Where was Kuprin born in what city? Childhood, youth and wanderings

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. Born on August 26 (September 7), 1870 in Narovchat - died on August 25, 1938 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Russian writer, translator.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26 (September 7), 1870 in county town Narovchate (now Penza region) in the family of an official, hereditary nobleman Ivan Ivanovich Kuprin (1834-1871), who died a year after the birth of his son.

Mother, Lyubov Alekseevna (1838-1910), née Kulunchakova, came from a family of Tatar princes (noblewoman, princely title Did not have). After the death of her husband, she moved to Moscow, where the future writer spent his childhood and adolescence.

At the age of six, the boy was sent to the Moscow Razumovsky boarding school (orphanage), from where he left in 1880. In the same year he entered the Second Moscow Cadet Corps.

In 1887 he was released into Aleksandrovskoye military school. Subsequently, he described his “military youth” in the stories “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” and in the novel “Junkers”.

First literary experience Kuprin had poems that remained unpublished.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, Kuprin, with the rank of second lieutenant, was released into the 46th Dnieper Infantry Regiment, stationed in the Podolsk province (in Proskurov). The officer's life he led during four years, provided rich material for his future works.

In 1893-1894, the St. Petersburg magazine “Russian Wealth” published his story “In the Dark” and the stories “ Moonlit night" and "Inquiry". Kuprin has several stories on an army theme: “Overnight” (1897), “Night Shift” (1899), “Hike”.

In 1894, Lieutenant Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv, without any civilian profession. IN next years He traveled a lot around Russia, trying many professions, greedily absorbing life experiences that became the basis of his future works.

During these years, Kuprin met I. A. Bunin, A. P. Chekhov and M. Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg and began working as secretary of the “Magazine for Everyone.” Kuprin's stories appeared in St. Petersburg magazines: “Swamp” (1902), “Horse Thieves” (1903), “White Poodle” (1903).

In 1905, his most significant work was published - the story “The Duel”, which had big success. Reading performances by the writer individual chapters The “duel” became an event cultural life capital Cities. His other works of this time: the stories “Staff Captain Rybnikov” (1906), “River of Life”, “Gambrinus” (1907), the essay “Events in Sevastopol” (1905). In 1906, he was a candidate for deputy of the State Duma of the first convocation from the St. Petersburg province.

Kuprin’s work in the years between the two revolutions resisted the decadent mood of those years: the cycle of essays “Listrigons” (1907-1911), stories about animals, stories “Shulamith” (1908), “ Garnet bracelet"(1911), fantastic story"Liquid Sun" (1912). His prose has become a notable phenomenon of Russian literature. In 1911 he settled in Gatchina with his family.

After the outbreak of World War I, he opened a military hospital in his house and campaigned in newspapers for citizens to take out war loans. In November 1914, he was mobilized into the army and sent to Finland as commander of an infantry company. Demobilized in July 1915 for health reasons.

In 1915, Kuprin completed work on the story “The Pit,” in which he talks about the life of prostitutes in Russian brothels. The story was condemned for being, according to critics, excessive naturalism. Nuravkin’s publishing house, which published Kuprin’s “The Pit” in the German edition, was brought to justice by the prosecutor’s office “for distributing pornographic publications.”

The abdication of Nicholas II was met in Helsingfors, where he was undergoing treatment, and received it with enthusiasm. After returning to Gatchina, he was editor of the newspapers " Free Russia", "Liberty", "Petrograd leaflet", sympathized with the Socialist Revolutionaries. After the Bolsheviks seized power, the writer did not accept the policy of war communism and the terror associated with it. In 1918, I went to Lenin with a proposal to publish a newspaper for the village - “Earth”. Worked at the publishing house World literature", based on . At this time he translated Don Carlos. He was arrested, spent three days in prison, was released and added to the list of hostages.

On October 16, 1919, with the arrival of the Whites in Gatchina, he entered the North-Western Army with the rank of lieutenant and was appointed editor army newspaper“Prinevsky Territory”, which was headed by General P. N. Krasnov.

After the defeat of the North-Western Army, he went to Revel, and from there in December 1919 to Helsinki, where he stayed until July 1920, after which he went to Paris.

