Alexander Pushkin

Illustration of Alexander Pushkin. Source unknown.

Alexander Pushkin is one of the most beloved Russian authors. He is known for his poems, many of which are long narrative tales. Pushkin was born June 6, 1799 to a father who was descended from Russian nobility. He published his first poem at age 15, and quickly became a prominent literary talent. His romantic poems The Captive of the Caucasus and The Fountain of Bakhchisaray brought him even more acclaim in 1823. Several of his works have inspired Russian operas, including one by Tchaikovsky. While he only wrote a few Russian fairy tales, and they were completely in verse, the tales he wrote have stood the test of time. These include The Tale of Tsar Saltan and The Tale of the Golden Cockerel. He passed away at age 37 in 1837. Pushkin’s legacy includes a town in Russia named after the poet, the UN Russian Language day celebrated annually on his birthday, and even a minor planet.