Александр Сергеевич Пушкин ( на английском языке)

The Biography of Alexander Pushkin

It would be a platitude to say that A. S. Pushkin is the greatest Russian poet. But I hope no-one is challenging the view that he occupies an outstanding place in Russian literature and culture.

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin is considered to be one of the greatest Russian poets of all times. He was a famous writer of Romantic era. Pushkin was born in 1799 and has lived a short but bright life. Many people regard him as the founder of Russian modern literature.
Pushkin was born in a noble family and his first poem was published when he was only 15. Although he was born in Moscow, he spent most of his youth in the village near St Petersburg, in Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. As a teenager he was already a recognized by the literary establishment of his lyceum. Some of Pushkin's famous literary works have been numerously screened not only in Russia but also in some other countries. For example, the drama “Boris Godunov”, the novel “Eugene Onegin”, the tale “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, and several others. One of Pushkin's main traits was bravery. In total he has had about 29 duels. The last one, when he was fighting with a French officer D'Anthes, who wanted to seduce his wife, brought him death. He was only 37. All in all, Pushkin managed to write more than 78 long poems, 1 novel in verse, about 20 novels and 20 fairy-tales, 8 dramas and 8 historic works, and countless articles and shorter poems. Among his most famous works we can find the tragedy “Motsart and Salyeri”, short stories “The Queen of Spades”, “Peter the Great's Negro”, “The Captain's Daughter”, also some famous fairy-tales, such as “The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda”, “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, “the Tale of the Golden Cockerel”, “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish” and many other world-famous literature works.

На холмах Грузии

На холмах Грузии лежит ночная мгла;
   Шумит Арагва предо мною.
Мне грустно и легко; печаль моя светла;
   Печаль моя полна тобою,
Тобой, одной тобой... Унынья моего
   Ничто не мучит, не тревожит,
И сердце вновь горит и любит - оттого, 
   Что не любить оно не может.

А. С. Пушкин, 1829

Upon the hills of Georgia lies the haze of night…

Upon the hills of Georgia lies the haze of night…
   Below, Aragva foams… . The sadness
That fills the void of fais is, strangely, half delight,
   'Tis both sweet pain and sweeter gladness.
Because you haunt my heart, it cannot be at rest,
   And yet 'tis light, and untormented
By morbid thoughts…. It loves…. it loves because it must,
   And, for all that, remains contented.

(Translated by Irina Zheleznova)

Я вас любил...

Я вас любил: любовь еще, быть может,
В душе моей угасла не совсем;
Но пусть она вас больше не тревожит;
Я не хочу печалить вас ничем.
Я вас любил безмолвно, безнадежно,
То робостью, то ревностью томим;
Я вас любил так искренно, так нежно,
Как дай вам бог любимой быть другим.

А. С. Пушкин, 1829

I loved you, and that love...

I loved you, and that love to die refusing,
May still - who knows! Be smoldering in my breast.
Pray, be not pained -- believe me, of my choosing
I'd never have you troubled nor yet distressed.
I loved you mutely, hopelessly and truly,
With shy yet fervent, tenderness aglow;
Mine was a jealous passion and unruly….
May Heaven grant another loves you so!

(Translated by Irina Zheleznova)

I Loved You...

I loved you -- and love it may yet be
Deep in my soul. It might still smoulder there.
But do not trouble your dear heart for me
I would not want to make you shed a tear

I loved you -- Helplessly Hopelessly
Timidity and longing plagued my mind
I loved you so tenderly so truly
God grant that you may such another find

(Translated by Karen)