By 1930, the Kuprin family was impoverished and mired in debt. His literary fees were meager, and alcoholism plagued his years in Paris. Since 1932, his eyesight has steadily deteriorated and his handwriting has become significantly worse. Return to Soviet Union became the only solution to material and psychological problems Kuprina. At the end of 1936, he finally decided to apply for a visa. In 1937, at the invitation of the USSR government, he returned to his homeland.

Kuprin’s return to the Soviet Union was preceded by an appeal from the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in France V.P. Potemkin on August 7, 1936 with a corresponding proposal to J.V. Stalin (who gave the preliminary “go-ahead”), and on October 12, 1936 - with a letter to the People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs N. I. Ezhov. Yezhov sent Potemkin’s note to the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, which on October 23, 1936 decided: “to allow the writer A. I. Kuprin to enter the USSR” (voted “for” by I. V. Stalin, V. M. Molotov, V. . Y. Chubar and A. A. Andreev; K. E. Voroshilov abstained).

He died on the night of August 25, 1938 from esophageal cancer. He was buried in Leningrad on the Literary Bridge of the Volkovsky Cemetery next to the grave of I. S. Turgenev.

Stories and novels by Alexander Kuprin:

1892 - “In the Dark”
1896 - “Moloch”
1897 - “Army Ensign”
1898 - “Olesya”
1900 - “At the Turning Point” (Cadets)
1905 - “Duel”
1907 - "Gambrinus"
1908 - “Shulamith”
1909-1915 - “The Pit”
1910 - “Garnet Bracelet”
1913 - “Liquid Sun”
1917 - “Star of Solomon”
1928 - “The Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia"
1929 - “The Wheel of Time”
1928-1932 - "Junkers"
1933 - “Zhaneta”

Stories by Alexander Kuprin:

1889 - “The Last Debut”
1892 - “Psyche”
1893 - “On a Moonlit Night”
1894 - “Inquiry”, “Slavic Soul”, “Lilac Bush”, “Unofficial Revision”, “To Glory”, “Madness”, “On the Road”, “Al-Issa”, “Forgotten Kiss”, “About how Professor Leopardi gave me a voice"
1895 - “Sparrow”, “Toy”, “In the Menagerie”, “The Petitioner”, “Painting”, “The Terrible Minute”, “Meat”, “No Title”, “Overnight”, “Millionaire”, “Pirate”, “ Lolly”, “Holy Love”, “Curl”, “Stoletnik”, “Life”
1896 - “Strange Case”, “Bonza”, “Horror”, “Natalya Davydovna”, “Demi-God”, “Blessed”, “Bed”, “Fairy Tale”, “Nag”, “Someone else’s Bread”, “Friends”, “ Marianna", "Dog's Happiness", "On the River"
1897 - " Stronger than death", "Enchantment", "Caprice", "Firstborn", "Narcissus", "Breguet", "The First One Comes Along", "Confusion", " Wonderful doctor", "Barbos and Zhulka", " Kindergarten", "Allez!"
1898 - “Loneliness”, “Wilderness”
1899 - “Night Shift”, “Lucky Card”, “In the Bowels of the Earth”
1900 - “Spirit of the Century”, “Dead Force”, “Taper”, “Executioner”
1901 - " Sentimental novel", "Autumn Flowers", "Ordered", "Hike", "At the Circus", "Silver Wolf"
1902 - “At rest”, “Swamp”
1903 - “Coward”, “Horse Thieves”, “How I Was an Actor”, “White Poodle”
1904 - “Evening Guest”, “Peaceful Life”, “Frenzy”, “Jew”, “Diamonds”, “Empty Dachas”, “White Nights”, “From the Street”
1905 - “Black Fog”, “Priest”, “Toast”, “Staff Captain Rybnikov”
1906 - “Art”, “Killer”, “River of Life”, “Happiness”, “Legend”, “Demir-Kaya”, “Resentment”
1907 - “Delirium”, “Emerald”, “Small fry”, “Elephant”, “Fairy Tales”, “Mechanical Justice”, “Giants”
1908 - “Seasickness”, “Wedding”, “Last Word”
1910 - “In a family way”, “Helen”, “In the cage of the beast”
1911 - “Telegraph Operator”, “Mistress of Traction”, “Royal Park”
1912 - “Weed”, “Black Lightning”
1913 - “Anathema”, “Elephant Walk”
1914 - “Holy Lies”
1917 - “Sashka and Yashka”, “Brave Fugitives”
1918 - “Piebald Horses”
1919 - “The Last of the Bourgeois”
1920 - “Lemon Peel”, “Fairy Tale”
1923 - “The One-Armed Commandant”, “Fate”
1924 - “Slap”
1925 - “Yu-yu”
1926 - “The Daughter of the Great Barnum”
1927 - “Blue Star”
1928 - “Inna”
1929 - “Paganini’s Violin”, “Olga Sur”
1933 - “Night Violet”
1934 - " The Last Knights", "Ralph"

