Zagoskin Mikhail

Zagoskin Mikhail Nikolaevich (1789 - 1852), novelist, playwright.

Born on July 14 (25 NS) in the village of Ramsay Penza province in an ancient noble family. Early years were in the parental estate, where there was a large library. I read a lot, preferring to historical literature, and early showed an interest in literary creation.

At age 13, started independent life, the father of a certain service as a minor official of the Treasury of St. Petersburg, then until 1812 several times changed his duty station, but a career and not made.

In 1812, joining the militia, and participated in World War II, served as an officer in the battle of Polotsk was wounded in the leg. After the war he lived in his mansion in. Ramsay, where he wrote his first comedy "rogue" (1814), which responded favorably A. Shakhovskoi, a member of repertoire of the Directorate of Imperial Theaters. Soon after writing a new comedy "The lesson red tape", as set out in the theater and have had success with the public.

In 1816 he marries, gets the post of honorary librarian of the Imperial Public Library. Theatrical productions of comedies Zagoskina "in the Provincial capital" and "A party of scientists also has success. Since 1817 is co-editor of the magazine "Northern Observer", which prints his first prose works

. 1818 - 20 - a fruitful period in his work: he wrote several comedies, . interludes, . moving closer to the literary circle director of the Public Library Olenin (artist, . historian, . enlightened courtier), . devoting his comedy "good fellow", . comparing at the time with "Woe from Wit" Griboyedov,
. From 1823 lives in Moscow, is in the management of the Moscow theater in 1831 was appointed director of the Moscow theater.

In 1827, once again turns to prose, and begins work on the historical novel "Yuri Miloslavskii, or Russian in 1612, which brought him real fame and glory. Pushkin praised novel. From the subsequent historical novels, the best known "Roslavlev, or Russian in 1812" (1831), "Askold's Grave" (1833); A. Verstovsky opera of the same name in 1835). The creative activity of the writer does not weaken in the future: his pen owned collections of stories, short stories, historical novels. Shortly before his death Zagoskin returned to the genre of comedy. Died June 23 (July 5, NS) 1851 in Moscow. He was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery.