of the brilliant poetic fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse”. And immediately a resounding success. Pletnev did not fail to show the fairy tale to Pushkin. Alexander Sergeevich spoke about the fairy tale in the most enthusiastic tones. For example, the famous phrase of the great Russian poet is widely known: “Now I can leave this kind of poetry.”

In 1834, the fairy tale was published in the magazine “Library for Reading” by the publisher O. I. Senkovsky. In the same year, the tale, consisting of three parts, was published in a separate edition. At that time, its author was only 19 years old. The book immediately won the love of readers. The light, graceful, bright, fascinating fairy-tale verse appealed to the Russian people. During Ershov’s lifetime, his “The Little Humpbacked Horse” was published as many as seven times. TO end of the 19th century V. The fairy tale has firmly taken its well-deserved and honorable place on the shelves of Russian libraries. Pletnev introduces Ershov to his friends, the best poets of his time - Pushkin and. Both of them appreciated the talent of the young poet. Famous piits tried in every possible way to support the young writer.

And only the critic gave negative feedback. In his opinion, “The Little Humpbacked Horse” was just a successful counterfeit of true folk art. He wrote that there are Russian words in this work, but the Russian spirit is missing. However, he attributed Pushkin’s fairy tales to the same category.

The role of Pushkin’s name in the story of “The Little Humpbacked Horse” is interesting. It is reasonable to assume that amazing Pushkin's tales had a serious influence on Ershov. Perhaps, even indirectly, they helped the “Humpbacked Horse” to be born. For some time there was even a version that the first four lines of the fairy tale were written by Alexander Sergeevich:

"Beyond the mountains, behind the forests,
Across the wide seas
Not in heaven - on earth
There lived an old man in one village."

IN certain time these lines were even included in full meeting works of the great poet. Subsequently, literary researchers seriously questioned this version. Ershov’s lines were no longer published in Pushkin’s publications. To this day, debates on this slippery topic have not subsided among scientists.

The young writer spends most of his time on personal writing. In 1835 Ershov was published in the wonderful handwritten magazine “Snowdrop”. The initiator of the publication of the magazine was the talented poet Apollo Maykov. This handwritten publication was the favorite brainchild of the Maykov family; such authors as I. A. Goncharov and V. G. Benediktov started there.

In St. Petersburg, Pyotr Ershov became seriously interested in theater and was known as a regular at the opera. His favorite theater is musical. Ershov, in love with music since childhood, meets gifted St. Petersburg musicians. His friend, teacher and composer Osip Gunke, teaches Ershov to play the flute.

The Ershovs’ father, being an honest servant and an ardent “zealot of the throne,” strictly monitored his sons so that young people would not get carried away by the free-thinking ideas that were so widespread among the student community of that time. Having served in the department involved in supervisory activities, he, as an officer of the internal guard, was well aware of the danger of such ideas. Mother Siberia was overflowing with exiled freedom lovers. A monarchist “from brain to bone,” he passed on his beliefs to his son, Pyotr Ershov.

We know that Ershov did not have many acquaintances among the students. There were only a few close comrades. One of them is Andrey Yaroslavtsev. They became close over their passion for literature. Subsequently, Yaroslavtsev would become a writer, as well as Ershov’s first biographer. In 1872, Yaroslavtsev will release the first biography of memories of an unforgettable university friend, the main source of which was the invaluable personal correspondence between Ershov and Yaroslavtsev. Also among Ershov’s friends were Konstantin Timkovsky (grandson of the famous navigator G. Shelikhov), M. Masalsky (brother of the writer K. Masalsky) and Vladimir Von Treborn.

The young Siberian continued to successfully write and publish. In 1834-1836. from his pen came the play “Suvorov and the Station Warden” and the drama “Thomas the Blacksmith,” as well as a dozen poems. With the support of his good friend, composer Osip Gunke, Ershov wrote the libretto for the fairy-tale opera “The Terrible Sword,” but, alas, despite positive reviews the opera was never staged.

In 1836, having left the university, Ershov, although he had an ardent desire to stay in St. Petersburg, was still forced to submit a petition for appointment to a teaching position in the city of Tobolsk. The reason is banal - lack of money. The Ershovs were poor, had no fortune, no servants, and lived only from service income.

Tobolsk prose

After some time, the request was approved. Ershov returns to Tobolsk to serve in his native gymnasium. At first he taught Latin, but later he began to read philosophy and literature in senior gymnasium classes. It cannot be said that the arrival of a metropolitan celebrity caused delight among the gymnasium management. Judging by Ershov's letters to his St. Petersburg friends, the director of the gymnasium E.M. Kachurin is a retrograde and formalist, a poorly educated person, who bullied young teachers in every possible way, not excluding Ershov.

