Origins & Early Life

Aleksey Feofilaktovich Pisemsky (Russian: Алексе́й Феофила́ктович Пи́семский) (23 March [O.S. 11 March] 1821 – 2 February [O.S. 21 January] 1881) was a Russian novelist and dramatist who was regarded as an equal of Ivan Turgenev and Fyodor Dostoyevsky in the late 1850s, but whose reputation suffered a spectacular decline after his fall-out with Sovremennik magazine in the early 1860s. A realistic playwright, along with Aleksandr Ostrovsky he was responsible for the first dramatization of ordinary people in the history of Russian theatre.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

"Pisemsky's great narrative gift and exceptionally strong grip on reality make him one of the best Russian novelists" according to D.S. Mirsky. Pisemsky's first novel Boyarschina (1847, published 1858) was originally forbidden for its unflattering description of the Russian nobility. His principal novels are The Simpleton (1850), One Thousand Souls (1858), which is considered his best work of the kind, and Troubled Seas, which gives a picture of the excited state of Russian society around the year 1862. He also wrote plays, including A Bitter Fate (1859; also translated as "A Hard Lot"), which depicts the dark side of the Russian peasantry.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The play...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Arthur Cayley — Contemporary (Born in 1821) (1821): Pioneering English mathematician, instrumental in founding modern algebra and group theory.
• Arthur Saint-Léon — Contemporary (Born in 1821) (1821): Influential French choreographer, celebrated for creating the ballet Coppélia.
• August Schleicher — Contemporary (Born in 1821) (1821): Pioneering German linguist known for reconstructing Proto-Indo-European.
• Alexander Fleming — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering microbiologist known for the discovery of penicillin, revolutionizing medicine.
• Alexander II of Russia — Contemporary (Died in 1881) (1881): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Alfred Radcliffe-Brown — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering social anthropologist who developed structural functionalism.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Shared historical date (03-11 · Born) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Antonin Scalia — Shared historical date (03-11 · Born) (1936): Influential American jurist, known for championing originalism and textualism on the Supreme Court.
• Alden W. Clausen — Shared historical date (01-21 · Died) (2013): American businessman, former President of the World Bank and Bank of America CEO.
• Aleksei Leontiev — Shared historical date (01-21 · Died) (1979): Founder of Activity Theory, a key figure in Soviet developmental psychology.
• 1821 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1821
• March 11 (03-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 11
• 1881 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1881
• January 21 (01-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 21