Senkovsky О.I. (1800-1858),writer, orientalist

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Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Personalia
SENKOVSKY Osip Ivanovich (Jozef-Julian) (1800-1858, St. Petersburg), writer, journalist, orientalist, corresponding member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1828). He graduated from the University of Vilno (1819). Permanently resided in St. Petersburg from 1821 he was assigned to the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. From 1822 to 1847 was lecturer of Arabic and Turkish Philology at Petersburg University, he immensely contributed to the development of Oriental Studies in Russia, being the author of a series of works on Arabic and Turkish studies. Senkovsky contributed to the journal Syn Otechestva and the newspaper Severnaya Pchela, the almanac Severnye Tsvety etc. In 1834-47 (formally until 1856) he was editor of the journal Biblioteka Dlya Chteniya, where he published his narratives (oriental, secular, and science-fiction) satirical articles, articles under the pseudonym Baron Brambeus. Senkovsky was also one of the forefathers of the feuilleton genre in Russia. A witty mystifier, in his literary activity he subtly blended romantic sallies and cynicism coupled with pragmatism. Senkovsky's prose was notable for a paradoxical style and an entertaining touch. Due to conflicts with literary society and censorship he quit writing in the late 1840s, and returned to journalism in 1856. In 1829-33 Senkovsky lived at 72 Angliiskaya Embankment, in the 1830s - at 21 Pochtamtskaya Street, later at 13 Bolshaya Neva River Embankment (presently Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment). He was buried at Volkovskoe Lutheran Cemetery (the tomb has not survived).

Reference: Каверин В. А. Барон Брамбеус: История О. Сенковского, журналиста, редактора Библиотеки для чтения. М., 1966.

D. N. Akhapkin. Senkovsky Osip Ivanovich (Yuzef Yulian)
Angliiskaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 72
Leitenanta Schmidta Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 13
Pochtamtskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 21
Каверин В. А. Барон Брамбеус: История О. Сенковского, журналиста, ред. "Библиотеки для чтения". М., 1966 Russian Academy of Sciences
Syn Otechestva (Son of the Fatherland), journal
Severnaya Pchela (Northern Bee), journal, newspaper
Severnye Tsvety (Northern Flowers), almanac
Biblioteka Dlya Chteniya (The Reader's Library), journal