Kurochkin V. S. (1831-1875), poet, journalist

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KUROCHKIN Vasily Stepanovich (1831 - 1875, St. Petersburg), poet, translator, essayist, journalist and public figure. Graduate of the First Cadet Corps, and the Noble's Regiment (1849), in 1853 he transferred to the civil service and in 1857 resigned. Kurochkin's translations of Beranger, which echoed with the key principles of Russian democratic poetry of the 1860s, earned him wide literary fame (Songs of Beranger, six editions, 1858-74). From 1859 until 1874 he held the editorial position of the most popular satiric journal Iskra (1859-73). With his satiric poetry and journalism Kurochkin responded to the most crucial social occurrences creating a record of Petersburg's life. One of the co-founders of the Chess Club in 1861 Kurochkin was also one of its most active members. The same year he became a member of the organisation centre of the secret organisation later known as Land and Liberty (which from 1865 operated under secret and continuous police surveillance). In the second half of the 1850s Kurochkin lived on Malaya Italyanskaya Street in the house of Schlander (today 10/2 Zhukovskogo Street). He was buried at Volkovskoe Cemetery.

References: Ямпольский И. Г. Василий Курочкин // Ямпольский И. Г. Середина века: Очерки о рус. поэзии 1840-1870 гг. Л., 1974. С. 171-239.

A. B. Muratov. Kurochkin A.M.
Schlander
Zhukovskogo Street/Saint Petersburg, city, house 10/2
Ямпольский И. Г. Василий Курочкин // Ямпольский И. Г. Середина века: Очерки о рус. поэзии 1840-1870 гг. Л., 1974 Iskra (The Spark), journal, 1858-73
Zemlya i Volya (Land and Liberty) of 1860s