On June 2, 1837, a significant event took place in the life of the Tobolsk gymnasium. This institution received the highest visit from the heir to the Russian throne, the future Tsar. Teacher Ershov, who was present at the reception, “had the good fortune to present his laudatory ode to the heir,” as well as the score for the opera “Siberian Day,” specially written in honor of the Tsarevich’s arrival. For which he was awarded 500 rubles in banknotes. Together with the heir, Ershov’s old St. Petersburg acquaintance also arrived in Tobolsk, famous poet Zhukovsky. Vasily Zhukovsky, being the mentor of the Grand Duke, introduced and recommended Ershov in the most remarkable way. After this incident, Ershov began to hope for a return to St. Petersburg. However, these dreams were not destined to come true.

In 1838, Ershov published the poem “Suzge” in the Sovremennik magazine - dramatic work, written based on Siberian legends. Belinsky noted the deep intent of the poem, but did not fail to reproach the poet for being too verbose. The poem was repeatedly staged, and an opera of the same name was written based on it.

Ershov went to Siberia, inspired by many educational ideas, he was filled with creative plans. Plans and maps of ethnographic expeditions have already been drawn up. However, alas, none of these great plans were destined to come true. Ordinary life, sometimes quite unfairly called “routine,” has decisively interfered with creative plans poet.

In 1839, Ershov passionately fell in love and married Serafima Aleksandrovna Leshcheva, a widow who already had four children. Serafima Alexandrovna - daughter former director gymnasium in Tobolsk, a beautiful and educated woman, an experienced and practical lady, not immediately, but still, agrees to marry a young teacher.

After marriage, Ershov’s life undergoes serious changes. He is forced to concentrate on getting his daily bread. Throughout his life, Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov will face many difficult trials. Death mercilessly mowed down the poet's loved ones. In his youth, in a very short time, he lost his father, older brother, and mother. He was a widower twice (he married three times in total). The study of documents, primarily Ershov’s letters, made it possible to establish that the poet had 15 children from three marriages, of whom only four survived to adulthood. The rest died in infancy. Fate mercilessly beat and tossed Ershov around. However, even under the saddest circumstances and difficult living conditions, the poet continued to create. Pyotr Pavlovich was a deeply religious man and accepted these terrible sorrows with true Christian humility. Religion was one of the main sources of inspiration for the poet. During the Siberian period, several works of various formats came from his pen: the true story “The Siberian Cossack”, the poem “Suzge”, a series of short stories “ Autumn evenings", as well as poems. We know that Ershov had plans to create a 10-volume Siberian fairy-tale epic entitled “Ivan Tsarevich - a Tale of Fairy Tales in Ten Books and One Hundred Songs.” To our great regret, this idea never came to fruition.

In 1844 Ershov was appointed inspector of the gymnasium. On the path of teaching, he proved himself to be a progressive and highly spiritual mentor. Under his direct supervision, a gymnasium theater was organized. Plays were staged in the theater famous authors, as well as works written by Ershov himself. During my teaching career Ershov wrote and sent to St. Petersburg two voluminous scientific works, designed to improve the quality of education in Russian gymnasiums: “Thoughts about the gymnasium course” and “Course Russian literature" The latter was even accepted for publication, but in the end the work was rejected by the censors. Ershov sincerely cared for the fate of Russian education, he tried to achieve changes in the gymnasium program. He dreamed of seeing the works of Pushkin and Zhukovsky, so beloved by him, in the curriculum.

In Tobolsk there were a large number of exiled Decembrists. Ershov was personally acquainted with many: V.K. Kuchelbecker, A.I. Muravyov, M.A. Fonvizin and many others. Together with the Decembrist, poet N. A. Chizhov, Ershov will write a vaudeville entitled “Skull Apostle, that is, Phrenologist.” Subsequently, the poet V. M. Zhemchuzhnikov, who served for some time in Tobolsk, with Ershova’s personal permission, uses one of the vaudeville scenes to create an operetta of the same name. V. M. Zhemchuzhnikov is one of the creators of the famous “Kozma Prutkov”. In the future, the operetta will be included in the collected works of Kozma Prutkov and will be published in the Sovremennik magazine. In Fonvizin’s house, Ershov reads a cycle of seven stories called “Autumn Evenings. Ershov pinned certain hopes on returning to great literature with these stories, however, he had no success. Only thanks to the help of Ershov, the Decembrist I. I. Pushchin was able to transfer previously unknown poems by Pushkin to the Sovremennik magazine for publication.

