Vasily Sleptsov
Encyclopedia
Vasily Alekseyevich Sleptsov , (July 31, 1836 – April 4, 1878), was a Russian writer and social reformer.
in 1855-56. He then went to Yaroslavl
to try being an actor. He soon returned to Moscow, where he was in government service from 1857 to 1861-62. In the early 1860s he organized a women's commune
in Saint Petersburg, and set up a society for female translators. He wrote fiction for several magazines including Annals of the Fatherland
, Russian Speech, and The Contemporary
, where he published his novella Hard Times in 1865. Sleptsov's works were praised by Leo Tolstoy
; especially his story The Ward (1863).
In 1866 he was arrested for political activities, and for his association with Dmitry Karakozov
, a man who'd attempted to assassinate Tsar Alexander II. Upon his release, he helped to found the magazine The Women's Herald. His works were widely read in the 1860s, but his popularity began to decline in the 1870s. The novel A Good Man was left unfinished at his death in 1878.
Biography
Sleptsov attended the medical school at Moscow UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1855-56. He then went to Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. It is one of the Golden Ring cities, a group of historic cities...
to try being an actor. He soon returned to Moscow, where he was in government service from 1857 to 1861-62. In the early 1860s he organized a women's commune
Commune
Commune may refer to:In society:* Commune, a human community in which resources are shared* Commune , a township or municipality* One of the Communes of France* An Italian Comune...
in Saint Petersburg, and set up a society for female translators. He wrote fiction for several magazines including Annals of the Fatherland
Otechestvennye Zapiski
Otechestvennye Zapiski was a Russian literary magazine published in St Petersburg on a monthly basis between 1818 and 1884. The journal served liberal-minded readers, known as the intelligentsia...
, Russian Speech, and The Contemporary
Sovremennik
Sovremennik was a Russian literary, social and political magazine, published in St. Petersburg in 1836-1866. It came out four times a year in 1836-1843 and once a month after that...
, where he published his novella Hard Times in 1865. Sleptsov's works were praised by Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
; especially his story The Ward (1863).
In 1866 he was arrested for political activities, and for his association with Dmitry Karakozov
Dmitry Karakozov
Dmitry Vladimirovich Karakozov was the first Russian revolutionary to make an attempt on the life of a tsar.Karakozov was born in the family of a minor nobleman in Kostroma...
, a man who'd attempted to assassinate Tsar Alexander II. Upon his release, he helped to found the magazine The Women's Herald. His works were widely read in the 1860s, but his popularity began to decline in the 1870s. The novel A Good Man was left unfinished at his death in 1878.
English Translations
- Choir Practice, (Story), from The Humor of Russia, Ethel Voynich/Sergey Stepnyak-Kravchinsky, Walter Scott Publishing, 1909. from Archive.org
- The Ward, (Story), from In the Depths, Raduga Publishers, Moscow, 1987.