Essays by Alexander Kuprin:

1897 - “Kyiv types”
1899 - “On the wood grouse”

1895-1897 - series of essays “Student Dragoon”
"Dnieper Sailor"
"Future Patty"
"False Witness"
"Chorister"
"Firefighter"
"The Landlady"
"Tramp"
"Thief"
"Artist"
"Arrows"
"Hare"
"Doctor"
"Prude"
"Beneficiary"
"Card supplier"

1900 - Travel pictures:
From Kyiv to Rostov-on-Don
From Rostov to Novorossiysk. Legend about the Circassians. Tunnels.

1901 - “Tsaritsyn Fire”
1904 - "In Memory of Chekhov"
1905 - “Events in Sevastopol”; "Dreams"
1908 - “A Little Bit of Finland”
1907-1911 - series of essays “Listrigons”
1909 - “Don’t touch our tongue.” About Russian-speaking Jewish writers.
1921 - “Lenin. Instant Photography"

Various life circumstances and dramatic stories in the works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin are explained primarily by the fact that his own life was very “action-packed” and difficult. It seems that when, in his review of Kipling’s story “The Bold Mariners,” he wrote about people who had gone through “the iron school of life, full of need, danger, grief and resentment,” he recalled what he himself had experienced.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born on August 26, 1870 in Penza province in the city of Narovchat. The father of the future writer, Ivan Ivanovich Kuprin, a commoner (an intellectual who did not belong to the nobility) held the modest position of secretary of a justice of the peace. Mother, Lyubov Alexandrovna, came from nobles, but impoverished ones.

When the boy was not even a year old, his father died of cholera, leaving the family without a livelihood. The widow and her son were forced to settle in the Moscow Widow's House. Lyubov Alexandrovna really wanted her Sashenka to become an officer, and when he was 6 years old, his mother sent him to the Razumovsky boarding school. He prepared the boys for admission to a secondary military educational institution.

Sasha stayed in this boarding house for about 4 years. In 1880, he began studying at the 2nd Moscow Military Gymnasium, which was later reorganized into a cadet corps. It must be said that discipline with a stick reigned within the walls of the military gymnasium. The situation was aggravated by searches, espionage, supervision, and bullying of older students towards younger ones. This whole situation coarsened and corrupted the soul. But Sasha Kuprin, while in this nightmare, managed to maintain spiritual health, which later became a charming feature of his work.

In 1888, Alexander completed his studies in the corps and entered the 3rd Military Alexander School, which trained infantry officers. In August 1890, he graduated from it and went to serve in the 46th Dnieper Infantry Regiment. After this, the service began in the deaf and forgotten by god corners of Podolsk province.

In the fall of 1894, Kuprin retired and moved to Kyiv. By this time, he had already written 4 published works: “The Last Debut”, “In the Dark”, “On a Moonlit Night”, “Inquiry”. In the same 1894, the young writer began to collaborate in the newspapers “Kievskoye Slovo”, “Life and Art”, and at the beginning of 1895 he became an employee of the newspaper “Kievlyanin”.

He wrote a number of essays and combined them into the book “Kyiv Types”. This work was published in 1896. Even more significant for young writer The year was 1897, since the first collection of his stories, “Miniatures,” was published.

In 1896, Alexander Kuprin went on a trip to the factories and mines of the Donetsk basin. Burning with desire to thoroughly study real life, he gets a job at one of the factories as head of accounting for the forge and carpentry workshop. In this new capacity for him, the future famous writer worked for several months. During this time, material was collected not only for a number of essays, but also for the story “Moloch”.

In the second half of the 90s, Kuprin’s life began to resemble a kaleidoscope. He organized an athletic society in Kyiv in 1896 and began to actively engage in sports. In 1897, he became a manager of an estate located in Rivne district. Then he became interested in dental prosthetics and worked for some time as a dentist. In 1899 he joined a traveling theater group for several months.

