Gnedich N.I. (1784-1833), poet

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GNEDICH Nikolay Ivanovich (1784-1833, St. Petersburg), poet, translator, corresponding member of Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1826), state counsellor (1828). Studied at the Noble Boarding School of Moscow University (didn't finish). From the beginning of 1803 in St. Petersburg. In 1803-17 worked in Department for People's Education, concurrently in 1811-31 - in the Imperial Public Library. Took an active part in the literary and theatrical life of St. Petersburg, was closely connected with literary circle of G.R. Derzhavin; on friendly terms with A.N. Olenin, K.N. Batyushkov, I.A. Krylov and others. Vice-President of the Free Society for Lovers of the Russian Word (1821, member from 1818). Gnedich's poetry and theoretical works witness his strong interest in antique heritage, patriotism and heroism, common people's everyday life and mentality, national peculiarities of cultures. Gnedich's translation of Homer's Iliada that took him over 20 years (published in 1829), monumentalised him in Russian literature. Plays by William Shakespeare and Voltaire, translated by Gnedich were staged at Petersburg theatres. Gnedich's idyll Fishermen (1822) features a famous description of Petersburg white night above the Neva River. In the 1810s - 1831 he lived in the house of Imperial Public Library (20 Sadovaya Street), in 1831-33 at the house of Olivie in Panteleimonovskaya Street (today 5 Pestelya Street). Buried at the Necropolis of Artists.

References: Вацуро В. Э. Русская идиллия в эпоху романтизма // Русский романтизм: [Сб. ст.]. Л., 1978. С. 118-138; Шубин В. Ф. Поэты пушкинского Петербурга. Л., 1985. С. 131-143; Голубева О. Д. Н. И. Гнедич. СПб., 2000.

D. N. Cherdakov. Batyushkov Konstantin Nikolaevich
Derzhavin Gavriil Romanovich
Gnedich Nikolay Ivanovich
Krylov Ivan Andreevich
Olenin Alexey Nikolaevich
Olivie (Olivio) Alexander Karlovich
Shakespeare William
Voltaire Francois Marie Arouet
Pestelya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 5
Sadovaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 20
Вацуро В. Э. Русская идиллия в эпоху романтизма // Русский романтизм: [Сб. ст.]. Л., 1978
Шубин В. Ф. Поэты пушкинского Петербурга. Л., 1985
Голубева О. Д. Н.И. Гнедич. СПб., 2000 Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian National Library
Necropolis of Artists