Vyazemsky P.A. (1792-1878), poet

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VYAZEMSKY Peter Andreevich (1792-1878), duke, poet, literary critic, statesman, full member of the Russian Academy, member of Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1841), member of the State Assembly (from 1866). Descended from an ancient family of princes. Received an excellent home education; studied at the Jesuit Boarding School in St. Petersburg, then at the Boarding School of Petersburg Pedagogical Institute (1805-07). From 1816 he often visited St. Petersburg, was involved in its literary, cultural and public life. A member of Arzamas Association. His friends included A.S.Pushkin, V.A. Zhukovsky, A.A. Delwig, E.A. Baratynsky, N.V. Gogol, A.S. Griboedov and other writers. Contributed to the almanacs Polyarnaya zvezda, Severnye tsvety, Literaturnaya Gazeta, Pushkin's Sovremennik journal and others. In his critical articles he determined and proved the principles of Russian Romanticism. Vyazemsky's book Fonvizin (SPb., 1848) became the first Russian historical literary monograph. In 1830 Vyazemsky moved to St. Petersburg, where he held a number of state posts (thus in 1856-58 he headed the Main Censorship Department, from 1855 Vyazemsky was Senator). From 1859 in retirement, the most part of his life he lived abroad. Landscapes description and meditative lyricism dominate the poetry of Vyazemsky. The image of St. Petersburg regularly emerges in his poems (Petersburg, Petersburg Night, I don't like Petersburg..., etc.), Petersburg theme is also touched upon in his correspondence, diaries and Notebooks. While living in St. Petersburg he changed ten addresses. Main of them are: Gagarinskaya Embankment (32 Kutuzova Embankment); 32 Mokhovaya Street; Sergievskaya Street (21 Tchaikovskogo Street); 60 Nevsky Prospect; 15 Moika River Embankment; 49 Bolshaya Morskaya Street. Died in Baden-Baden. Buried in Necropolis of Artists.

References: Перельмутер В. Г. Звезда разрозненной плеяды!: Жизнь поэта Вяземского, прочитанная в его стихах и прозе, а также в записках и письмах его современников и друзей. М., 1993; Литературный Петербург пушкинской эпохи: Адрес. указ. / Сост. В. Ф. Шубин // Дома у Пушкина: [Сб. ст.]. СПб., 1994. С. 100-111. (Арс; № 1).

D. N. Akhapkin. Baratynsky Evgeny Abramovich
Delwig Anton Antonovich
Gogol Nikolay Vasilievich
Griboedov Alexander Sergeevich
Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Vyazemsky Peter Andreevich, Duke
Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich
Bolshaya Morskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 49
Kutuzova Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 32
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 15
Mokhovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 32
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 60
Tchaikovskogo St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 21
Перельмутер В. Г. Звезда разрозненной плеяды!: Жизнь поэта Вяземского, прочитанная в его стихах и прозе, а также в записках и письмах его современников и друзей. М., 1993
Литературный Петербург пушкинской эпохи: Адрес. указ. / Сост. В. Ф. Шубин // Дома у Пушкина: [Сб. ст.]. СПб., 1994 Russian Academy of Sciences
State Assembly
Arzamas, Literary Circle
Polyarnaya Zvezda (The Polar Star), almanac
Severnye Tsvety (Northern Flowers), almanac
Literaturnaya gazeta (Literary Newspaper), 1830-1831, 1840-1849
Sovremennik (Contemporary), journal
Necropolis of Artists