In 1857, Pyotr Pavlovich was appointed director of the gymnasium in Tobolsk, as well as schools in the Tobolsk province. Ershov undoubtedly had remarkable teaching talent. According to contemporaries, the children loved and immensely respected Pyotr Pavlovich. To confirm this, one curious document has been preserved in the archives - the program of the performance, which was staged by high school students on February 22, 1842 in honor of the birthday of their beloved teacher P. P. Ershov.

The official description of Ershov from 1857 is worthy of attention, and the “List of Persons Deserving the Government’s Attention” notes that he is “an intelligent, kind and honest person.” During his tenure as director of the gymnasium, Ershov managed to open 6 new girls' schools in the province. They were all kept in excellent order and provided the students with a decent level of education.

On March 20, 1858, P. P. Ershov again visited St. Petersburg, the city of his famous youth. It was a business trip on the affairs of the gymnasium: he was called to meet with the Minister of Education.

In 1862 Ershov retired. IN last years During his life, he becomes close to the talented Siberian artist and writer Mikhail Stepanovich Znamensky. After Ershov’s death, Znamensky will help in reconstructing the biography, recent years life of Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov.

Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, former student and old friend Ershov, who lived in St. Petersburg, was trying to get a pension for Ershov, and he also made a lot of efforts to publish the 6th and 7th editions of The Little Humpbacked Horse. In Ershov’s homeland in the village of Bezrukovo, with the direct participation of the poet, a Orthodox church, dedicated to Saint Peter the Stylite. Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed in 1969.

Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov died in Tobolsk on August 30, 1869. He was buried there, at the Zavalny cemetery. On the gravestone it is written: “Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov, author of the folk tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse.” In 2008, in Tobolsk, in the Ershov park, a wonderful sculptural composition, dedicated to the poet and his fairy-tale heroes.

For millions of people, Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov was, is and will remain an author who wrote an unforgettable fairy tale“The Little Humpbacked Horse,” whose characters will live their endless lives fabulous life. Since its existence, the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” has been published in huge editions at least 130 times in 27 languages ​​of the world.

Dmitry Sytov

Ershov Pyotr Pavlovich (1815-1869), poet and educator.

Born on March 6, 1815 in the village of Bezrukovo, Ishim district, Tobolsk province (now Tyumen region). His father often changed places of service, and Peter managed to live in Petropavlovsk (Kazakhstan), Omsk, Berezovo (now the village of Berezovo in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug).

In 1824 he entered the gymnasium in Tobolsk. In 1830, his father achieved a transfer to St. Petersburg, and Ershov became a university student.

In 1834 he wrote a poetic tale"The Little Humpbacked Horse". Her success was colossal. The whole reading Russia recognized the fairy tale. Moreover, the fairy tale went to the people, it was retold, each in its own way, in different areas.

Fame came to the poet at the age of 19. They readily publish it, but everything that comes from the pen - lyrical poems, romantic poems, dramatic stories - cannot be compared with “The Little Humpbacked Horse.” Ershov was born a storyteller.

However, my young age made it difficult to understand myself and the nature of my own talent. Environment also played a role.

It was a heavy blow negative review V. G. Belinsky.

There were two more circumstances. Firstly, the fairy tale was easy for Ershov, he wrote it “in one breath”; he himself did not understand the meaning of this work. Secondly, before “The Horse” the poet did not connect future life With literary work; he was a passionate patriot native land, he was drawn to educational activities in Siberia.

In 1834, Ershov submitted a petition for appointment as a teacher at the Tobolsk gymnasium, which was granted in 1836. During this period, he tried himself in lyric poetry (“Young Eagle”, “Russian Song”, etc.), in the fashionable genre of romantic ballads ( “The Siberian Cossack”), writes a dramatic story in verse “Thomas the Blacksmith”, a libretto for the magic opera “The Terrible Sword”, a “dramatic anecdote” “Suvorov and the Station Master”.

In 1836 Ershov left for Tobolsk, where he lived until the end of his life. The poem “Suzge”, many lyrical and humorous poems, a cycle of stories “Autumn Evenings”, epigrams were written here.

