10 Russian and Soviet politicians who wrote poetry: From Alexander Griboyedov to Sergei Lavrov

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The history of Russia knows many cases when real talented personalities were involved in politics. However, some have become known precisely because of their creativity. Perhaps Lord Byron was right when he argued that writing poetry helps restless souls to find peace. However, poetry can have a healing effect not only on politicians, but also on ordinary people.

Alexander Griboyedov

His Woe from Wit made the author famous, and now few people remember that Alexander Sergeevich was a successful politician. He was worried about the fate of the people, and the poet's experiences were reflected in his poems. State adviser and diplomat Alexander Griboyedov died at a combat post while in Tehran as the head of a diplomatic mission. On February 11, 1829, a group of angry fanatics broke into the embassy and staged a real massacre, as a result of which, according to official figures, 57 people, including 19 attackers, died.

Dmitry Dolgorukov

He began his career as a clerk, then became an official of the College of Foreign Affairs, after which he continued his service as a secretary of the diplomatic mission in Constantinople. Later he was on missions in different countries, was the plenipotentiary minister in Tehran, and during the Crimean War he played a decisive role in the neutrality of Persia. After that he served as a senator. Throughout his life, Dmitry Dolgoruky wrote poetry, was published in the "News of Literature", later there were collections of poems by a diplomat and a poet.

Fedor Tyutchev

The poet graduated from the Literary Department of Moscow University, after which he was hired to serve in the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, almost immediately receiving the position of a freelance attaché of the diplomatic mission in Munich, and after returning to Russia he became a senior censor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then received the rank of State Counselor, after - Privy Counselor. But Fyodor Tyutchev was glorified not by diplomatic merits, but by his amazing poems.

Mikhail Khitrovo

Alexei Tolstoy's friend, diplomat and poet Mikhail Khitrovo, made a brilliant career at the Russian Foreign Ministry: he was consul general in Constantinople, later in Bulgaria, served as ambassador to various countries. His poems were published in various newspapers and magazines, the poet's satirical pamphlets were most popular.

Vladimir Purishkevich

One of the most eccentric deputies of the State Duma of three convocations, who repeatedly got tired of scandals during meetings, had the gift of a poet, which he even used in business correspondence. There are cases when Vladimir Purishkevich even rhymed his own explanatory one. However, in 1912 his poems were published as a separate book, but later Purishkevich focused exclusively on politics.

Joseph Stalin

The father of all nations, it turns out, was also no stranger to poetry. At one time, his poems were published in the Georgian newspaper Iveria. At the same time, in literary circles, they spoke positively about his works, and readers always favorably accepted the poems of the future ruler of the Soviet Union.

Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Ilyich in his youth also wrote poetry, which, unfortunately, later were almost all lost. Only one poem "On the death of Vorovsky" has survived. It was written back in 1927, when the future General Secretary was a student of a land management technical school and a worker at an oil mill in Kursk. It is possible that other traces of Brezhnev's poetic creativity will still be found in the archives.

Yuri Andropov

Yuri Vladimirovich wrote poetry all his life and even published them, however, under the name Vladimirov. The future chairman of the KGB of the USSR and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU throughout his life was interested in art and literature, and his poems were saturated with personal feelings and emotions, with a slight bias in philosophy. Especially touching are the works that Andropov dedicated to his second wife.

Anatoly Lukyanov

His diplomatic qualities earned the highest praise due to the ability of the last chairman of the USSR Supreme Soviet to find compromise solutions and a common language with both democratic forces and conservatives. The deputy was engaged in versification all his adult life and published under the name Anatoly Osenev. Even after his arrest for participating in the coup and the creation of the State Emergency Committee, Anatoly Lukyanov continued to write poetry already in Matrosskaya Tishina.

Sergey Lavrov

Over the past 15 years, Sergei Lavrov has headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, but he can surprise the public with the publication of poems of his own composition. He himself wrote the words of the anthem of MGIMO, and published his works under his own name, responding with a poetic syllable to the events that excite him.

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev is known to be the author of several books. The trilogy of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee was published in such circulations that even the most popular modern publications did not dream. The books "Small Land", "Virgin Lands" and "Vozrozhdenie" could be found in any library not only in the Soviet Union, but also in friendly socialist countries. Leonid Brezhnev received the Lenin Prize for his literary work. But even then, it was clear that someone else was the real author of the books.