Afanasii Fet - Makeev M.

The unfortunate circumstances of the birth of Athanasius Feta, the son of a Darmstadt burgher, largely predetermined his rejection of his university career, parting with his beloved, military service. The struggle against the blows of fate shaped his "uncomfortable" character and special position in literature. Young poems considered the author of lyrical masterpieces his idol, and the liberal public - "pathetic poetic." He translated works of ancient Roman classics and read the works of modern philosophers, introduced advanced land use, served as a justice of the peace, spoke in the press about the system of education, community, earthly self-government.

What is the reason for Fet's obsessive desire to become a Russian nobleman? Why did Alexander II give the "king of poets" a ruby ring, and Alexander III made him a chamberlain? How did a lyrical poet become a successful businessman? Why was the front landowner called a serf and a man-hater? What brought him closer to Turgenev and Leo Tolstoy and quarreled with Nekrasov and Chernyshevsky? These questions are answered by the book of the doctor of philological sciences Mikhail Makeev - the first detailed biography of the great poet, pessimistic thinker and fierce publicist.