In the same 1899, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin arrived in Yalta. Happened in this city significant event his life - a meeting with Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. After this, Kuprin visited Yalta in both 1900 and 1901. Chekhov introduced him to many writers and publishers. Among them was V. S. Mirolyubov, publisher of the St. Petersburg “Magazine for Everyone.” Mirolyubov invited Alexander Ivanovich to the position of secretary of the magazine. He agreed and in the fall of 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg.

In the city on the Neva there was a meeting with Maxim Gorky. Kuprin wrote about this man in his letter to Chekhov in 1902: “I met Gorky. There is something stern, ascetic, and preaching about him.” In 1903, the Gorky publishing house “Znanie” published the first volume of stories by Alexander Kuprin.

In 1905 something very happened an important event V creative life writer. Again, his story “The Duel” was published by the Znanie publishing house. It was followed by other works: “Dreams”, “Mechanical Justice”, “Wedding”, “River of Life”, “Gambrinus”, “Killer”, “Delusion”, “Resentment”. All of them were a response to the first Russian revolution and expressed dreams of freedom.

The revolution was followed by years of reaction. During this period, unclear philosophical and Political Views. At the same time, he created works that became worthy examples of Russian classical literature. Here you can name “Garnet Bracelet”, “Holy Lie”, “The Pit”, “Grunya”, “Starlings”, etc. During the same period, the idea of ​​the novel “Junker” was born.

During February Revolution Alexander Ivanovich lived in Gatchina. He warmly welcomed the abdication of the sovereign and the transfer of power to the Provisional Government. But he perceived the October Revolution negatively. He published articles in bourgeois newspapers published until mid-1918 in which he questioned the reorganization of society on socialist principles. But gradually the tone of his articles began to change.

In the second half of 1918, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin already spoke with respect about the activities of the Bolshevik Party. In one of his articles, he even called the Bolsheviks people of “crystal purity.” But apparently this man was characterized by doubts and hesitations. When Yudenich's troops occupied Gatchina in October 1919, the writer supported the new government, and then, together with the White Guard units, left Gatchina, fleeing the advancing Red Army.

He first moved to Finland, and in 1920 he moved to France. The author of “Olesya” and “Duel” spent 17 years in a foreign land, living most time in Paris. It was a difficult but fruitful period. From the pen of the Russian classic came such collections of prose as “The Dome of St. Isaac Dolmatsky”, “The Wheel of Time”, “Elan”, as well as the novels “Zhaneta”, “Junker”.

Living abroad, Alexander Ivanovich had little idea of ​​what was happening in his homeland. He heard about greatest achievements Soviet power, about great construction projects, about universal equality and brotherhood. All this aroused great interest in the classic’s soul. And every year he was drawn more and more to Russia.

In August 1936, the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in France V.P. Potemkin asked Stalin to allow Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin to come to the USSR. This issue was considered by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and it was decided to allow the writer Kuprin to enter the country of the Soviets. On May 31, 1937, the great Russian classic returned to his homeland in the city of his youth - Moscow.

However, he came to Russia seriously ill. Alexander Ivanovich was weak, incapacitated and could not write. In the summer of 1937, an article “Moscow is native” appeared in the Izvestia newspaper. Under it was the signature of A.I. Kuprin. The article was laudatory, and every line of it breathed admiration for socialist achievements. However, it is assumed that the article was written by another person, a Moscow journalist assigned to the writer.

On the night of August 25, 1938, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin died at the age of 67. The cause of death was esophageal cancer. The classic was buried in the city of Leningrad on the “Literary Bridge” of the Volkovsky Cemetery, not far from Turgenev’s grave. This is how the talented Russian writer ended his life, embodying in his works best traditions Russian literature of the 19th century century.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin and Russian literature of the early 20th century are inseparable. This happened because the writer own works illuminated 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 took care of the 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. Future 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 fruitful period literary creativity Kuprina. Written the following works: “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 turns to ancient Russian mythology. Under the guise mythological creature it 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 the sense 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:

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 a 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 primary 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 a large number of stories about animals. In general, in works of this orientation, Kuprin expresses humane treatment to everything living.

