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Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy

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Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer from the nineteenth century.

A.K.Tolstoy by Repin
A.K.Tolstoy by Repin

He was a poet, a novelist, and a playwright. People remember him most as a great historical dramatist. He wrote a famous trilogy of plays about Russian history. These plays are "The Death of Ivan the Terrible," "Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich," and "Tsar Boris."

Fyodor Ivanovich by A K Tolstoy
Fyodor Ivanovich by A K Tolstoy

He also wrote funny stories under a secret name. This name was Kozma Prutkov, a character created with the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers.

His life as a writer began with his family. His uncle, Antony Pogorelsky, was a writer who taught Aleksey.

Tolstoy aleksey konstantinovich
Tolstoy aleksey konstantinovich

Aleksey began writing poems when he was very young. He was a very smart student and learned many languages. By age six, he could speak English, French, and German. He later learned Italian as well. When he was a boy, he even met the great writer Goethe in Germany. Goethe gave him a small gift made from a mammoth tusk.

Before he was a full-time writer, Aleksey had many jobs. He worked in a government archive in Moscow in 1834. He also worked as a diplomat for the Russian Embassy in Frankfurt.

The facade of house of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy
The facade of house of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy

He served as an infantry major during the Crimean War. Even while working for the state, he lived a very busy life. He went to many balls, parties, and hunting trips. He was known to be very strong and could bend metal spoons.

Tolstoy lived in many different places during his life. He was born in Saint Petersburg to a famous family. His father was Count Konstantin Petrovich Tolstoy.

MonumentTolstoy
MonumentTolstoy

His mother was Anna Alekseyevna Perovskaya. He spent many years at his estate in Krasny Rog. This estate belonged to his uncle, Aleksey Perovsky. In 1831, he traveled to Italy when he was thirteen. He loved Italy so much that he felt very sad when he returned to Russia.

Writing was a part of his life that connected him to many people. He was a second cousin to the famous writer Leo Tolstoy.

TolstoyGrave
TolstoyGrave

He was friends with many other great Russian writers. He met the famous poet Aleksander Pushkin when he was young. He also became close friends with the writer Nikolai Gogol. These friendships helped him grow as an artist. Even though he had many duties, he eventually chose to focus on his books. He spent his final years at his home in the Chernigov Governorate.

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File:Tolstoy aleksey konstantinovich.jpg
Tolstoy aleksey konstantinovich.jpg
File:The facade of house of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy.jpg
The facade of house of Aleksey...
File:A.K.Tolstoy by Repin.jpg
A.K.Tolstoy by Repin.jpg
File:MonumentTolstoy.JPG
MonumentTolstoy.JPG
File:Aleksey konst tolstoy.jpg
Aleksey konst tolstoy.jpg
File:Fyodor Ivanovich by A K Tolstoy.jpg
Fyodor Ivanovich by A K Tolstoy.jpg
File:TolstoyGrave.JPG
TolstoyGrave.JPG
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