Nikolay Chernyshevsky is remembered for writing that changed what came after it.
The record lists Nikolay Chernyshevsky as Russian writer and nihilist philosopher (1828–1889).
Nikolay Chernyshevsky was born at Saratov in 1828. His recorded nationality is Russia. He was educated at Saint Petersburg State University.
The nineteenth century was the age of the serialised novel and mass literacy; writers reached audiences of a size never seen before.
He worked as philosopher, journalist and novelist.
The writing is recorded in Russian.
His best-known work is What Is to Be Done?. Reputation in letters is unusually volatile: writers are forgotten for a generation and then recovered by one.
That the work was written from Russia matters: language, censorship and the reach of a publishing industry decide which books travel and which stay local.
Nikolay Chernyshevsky died in 1889, aged 61. The books remain, which is the only durable form a writing life takes.
Achievements
- Notable work: What Is to Be Done?
