Konstantin Dmitrievich Balmont is a Russian poet, literary critic and translator. He was perhaps the most outspoken supporter of impressionism in the early stages of the symbolism of Russian poetry.
Biography facts
Balmont was born on June 4, 1867 in the Gumnishchi of the Shuisky district of the Vladimir province. He wrote his first poems at the age of 10, but the work of the future famous poet was criticized by his mother and for the next 6 years Balmont did not write anything. In high school, he began to compose again. The works of Balmont during this period were strongly influenced by the poems of the Russian poet Nekrasov.
In 1884, Balmont was expelled from the gymnasium for being a member of a group that distributed "illegal literature." At the end of 1884 he was enrolled in a school in the city of Vladimir. In the fall of 1886, Konstantin Balmont entered Moscow State University (MSU) with a degree in Law. A year later, he was accused of participating in the "student disorder" and he returned to Shuya. After another unsuccessful attempt at organized education, this time at the Demidov Lyceum in Yaroslavl, Balmont began his self-education.
Career in literature
In 1890 Balmont presented his book "Collected Poems", but it did not bring him fame or success. He later destroyed almost the entire print run. During this period, he worked on translations of Scandinavian stories, Italian literature and the works of his beloved English poet Shelley.
However, it is generally accepted that the first book is not the Collection of Poems, but the publication Under the Northern Sky, which was published in 1894. The book received the most opposite reviews from critics and readers.
At the beginning of the century, Balmont traveled extensively. He went to France, Holland, England, Italy and Spain. These trips were not just excursions, but creative trips. For him, they served as a kind of poetic conquest of foreign lands.
In 1899 he was admitted to the Society of Russian Literature Lovers. In the 90s, he released several more collections of poetry:
- "Silence";
- Burning Buildings;
- "Let's be like the sun" and others.
Balmont's name became famous, his books were a huge success. This period of his life was very productive.
At the end of January 1905, Balmont went to Mexico and the United States. In the summer of 1907 he returned to Russia. Here the revolutionary mood of the masses influenced Balmont, and he collaborated with the Bolshevik edition of Novaya Zhizn. He wrote satirical poems, took part in meetings.
After that, he went to Paris and lived there for over 7 years. In 1912 he toured all over the world. He traveled to Great Britain, the Canary Islands, South America, Madagascar, South Australia, Polynesia, New Guinea, Ceylon and other places. After a political pardon in 1914, which was issued in connection with the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, he returned to Moscow.
During World War I in 1914, Balmont resided in France again. In May 1915 he managed to return to Russia. He traveled all over the country, from Saratov to Omsk, from Kharkov to Vladivostok, giving lectures.
In 1920, Balmont asked permission to leave the country. In 1921, he and his family left the country. Balmont never returned to Russia. His works of this time express longing for the Motherland, sadness and confusion.
Balmont died on December 24, 1942 in Paris, the city at that time was occupied by Nazi troops. The genius poet was buried in Noisy-le-Grand, not far from the capital of France.
