The great Russian writer Denis Fonvizin, who worked several centuries ago, left such a significant mark on history that his works are still included in the main educational program in Russia. This achievement can boast a few masters of the pen, but Fonvizin’s amazing talent has provided him a place in the memory of his descendants. In addition, the life of Fonvizin is replete with curious facts, not too widely known, but no less interesting from it. However, you judge.
The ancestors of Fonvizin were knights originally from Livonia. At one time they moved to Russia, where over the years they assimilated. Initially, their surname was written as “von Vizin”, but in Russia a consistent writing took root. This transformation in the Russian manner was also approved by Pushkin. At Moscow University, Denis Fonvizin studied for only two years, which did not prevent him from receiving a referral to the University of St. Petersburg and characterizing the best student of the Faculty of Philosophy. His favorite writer himself considered Fonvizin Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The famous literary critic Belinsky highly appreciated the work of Fonvizin, especially earlier. In the text of Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin” the name of Fonvizin is mentioned. In Ukraine, three streets are named after the great writer. In Russia – fifteen streets and one lane. High society first drew attention to the talent Fonvizin after he published his translation of the work of the Frenchman Voltaire “Alzira”, very high quality. The French language writer was fluent in perfection.
While working at the state service, Fonvizin had a hand in the bills on reforms designed to free peasants from duties. The most famous work for authorship Fonvizin considered “Thin”. V. Klyuchevsky himself spoke highly of this book. The writer worked in different genres, both serious and not so. His first comedy was the work “Brigadier”. In the last years of his life, Fonvizin suffered from a serious illness, but he never left his creative work. At the end of his life, he began writing an autobiographical novel, but he did not have time to finish it.
