1. What is Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky famous for??
In domestic and world history, Chernyshevsky is known as the author of the novel “What to do?”. However, in addition to his literary contribution, he also found his vocation, and, possibly, first of all, in philosophy, literary criticism and journalism.
Chernyshevsky in the middle 19 in. – ideological inspirer of the revolutionary minds of Russia. Moreover, Nikolai Gavrilovich was one of the first in Russia, who insisted on a speedy decision “women's issue”. He actively pushed for women's freedoms alongside men.. In other words, Chernyshevsky – ideologue of domestic feminism.
2. Place and year of birth. Origin
Nikolay Chernyshevsky is born 24 July 1828 years in Saratov.
His father, Gabriel Ivanovich, came from serfs, but at the time of the birth of his son Nicholas he was already an archpriest of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the city of Saratov. Interesting, that the surname Chernyshevsky was given to the family of Gabriel Ivanovich by the name of the village of Chernyshev in the Chembarsky district (Penza), where he once lived as a serf.
2. Education
At first, his father was engaged in the education of Nikolai Gavrilovich. Aged 14 years old he was entrusted to a French governor, which the (have an opinion) had a significant impact on the youth's worldview.
As a child, Chernyshevsky differed from the rest of the children in that, what, as the saying goes, literally devoured books, falling into his hands (while having strong myopia), for which he received the original nickname – “Bibliophage”.
IN 1843 year Chernyshevsky entered the Saratov Theological Seminary. After studying there for three years, he entered the St. Petersburg University, choosing the Historical and Philological Department of the Faculty of Philosophy.
IN 1850 year Chernyshevsky received the degree of candidate (the last academic degree in authority after doctor and master) and departed for Saratov, where he was accepted as a teacher at a local gymnasium. At that time, already a revolutionary-minded young man and having his own audience on duty., Chernyshevsky then did not fail to take the opportunity to share with his wards radical ideas for that time..
3. Formation of a worldview
During his studies at the university, Chernyshevsky became interested in reading the works of ancient philosophers and thinkers of French and English materialism of the 17th-18th centuries., works of Hegel, Newton, Laplace, Feuerbach, which had a great influence on the formation of his political views.
Among domestic intellectuals, Chernyshevsky was close in spirit to Belinsky V. G., Herzen A. and Vvedensky I. AND. Reading serious books did not pass without a trace for him., soon Nikolai Gavrilovich took up the pen himself.
4. “Contemporary”. Journalism
For the first time, Chernyshevsky declared himself in small articles in "St. Petersburg Vedomosti" in 1853 year. A year later, he began to collaborate with a socio-political magazine “Contemporary”, and here he also acted as the head of the publication along with N.N. Nekrasov., and later Dobrolyubov N.
IN 1855 year 10 May, the defense of Chernyshevsky's dissertation "Aesthetic relations of art to reality". This event has become a landmark. The audience heeded his harsh criticism of the idealist aesthetics. However, the innovative approach to the topic was not appreciated by everyone.: Nikolai Gavrilovich did not receive his scientific degree right away, but only three years after his loud performance.
IN 1860 year Chernyshevsky writes a work “Anthropological principle in philosophy”, after the promulgation of which he was honored to become a leader in the camp of Russian materialist philosophy 19 in.
Beginning with 1858 of the year “Contemporary” under the leadership of Chernyshevsky took a course towards the revolutionary-democratic direction of social thought in Russia, what subsequently caused the conflict in the editorial office – the liberal part of it, the radical deviation was not to the liking. In May 1862 of the year “from above” it was ordered to stop work on the publishing of the magazine for a period of eight months, and already 7 July, his main ideological inspirer Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky was arrested.
5. Arrest. “What to do?”. Link
Chernyshevsky was accused of compiling and attempting to distribute a leaflet "Bows to the peasants of the lords from their well-wishers", the purpose of which was to instill revolutionary sentiments in society. Beginning with 1858 Nikolay Gavrilovich demonstrated an active stance on the agrarian reform being prepared by the government, being her opponent. Peasant reform, according to Chernyshevsky, did not at all meet the interests of the common people, but at the same time, its adoption would simply muffle the already incipient revolutionary sentiments in society.
FROM 1861 year Chernyshevsky is the main ideological guideline for the participants of the revolutionary circle “Land and Freedom”, at the same time, he himself was not directly related to this secret society and was not part of it. From the same year, secret surveillance was established for Chernyshevsky., as behind the "enemy of the Russian Empire number one".
After the arrest, Chernyshevsky was placed in solitary confinement at the Peter and Paul Fortress. For a year and a half there was an investigation into the Chernyshevsky case. All this time Nikolai Gavrilovich defended his innocence, once even went on a hunger strike, lasting nine days.
Meanwhile, Chernyshevsky, in new conditions for himself, continued to conduct intellectual work, leaving notes on sheets, of which there were subsequently about two hundred. Well, and a significant moment of this difficult period is the writing of a novel by Chernyshevsky “What to do?”, who saw the light in 1863 year, being printed in a magazine “Contemporary”.
At this time, Chernyshevsky was very popular in a progressive society.. His romance “What to do?”, it seemed, gave people, those wishing to change the existing order, guide to action. Details on the meaning and influence can be found in the memoirs E. N. Vodovozovoy.
In February 1864 year Chernyshevsky was announced the verdict, according to which he was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor followed by a life-long settlement in Siberia. In May of the same year on Mytninskaya Square (St. Petersburg) a civil execution was carried out over the revolutionary, meaning the deprivation of the convict of all rights of the state.
In early July, Chernyshevsky arrived in Irkutsk, where he was assigned for work at the Usolsk salt plant. He did not stay here long. Having changed several points of serving the sentence, in 1867 year Chernyshevsky was taken to the Akatuy prison.
During the period of hard labor, Chernyshevsky wrote two novels: “Old man” and “Prologue”. Both manuscripts were delivered from the place of detention to Chernyshevsky's confidant in St. Petersburg, but were not printed. Works of the disgraced writer and philosopher “went” among his supporters, however, they officially appeared in print in 1905 year.
6. Personal life
Nikolai Gavrilovich was married to Olga Sokratovna Vasilyeva, whom I met in 1853 year when he was a teacher at the Saratov gymnasium. In marriage, they had three sons. To outsiders, the relationship between the spouses seemed very strange. Olga Sokratovna was a charming lady, gypsy blood, easily and willingly captivated men. By the way, could not resist her spell and Dobrolyubov. However, Nikolai Grigorievich believed, that a woman is free to decide what to do and with whom to be, despite the fact that he loved his wife passionately.
7. When Chernyshevsky died
IN 1871 year ended the term awarded to Chernyshevsky hard labor, after which he was escorted to Vilyuisk. He was allowed to return to the European part of Russia only in 1883 year. IN 1889 year, after five years of living in Astrakhan, Chernyshevsky obtained permission to settle in Saratov, where he arrived in June of the same year. However, he did not have a chance to live at home for long.. 11 october 1889 of the year Nikolai Gavrilovich fell ill with malaria and died a few days later.
