Aleksandr Bestuzhev
Encyclopedia
Alexander Alexandrovich Bestuzhev , (November 4, 1797 – June 19, 1837), was a Russia
n writer
and Decembrist. After the Decembrist revolt he was sent into exile to Caucasus
where Russian Empire
was waging the war
against the Circassians. There writing under the pseudonym
Marlinsky he became known as a romantic
poet, short story writer and novelist. He was killed there in a skirmish.
in the Guard. In 1818 he was promoted to officer, he also served as aide-de-camp
to several senior officers and he could make a successful career. However, he joined the Decembrists. Arguably he was not as radical as most of the conspirators and joined the plot not because he wanted to establish republic in Russia but simply because many Decembrists were his friends; three his brothers also were in the plot. Due to this fact and due to his confessions during the trial he spent only a year and a half in prison and thereafter was sent into exile in Yakutia. Bestuzhev wanted to return to the high society and in order to obtain forgiveness he asked the authorities for transference to the army to Caucasus as a private
. In 1829 he started serving in 14th Chasseur regiment. Though authorities were reluctant to promote degraded officers, Bestuzhev proved himself an outstandingly brave soldier and finally was promoted to officer in 1836. On June 19, 1837 he was killed in a skirmish with Circassians.
in 1819 and soon received attention. He became acquainted with Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Griboedov, Kondraty Ryleev and many others. Before the Decemberists revolt Bestuzhev was quite a prolific author, writing both prose (short stories and articles in literary magazines) and poetry. In 1823 and 1824 together with Ryleev he published famous almanac
Полярная Звезда (Polar Star) which featured almost all notable contemporary Russian poets and was a huge success. His ceased writing during the trial and exile in Siberia, but soon resumed publishing under the pseudonym Marlinsky. Due to his pseudonym Bestuzhev is commonly referred to as Bestuzhev (Marlinsky) in order to distinguish him from another Decembrist Bestuzhev who was executed. The most notable part of his heritage are fictional or loosely autobiographical stories which describe Caucasus war from which Alexandre Dumas's Sultanetta was taken, and could have influenced Lermontov
's A Hero of Our Time
. The works of Bestuzhev may be classified as the florid Romanticism
in the vein of Byron, Hugo
or Walter Scott
. His characters are often excessively extravagant, sometimes he deliberately chose medieval jousts as a background for his prose. In 1830s Bestuzhev (Marlinsky) was one of the most popular writers in Russia whose fame could be compared with that of Pushkin. The first edition of Bestuzhev's complete works was published in 1839.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and Decembrist. After the Decembrist revolt he was sent into exile to Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
where Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
was waging the war
Caucasian War
The Caucasian War of 1817–1864, also known as the Russian conquest of the Caucasus was an invasion of the Caucasus by the Russian Empire which ended with the annexation of the areas of the North Caucasus to Russia...
against the Circassians. There writing under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Marlinsky he became known as a romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
poet, short story writer and novelist. He was killed there in a skirmish.
Biography
Alexander Bestuzhev came from the rich and noble Bestuzhev family. He received an excellent education. From a very young age his father prepared him for military service. Since he was not keen on mathematics he failed to enter the navy and began to serve as a dragoonDragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
in the Guard. In 1818 he was promoted to officer, he also served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to several senior officers and he could make a successful career. However, he joined the Decembrists. Arguably he was not as radical as most of the conspirators and joined the plot not because he wanted to establish republic in Russia but simply because many Decembrists were his friends; three his brothers also were in the plot. Due to this fact and due to his confessions during the trial he spent only a year and a half in prison and thereafter was sent into exile in Yakutia. Bestuzhev wanted to return to the high society and in order to obtain forgiveness he asked the authorities for transference to the army to Caucasus as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. In 1829 he started serving in 14th Chasseur regiment. Though authorities were reluctant to promote degraded officers, Bestuzhev proved himself an outstandingly brave soldier and finally was promoted to officer in 1836. On June 19, 1837 he was killed in a skirmish with Circassians.
Literary heritage
Bestuzhev started publishing his poetry and short proseProse
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
in 1819 and soon received attention. He became acquainted with Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Griboedov, Kondraty Ryleev and many others. Before the Decemberists revolt Bestuzhev was quite a prolific author, writing both prose (short stories and articles in literary magazines) and poetry. In 1823 and 1824 together with Ryleev he published famous almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
Полярная Звезда (Polar Star) which featured almost all notable contemporary Russian poets and was a huge success. His ceased writing during the trial and exile in Siberia, but soon resumed publishing under the pseudonym Marlinsky. Due to his pseudonym Bestuzhev is commonly referred to as Bestuzhev (Marlinsky) in order to distinguish him from another Decembrist Bestuzhev who was executed. The most notable part of his heritage are fictional or loosely autobiographical stories which describe Caucasus war from which Alexandre Dumas's Sultanetta was taken, and could have influenced Lermontov
Mikhail Lermontov
Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov , a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", became the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death in 1837. Lermontov is considered the supreme poet of Russian literature alongside Pushkin and the greatest...
's A Hero of Our Time
A Hero of Our Time
A Hero of Our Time is a novel by Mikhail Lermontov, written in 1839 and revised in 1841. It is an example of the superfluous man novel, noted for its compelling Byronic hero Pechorin and for the beautiful descriptions of the Caucasus...
. The works of Bestuzhev may be classified as the florid Romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
in the vein of Byron, Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
or Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
. His characters are often excessively extravagant, sometimes he deliberately chose medieval jousts as a background for his prose. In 1830s Bestuzhev (Marlinsky) was one of the most popular writers in Russia whose fame could be compared with that of Pushkin. The first edition of Bestuzhev's complete works was published in 1839.
English Translations
- An Evening on Bivouac, and The Test, (Stories), from Russian Romantic Prose: An Anthology, Translation Press, 1979.