Pyotr Pavlovich carried out extensive educational and educational work in Tobolsk. Ershov is not just the author of one fairy tale - he is a wonderful Russian storyteller, a rare, bright, “magical” talent. Died August 30, 1869

Biography, life story of Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov

Start literary activity

At the beginning of his literary activity, Ershov wrote poetry, opera librettos from the ancient Russian past and published them in a handwritten journal published by the Maykov family, who lived in St. Petersburg. These early handwritten works of Ershov were lost and have not reached us. While at the university, Ershov began writing a fairy tale in wonderful poems"The Little Humpbacked Horse", he received inspiration from fairy tales. The first part of Ershov's work was course work in Russian literature, which was presented to Professor Pletnev P.A. Praising the work, Pletnev presented the poem to the public at his public lecture. During this period of time in Russia, among the advanced educated youth there were many enthusiasts who wanted to create a special magazine in which they could publish ethnographic works: folk tales, legends and songs. From his youth, Ershov was interested in the culture of Siberia and collected local folklore. Ershov highly appreciated the fairy tale poem; it was published in 1834.

The world of Ershov's works

The writer claimed that all of his work almost word for word conveys oral folk stories, which he heard as a child in Siberia. Many details in his works were initially thrown out by the censors. The fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” was published in its entirety only in 1856, this was the fourth edition. During the writer's lifetime, the fairy tale was published 7 times. Further research into Ershov’s work showed that his fairy tale was a creative reworking of folklore. All motives folk tales A.N. Afanasyev, published later, confirmed the authenticity of folk fairy tales, which Ershov used. The success of Ershov's fairy tales was not accidental; he, according to the words, had such a command of the language, “like a serf.” He even expressed the idea that he now need not worry about the fate of Russian folk tales and may no longer write them himself. Such was Ershov’s language, organic and living. According to researchers of Ershov’s work, he was able to literary rework and master folklore and convey the folk worldview of the peasants.

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Capital Literary Circle

In the period from 1834 to 1836, Ershov was a member of the literary circles of St. Petersburg, participated in a circle organized by V.G. Benediktov. He published during the active period literary life capital in the publication "Library for Reading" there are only 10 works.

Return to Tobolsk

After the death of his father in 1834 and his older brother in 1835, Ershov returned to Tobolsk. He hoped to engage in a wide range of activities in Siberia educational activities. The plans included publishing our own magazine and studying the life of local small nations. These plans failed to come true. In St. Petersburg, Ershov was strongly influenced by his university friend K.I. Timkovsky. Subsequently, Timkovsky was convicted in the Petrashevites case. Timkovsky had to emigrate to America. Ershov wrote poems on his departure in 1835. The poems were published only in 1872.

Later literary creativity

Ershov first worked as a gymnasium teacher in Tobolsk (from the summer of 1836), and then became the director of the gymnasium in 1857. He did not stop engaging in literary creativity, but the works of this period were not successful. They could not be compared with The Little Humpbacked Horse. The reason was that the romantic “Pushkin” period in the development of Russian literature ended at that time. Arrived new period the development of Ershov’s romanticism, the period of “philosophy” and romantic self-absorption. This was an unsuccessful attempt to overcome his own brilliant literary discovery, which Ershov made in his youth. During this period, the following were written: the ballad "Siberian Cossack" (1835), the poem "Suzge", a play called "

Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov(February 22 (March 6), 1815, Bezrukovo, Ishim district, Tobolsk province - August 18 (August 30), 1869, Tobolsk) - Russian poet, prose writer, playwright.

Biography

Born into the family of an official. My father often moved on business related to his service. The Ershovs crossed the chain of Cossack settlements, visited places where legends about the times of Ermak and Pugachev were still fresh. In 1824, his parents sent Peter and his brother Nikolai to Tobolsk to study. The boys lived in merchant family Pilenkov - relatives of the mother, and when they graduated from high school, the father transferred to St. Petersburg, where the brothers entered St. Petersburg University.

In 1831-1835 he studied at the philosophical and legal department of St. Petersburg University. During his student years, Ershov became close to the professor of Russian literature Pyotr Pletnev, met Vasil Zhukovsky, Alexander Pushkin... To their judgment, the nineteen-year-old student submitted his first major work - the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse”, after reading which Pushkin said with praise to the aspiring poet: “Now this I can leave the type of essays to me.” Pletnev, during one of his lectures from the university department, read an excerpt from “The Little Humpbacked Horse” and introduced to the amazed listeners the author of the wonderful fairy tale - their fellow student Pyotr Ershov, who was sitting in the audience.

