Nikolay Poznyakov Russian writer, poet, teacher, translator, bibliographer, bibliophile. Date of Birth: 10.05.1856 Country: Russia

1. Early Life and Education
2. Literary Career
3. Pedagogical Work
4. Bibliographical and Bibliophilic Pursuits
5. Later Career and Death
6. Literary Legacy

Early Life and Education

Nikolai Ivanovich Poznyakov was born on April 27, 1856, in the village of Ivanovskoye in the Staritsky district of Tver province. In 1867, he enrolled at the boarding house of the Larinsky Gymnasium in Saint Petersburg, graduating in 1879. He then pursued further education at the Faculty of Law at Saint Petersburg University, but left without graduating to pursue journalism.

Literary Career

Poznyakov's literary career began in 1879 with the publication of his first short story, "The Writer." He subsequently contributed to numerous magazines, including Niva, Otechestvennye Zapiski, Russkoye Bogatstvo, Zhivopisnoe Obozreniye, Istorichesky Vestnik, and Russkaya Mysl. He published poetry, prose, and critical reviews of contemporary literature, including humorous sketches and feuilletons.

Pedagogical Work

In 1886, Poznyakov began teaching at a private gymnasium through an introduction by Y. G. Gurevich. He later became a teacher of Russian language and literature at the Pavlovsky and Yelizavetinsky Institutes, as well as at the Vasileyostrovskaya Women's Gymnasium. He also held positions as the archivist of the Conference of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and head of the academy's book depot.

Bibliographical and Bibliophilic Pursuits

Poznyakov was a renowned bibliographer and bibliophile. To protect his extensive library from theft by friends, he devised a unique ex-libris that stated "This book was stolen from N. I. Poznyakov." This strategy was intended to deter forgetful acquaintances from keeping his books for an extended period. However, it proved unsuccessful, and he expressed deep disappointment over the continued disappearance of his books.

Later Career and Death

From 1895 to 1905, Poznyakov supervised the proceedings of the permanent commission for the support of needy writers and publicists at the Academy of Sciences. He also wrote several articles on children's literature, including "What and How to Read to Children" and "The Children's Book: Its Past, Present, and Desirable Future." Poznyakov's health declined in 1905 and he passed away on September 18, 1910.

Literary Legacy

Poznyakov's works in various genres, including the novel "The Mystery" and the poetry collection "In the Prime of Life," were popular among the raznochintsy (commoners). He was particularly renowned for his writing and poetry for children and youth, and his collections "Let's Read" and "The Cunning Fox" showcased his understanding of child psychology.