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 happened in the last years of my life. In 1937 he was allowed to return to the 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 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.

Homecoming

Wikipedia about Kuprin

IN electronic encyclopedia Wikipedia has posted a voluminous information article about Alexander Ivanovich. It talks in detail about life path prose writer Are given 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 time period. 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 must be read by everyone who wants to better understand the nature of relationships and the motives driving by different people. They are a kind of encyclopedia moral qualities and deep experiences of any person.

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich (1870-1938), 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. Mother (from ancient family Tatar princes Kulanchakov) after the death of her husband 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. In the same year he entered the Moscow military academy, transformed into the Cadet Corps.

After finishing the training he continued 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.”

Kuprin's first literary experience was poetry 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.

During these years, Kuprin met Bunin, Chekhov and Gorky. In 1901 he moved to St. Petersburg, began working as a secretary of 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 reading individual chapters of “The Duel” became an event in the cultural life of the capital. 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 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, “Zemlya”. 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.

Articles about the biography of A. I. Kuprin. Complete collection works of A. I. Kuprin Biographies:

Berkov P. N. "A. I. Kuprin", 1956 (1.06mb)
Krutikova L.V. "A.I. Kuprin", 1971 (625kb)
Afanasyev V. N. "A. I. Kuprin", 1972 (980kb)
N. Luker "Alexander Kuprin", 1978 (excellent short biography, in English, 540kb)
Kuleshov F.I. " Creative path A. I. Kuprina 1883 1907", 1983 (2.6MB)
Kuleshov F. I. "The creative path of A. I. Kuprin 1907 1938", 1986 (1.9MB)

Memories, etc.:

Kuprina K. A. "Kuprin my father", 1979 (1.7MB)
Fonyakova N. N. "Kuprin in St. Petersburg Leningrad", 1986 (1.2MB)
Mikhailov O. M. "Kuprin", ZhZL, 1981 (1.7MB)
East. Russian lit., ed. "Science" 1983: A.I. Kuprin
Lit. history of the Academy of Sciences 1954: A.I. Kuprin
A Brief Introduction to Creativity
Kuprin Literary Code
O. Figurnova about Kuprin in exile
Lev Nikulin "Kuprin (literary portrait)"
Ivan Bunin "Kuprin"
V. Etov "Warmth to all living things (Lessons of Kuprin)"
S. Chuprinin "Rereading Kuprin" (1991)
Kolobaeva L. A. "Transformation of ideas" little man"in the works of Kuprin"
Paustovsky about Kuprin
Roshchin about Kuprin 1938

Army prose:

I.I. Gapanovich "War stories and tales of Kuprin" (Melbourne slavistic studies 5/6)
At the turning point (Cadets)
Duel (1.3 MB)
Juncker
Army ensign
Night shift
Staff Captain Rybnikov
Marianne
Wedding
Overnight
Breguet
Inquiry
In the barracks
Hike
Lilac bush
Rave
The Last Knights
In the bear's corner
One-Armed Commandant

Stories about the circus:

Allez!
In the menagerie
Lolly
At the circus
Daughter of the great Barnum
Olga Sur
Bad pun
Blondel
Lucia
In the cage of the beast
Marya Ivanovna
Clown (Play in 1 act)

About Polesie and hunting:

Olesya
Silver wolf
Enchanted Capercaillie
On wood grouse
Night in the forest
Backwoods
woodcocks

About horses and racing:

Emerald
Hoopoe
Red, bay, gray, black...

Last debut
In the dark
Psyche
Moonlit night
Slavic soul
About how Professor Leopardi gave me a voice
Al-Issa
Secret audit
To glory
Forgotten Kiss
Madness
At the crossing
Sparrow
Toy
Agave
Petitioner
Painting
Terrible moment
Meat
No title
Millionaire
Pirate
Holy love
Curl

Life
Kyiv types all 16 essays
Strange case
Bonze
Horror
Demigod
Natalya Davydovna
Dog happiness
Yuzovsky plant
On the river
Blissful
Bed
Fairy tale
Nag
Someone else's bread
Friends
Moloch
Stronger than death
Enchantment
Caprice
Narcissus
Firstborn
Barbos and Zhulka
The first person you meet
Confusion

