Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov (1814–1841) is a recognized classic of Russian literature. He lived a short but very eventful life. Here are some facts from his biography that are not told at school.
Instruction manual
1
They say that when Mikhail Lermontov was born, the midwife, who took birth, said that this boy would not die by his death.
2
The education of little Misha was dealt with by his grandmother - Elizaveta Aleksandrovna, a representative of a wealthy family. She paid for the expensive education of her grandson and until the age of 16, Misha lived with her.
3
In addition to literature, Lermontov was well versed in mathematics and drew well.
4
According to the memoirs of contemporaries of the poet, Lermontov had a rather unpleasant appearance. He was short, limping a little and stooping. His face was unpleasant, he began to go bald early. Not everyone could stand the gaze of the poet, and his laughter was always somehow unkind.
5
Lermontov was famous for his audacity and jokes, which often crossed all permissible boundaries. For such a difficult character, Lermontov was very disliked in society. The death of the poet Petersburg audience perceived with the words: "So he needs
", " There he is dear."
6
For his short life (only 26 years), the classic of Russian literature took part in three duels. A few more fights were miraculously avoided - they were able to cancel them at the very last moment.
7
Lermontov was also known for his illegibility in food. The poet's friends often teased Mikhail and made jokes about his gluttony. One curious case is known when friends of the poet asked the cook to bake buns with sawdust. After a long walk, Lermontov got hungry and started eating buns, noticing anything. Until the friends themselves stopped him. After this incident, the poet always ate only at home.
8
Lermontov was a fatalist. He saw signs of fate everywhere. His whole life was full of tragic coincidences. His grandfather committed suicide right at the New Year's table, the poet’s father was kicked out of the house, and his mother died unexpectedly at a young age.
9
Mikhail Yuryevich often turned to fortune-tellers and foretellers. He was predicted to die soon. Perhaps faith in the prophecies played a cruel joke with him: often the poet deliberately approached his death, constantly testing fate.
10
In 1830, Lermontov became interested in Ekaterina Sushkova. They were introduced to the cousin of the poet. Young Mikhail simply lost his head, and the girl began to openly taunt the poet's feelings. Four years later, Lermontov managed to take revenge on her. He intentionally renews relations with Ekaterina Sushkova and upsets her wedding with Alexei Lopukhin, and then leaves the gullible girl.
eleven
In 1840, the first duel of Lermontov took place with the son of the French ambassador Ernest de Brant. The reason for the fight was a poem, which the Frenchman took as a personal insult. The duel took place, but Ernest missed, and Lermontov specially shot the other way, after which the rivals reconciled.
12
When Lermontov had a choice: to stay in Pyatigorsk or go to work, he entrusted his future to the coin. He had to stay in Pyatigorsk, where, after some time, his fateful duel with Martynov took place.
thirteen
Martynov shot very poorly and everyone thought that he would miss this time, but this did not happen. The shot went right into Lermontov’s chest. The reason for this deadly duel was caustic jokes that Lermontov let go in the direction of Martynov.