An excerpt from “The Little Humpbacked Horse” appeared in the “Library for Reading” (1834, vol. 3), and in mid-1834 Ershov’s tale was published in a separate edition. Success accompanied the young poet: in December of the same year, the first part of “The Siberian Cossack” was approved for publication, and then the second part of this “ancient story.”

The approaching graduation from university was associated with problems for the young Siberian. He could not get the desired position, he had to part with friends, of whom he had few, and break with the literary environment. Conflicting feelings were also caused by saying goodbye to St. Petersburg itself: many things here became dear and merged with the soul of the poet, and on the other hand, Ershov was attracted to Siberia, which he called the “northern beauty,” dreaming of exploring the then little-explored region.

Returning to his homeland in the summer of 1836, he worked as a teacher at the Tobolsk gymnasium, then as an inspector (from 1844) and director (from 1857) of the gymnasium and the directorate of schools in the Tobolsk province. One of his students is the future chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. Ershov's stepdaughter became his wife.

He was the initiator of the creation of an amateur gymnasium theater. He worked as a director in the theatre. He wrote several plays for the theater: “Rural Holiday”, “Suvorov and the Station Warden”, the comic opera “Yakut Gods”, “Chereposlov”.

He published his poems in Senkovsky’s Library for Reading and in Pletnev’s Sovremennik.

Literary activity

Ershov became famous thanks to his fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” written by him while still a student and first published as an excerpt in volume 3 of “Library for Reading” in 1834, with a commendable review from Senkovsky.

For some time it was believed that the first four verses of the fairy tale were sketched by Pushkin, who read it in manuscript. Ershov's fairy tale was published as a separate book in 1834 and went through seven editions during the author's lifetime, with the fourth edition (1856) being heavily revised by the author and is today the canonical text.

“The Little Humpbacked Horse” is a folk work, almost word for word, according to the author himself, taken from the lips of the storytellers from whom he heard it; Ershov only brought it into a more slender form and supplemented it in places. The unique style, folk humor, successful and artistic paintings (the horse market, the zemstvo fish court, the mayor) made this fairy tale widespread.

Belinsky saw in the fairy tale a fake, “written in very good verse,” but in which “there are Russian words, but no Russian spirit.”

In addition to “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” Ershov wrote several dozen poems. There are also indications that he published poetry, short stories and dramatic works under pseudonyms.

Ershov also worked in dramatic and prose genres. He owns the “dramatic anecdote” “Suvorov and the stationmaster”, in the late period of his life (late 1850s) he wrote big cycle stories “Autumn Evenings”, framed by a cross-cutting plot - a meeting of the characters who tell these stories. This composition is more typical of the 1830s (“Double, or My Evenings in Little Russia” by A. Pogorelsky, “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka” by N.V. Gogol), in which Ershov the writer was forming and for its time looked already anachronism. It is curious that one of the characters in the story “Panin’s Bugor” - a typical romantic lover - bore the last name Stalin. This is probably one of the reasons that the first posthumous publication of this story did not take place until 1984.

Possibly known as Prutkov's Father.

Vladimir Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov wrote to Alexander Nikolaevich Pypin on February 6 (18), 1883 from Menton (France) about his acquaintance with P. P. Ershov, in 1854 in Tobolsk, where he served as an official of special assignments under a relative - Tobolsk governor V. A. Artsimovich: “We got along quite well. He fell in love with Prutkov very much, also introduced me to his previous jokes and gave me his poetic scene of the Skull Apostle, that is, Phrenologist, asking me to place it somewhere, because “he recognizes himself as overweight and outdated.” I promised to use it for Prutkov and subsequently, after the end of the war and upon my return to St. Petersburg, I inserted his scene, with minor additions, into the 2nd act of the operetta Chereposlov, written by me with brother. Alexei and published in Sovremennik in 1860 - on behalf of Prutkov’s father, so as not to spoil the already well-defined image of Kosma Prutkov himself.”

According to other sources, Ershov only owns the authorship of the couplets in Chizhov’s play.

“Chizhov and I are cooking up a vaudeville called Chereposlov, in which Gal will get a wonderful bump. Buyers are addicted! I’ll send them to you after the first performance.”

In a letter of the same date to his friend V. A. Treborn, Ershov mentions vaudeville as Chizhov’s creation:

“My friend Ch-zhov is also preparing a vaudeville show called Chereposlov, where Galya will get a wonderful shot. And the singers in it - well, yes, you’ll want to listen to them in St. Petersburg.”

The low popularity of Ershov’s non-poetry heritage is also due to the fact that until recently it was published only by Siberian publishing houses (Omsk, Novosibirsk, etc.)