The first collection of verse by Apollon Maykov, published in 1842, earned immediate approval from the influential critic Vissarion Belinsky. This debut established a career that spanned over five decades, during which Maykov served as a prominent Russian poet, translator, literary critic, opinion journalist, and librettist within the Russian Empire.
Formative Education
Born in Moscow in 1821, Maykov grew up in an artistic environment. His early education included instruction from the writer Ivan Goncharov. In 1837, he enrolled at Saint Petersburg State University, where he focused on law. During his university years, he developed a significant intellectual interest in Ancient Greece and Rome, learning Latin and Greek to engage with classical texts in their original language.
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Following the success of his 1842 collection, Maykov utilized a stipend from Tsar Nicholas I to travel through Europe. His journey included stays in Italy, France, Saxony, and Austria. He attended lectures at the Sorbonne and the Collège de France, later expanding his academic pursuits to include a dissertation on the history of law in Eastern Europe.
Professional Output and Translation
Maykov held positions at the Rumyantsev Museum library and within the Ministry of Finance. His written work transitioned through various styles, from early anthology-style epigrams and lyrical nature verse to prose sketches. A substantial portion of his later career focused on translation; he rendered the epic The Tale of Igor's Campaign into modern Russian and translated folklore from Belarus, Serbia, Spain, and Greece, as well as works by Adam Mickiewicz, Heine, and Goethe.
Political Shifts and Final Years
Throughout his life, Maykov's political affiliations evolved. While he moved in liberal circles early on—associating with figures like Nikolay Nekrasov and Ivan Turgenev—he increasingly aligned with conservative views, maintaining close ties to Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He died in Saint Petersburg in 1897 and was interred at the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1821, Moscow
- Died: 1897, Saint Petersburg
- Education: Saint Petersburg State University (1837-1841)
- Primary awards: Pushkin Prize (1882)
- Burial site: Novodevichy Cemetery
- Key translation work: The Tale of Igor's Campaign
- Notable orders: Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Maykov primarily explore in his poetry?
His lyric verse focused on Russian nature, village life, historical themes, and imagery influenced by his study of classical antiquity.
Which major Russian literary figures did Maykov know?
Throughout his career, he interacted with contemporaries including Vissarion Belinsky, Ivan Goncharov, Nikolai Gogol, Vasily Zhukovsky, Ivan Turgenev, Nikolay Nekrasov, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Achievements
- Pushkin Prize — 1882
- Order of Saint Anna, 1st class
- Order of Saint Anna, 2nd class
- Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st class
- Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd class
- Genres: narrative poetry