Kindergarten
Wonderful doctor
Loneliness
In the bowels of the earth
Lucky card
Spirit of the century
Executioner
Lost Force
Travel pictures
Sentimental novel
Autumn flowers
By order
Tsaritsyn fire
Ballroom pianist

At rest
Swamp
Coward
Horse thieves
White poodle
Evening guest
Peaceful life
Measles
Frenzy
Jew
Diamonds
Empty dachas
White Nights
From the street
black mist
Good Society
Priest
Events in Sevastopol
Dreams
Toast
Happiness
Murderer
How I was an actor
Art
Demir-Kaya

River of life
Gambrinus
Elephant
Fairy tales
Mechanical Justice
Giants
Small fry

Shulamith
A little bit of Finland
Seasickness
Student
My passport
The last word
Laurel
About the poodle
In Crimea
Above the ground
Marabou
Poor Prince
On the tram
Fashion martyr
Family style
The Tale of the Trampled Flower
Lenochka
Temptation
Dragonfly Jumper
My flight
Legend
Garnet bracelet
Royal Park
Listrigons
Easter eggs
Organizers
Telegraphist
Big fountain
Head of Traction
Sad story
Alien rooster
Travelers
Grass
Suicide
White acacia

Black Lightning
The Bears
elephant walk
Liquid sun
Anathema
Côte d'Azur
Hedgehog
Light cones
Captain
Wine barrel
Holy lie
Bricky
Dreams
Garden of the Blessed Virgin
Violets
Gad
Two saints
Sealed Babies
Gogol-mogol
Goga Veselov
Interview
Grunya
Starlings
Cantaloupes
Brave fugitives
Yama (1.7 MB)
Star of Solomon

Goat life
Bird people
Sapsan's thoughts about people, animals, objects and events
Sashka and Yashka
Caterpillar
Piebald horses
Tsar's clerk
Magic carpet
Lemon peel
Fairy tale
Doggie Black Nose
Fate
Golden Rooster
Blue Star
Crimson blood
Blessed South
Yu-yu
Poodle tongue
Animal Lesson
The last of the bourgeoisie
Paris home
Inna
Napoleon's Shadow
Yugoslavia
Stories in drops
Paganini violin
Balt
Zawiraika
Hero, Leander and the shepherd
Four beggars
House
Cape Huron
Rachel
Paradise
Motherland
red porch
Island
Meeting
pink pearl
Early music
Everyday singing
Easter bells

Paris and Moscow
Sparrow king
Avianetka
Lord's Prayer
Wheel of Time
Printing ink
Nightingale
At Trinity-Sergius
Paris intimate
Light of the kingdom
Bird people
Ust tribe
Lost Heart
The story of the fish "Raskass"
"N.-J." - an intimate gift from the emperor
Barry
System
Natasha
Mignonette
Gem
Dragnet
Night violet
Zhaneta
Interrogation
Tsarev guest from Narovchata
Ralph
Svetlana
Moscow native
Voice from there
Happy days
Search
Theft
Two celebrities
The Piebald Man's Tale

Works different years, articles, reviews, notes

Dome of St. Isaac of Dalmatia
Cab driver Peter (unpublished, with annotation by P.P. Shirmakov)
In Memory of Chekhov (1904)
Anton Chekhov. Stories, In Memory of Chekhov (1905), About Chekhov (1920, 1929)
In memory of A. I. Bogdanovich
In memory of N. G. Mikhailovsky (Garin)
About how I saw Tolstoy on the steamer "St. Nicholas"
Utochkin
About Anatoly Durev
A. I. Budishchev
Fragments of memories
Mysterious laughter
The sun of Russian poetry
Beaded ring
Ivan Bunin - Falling Leaves. G.A. Galina Poems
R. Kipling Brave Seafarers, Rudiard Kipling
N. N. Breshko-Breshkovsky Whisper of life, Operetta secrets
A. A. Izmailov (Smolensky) In the bursa, The Fish's Word
Alexey Remizov Watch
About Knut Hamsun
Dumas the Father
About Gogol, Laughter has died
Our justification, His malice will prevail for days
A note about Jack London, Jack London
Pharaoh's tribe
About Camille Lemonnier, Henri Rochefort
About Sasha Cherny, S.Ch.: Children's Island, S.Ch.: Frivolous stories, Sasha Cherny
Free Academy
Reading Minds, Anatoly II
Nansen Roosters, Aroma of the Premiere, Folklore and Literature
Tolstoy, Ilya Repin
Peter and Pushkin
The Fourth Musketeer
From an interview
Letter
Kuprin about Gumilyov
Yangirov about "The Voice from There"
Reply to O. Figurnova

Russian writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin (1870–1938) was born in the town of Narovchat, Penza province. Human difficult fate, a career military man, then a journalist, emigrant and “returnee,” Kuprin is known as the author of works included in the golden collection of Russian literature.

