 Heraskov Mikhail Matveyevich (1733-1807), poet, prose writer.
He was born on October 25 (November 5 according to New Style) in Pereyaslavl in Poltavshina in a noble family. He received good home education. Then he studied at Land Polish gentry corps in St. Petersburg, from which he graduated in 1751. From youth he was seriously interested in creativity.
In 1760-1762 he issued magazines "Useful Amusement", in 1873 - "Spare Hours".
In 1763-1802 Heraskov was (with breaks) the principle, then the curator of the Moscow university. In the history of Russian literature he is known as the large representative of Russian classicism in whose creativity movement to sentimentalism was evident. He is well known as the author of epic poems: "Fruits of Sciences" (1761), "Chesmensky Battle" (1771), "Rossiyada" (1779), "Vladimir Vozrozhdenny" (1785), "Tsar or the Rescued Novgorod " (1800).
In dramatic art Kheraskov was known as the follower of classicism. He had written 20 plays among which especially known were: tragedies "Flame" (1765), "Borislav" (1774), "Unfettered Moscow" (1798); comedies "Atheist" (1761), "Hatred" (1774).
However in dramas "The friend of unlucky ones" (1774), "Persecuted" (1775) Heraskov uses methods and motives of sentimentalism. Prose of Heraskov evolved from the philosophic-moralizing novel about the ideal state with the king-philosopher on the throne ("Numa Pompily, or Prospering Rome", 1768) to the novel with intricate amorous-adventurous plot ("Kadm and Harmony", 1786).
To Hersakov's dispersed through genres lyrics the propagation of moderateness, complaint about perversity of modern society are peculiar. All this is confronted to simple, close to nature life ("True Well-being", "About Reason", "To A.Rzhevsky" etc.).
At the age of 74 M. Heraskov died in Moscow on September 27 (October 9 according to New Style).
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