Stages of life and creativity

Kuprin was born in a poor noble family August 26, 1870. His father worked as a secretary in the regional court, his mother came from a noble family of Tatar princes Kulunchakov. In addition to Alexander, two daughters grew up in the family.

The life of the family changed dramatically when, a year after the birth of their son, the head of the family died of cholera. The mother, a native Muscovite, began to look for an opportunity to return to the capital and somehow arrange the life of the family. She managed to find a place with a boarding house in Kudrinskoye widow's house in Moscow. Three years of life passed here little Alexander, after which at the age of six he was sent to an orphanage. The atmosphere of the widow's house is conveyed by the story “Holy Lies” (1914), written by a mature writer.

The boy was accepted to study at the Razumovsky orphanage boarding school, then, after graduation, continued his studies at the Second Moscow cadet corps. Fate, it seems, destined him to be a military man. And in early work Kuprin, the theme of everyday life in the army and relationships among the military is raised in two stories: “Army Ensign” (1897), “At the Turning Point (Cadets)” (1900). At the peak of his literary talent, Kuprin writes the story “The Duel” (1905). The image of her hero, Second Lieutenant Romashov, according to the writer, was copied from himself. The publication of the story caused great discussion in society. IN army environment the work was received negatively. The story shows the aimlessness and philistine limitations of the life of the military class. A kind of conclusion to the dilogy “Cadets” and “Duel” was autobiographical story“Junker”, written by Kuprin already in exile, in 1928-32.

Kuprin, prone to rebellion army life was completely alien. Resignation from military service took place in 1894. By this time, the writer’s first stories began to appear in magazines, not yet noticed by the general public. After leaving military service, he began wandering in search of income and life experiences. Kuprin tried to find himself in many professions, but useful for starting professional studies literary work was the experience of journalism acquired in Kyiv. The next five years were marked by the emergence best works author of: stories “Lilac Bush” (1894), “Painting” (1895), “Overnight” (1895), “Barbos and Zhulka” (1897), “The Wonderful Doctor” (1897), “Breguet” (1897), stories "Olesya" (1898).

The capitalism that Russia is entering has depersonalized the working man. Anxiety in the face of this process leads to a wave of workers' revolts, which are supported by the intelligentsia. In 1896, Kuprin wrote the story “Moloch” - a great work artistic power. In the story, the soulless power of the machine is associated with an ancient deity who demands and receives human lives as a sacrifice.

“Moloch” was written by Kuprin upon his return to Moscow. Here, after wandering, the writer finds a home, enters the literary circle, meets and becomes close friends with Bunin, Chekhov, Gorky. Kuprin marries and in 1901 moves with his family to St. Petersburg. His stories “Swamp” (1902), “White Poodle” (1903), “Horse Thieves” (1903) are published in magazines. At this time the writer is actively busy social life, he is a candidate for deputy of the State Duma of the 1st convocation. Since 1911 he has lived with his family in Gatchina.

Kuprin’s work between the two revolutions was marked by the creation of love stories “Shulamith” (1908) and “Pomegranate Bracelet” (1911), distinguished by their bright mood from the works of literature of those years by other authors.

During the period of two revolutions and civil war Kuprin is looking for an opportunity to be useful to society, collaborating either with the Bolsheviks or with the Socialist Revolutionaries. 1918 was a turning point in the writer’s life. He emigrates with his family, lives in France and continues to work actively. Here, in addition to the novel “Junker,” the story “Yu-yu” (1927), the fairy tale “Blue Star” (1927), the story “Olga Sur” (1929), a total of more than twenty works, were written.

In 1937, after an entry permit approved by Stalin, the already very ill writer returned to Russia and settled in Moscow, where a year after returning from emigration, Alexander Ivanovich died. Kuprin was buried in Leningrad at the Volkovsky cemetery.