The Presidential Library’s rare editions portray Ivan Krylov

The Russian classic Ivan Andreevich Krylov, publicist, publisher, playwright and poet, who became famous primarily as a fabulist, was born on February 13 (2, according to the old style), February 1769.

The Presidential Library features the collection Ivan Krylov (1769–1844), which includes rare editions, studies, textbooks, biographical articles, archival documents, collections of Krylov's works, in particular The Complete Works of Ivan Krylov and lifetime publications, various illustrative materials.

“The fate did not favor Krylov in childhood and deprived him of those benefits to constant success in literature and society, which others are endowed with by birth, upbringing and education. But he, as if in defiance of happiness, subsequently acquired everything that is necessary for a writer and a citizen", - wrote the poet and literary critic Pyotr Pletnev in Biography of the Fabulist (1899).

The future classic began to create in his youth. "Despite an extremely insufficient education, Krylov very early entered the literary field: he was not yet twenty years old when he wrote his first theatrical plays..." - noted the literary critic Alexander Pypin in the article "Beginning of the XIX century ..." in the journal Bulletin of Europe (1895).

For a long time, Krylov tried himself in the dramatic genre, until “... he brought his first fables to Moscow - a translation from La Fontaine, and [the famous fabulist] Dmitriev told him: “at last you have found your true path”, these prophetic words only expressed that which was already undoubtedly in the mind of Krylov. In any case, it was the goal to which his genius was leading”, - says the biographical sketch of the writer and translator Semyon Briliant Ivan Krylov: His Life and Literary Activity (1891).

In 1809, 23 Krylov's fables were first published as a separate edition. “Never before has any book in Russia had such a success. <…> From that very moment, children and sometimes adults began to learn to read and write from this book. Together with the diploma, they began to learn from it both honor and truth. <...> He was no longer only called the "Russian La Fontaine", but he was recognized for his original dignity, which in some respects placed him above all other glorious fabulists: these qualities are sober wisdom and subtle wit, a living connection of sly irony and serious thought, skill in storytelling, simplicity and finally that stamp of the nationality, which gives us the right to call him ours, Russian poet", - continues Briliant.

Literary critic and writer Vladislav Kenevich in his essay, included in the collection Ivan Andreevich Krylov. His Life and Works (1904), expressed the opinion that Krylov "...was always interested in important subjects, and in his fables he gave answers to questions that worried his contemporaries. But, thus tying his allegory to a certain event or public mood, he was always able to deduce from it such a general position that remains true under all conditions of life. His story...is always above current events and conditions of time".

The merits of Krylov's fables were not only topical. “He invented stories so natural, so simple and understandable to everyone, so undeniable and obvious, so consistent with our life, customs and habits that there was not even a shadow of art, composition or preparation in their composition. You see, you feel how things start and happen", - thought Pyotr Pletnev.

One of the authors of the article "The Artistic Significance of Krylov's Fables" in the collection Ivan Andreevich Krylov. His Life and Works wrote that "... this is the brilliant trait of our fabulist, that his irony poured into the form of the spirit of the people, received from him a special physiognomy, color, that it cannot be applied anywhere and to anything, as only in our midst and towards us. <...> Here Russia, here Russia smells everywhere - in the main motives to which the author is pointing, in the invention of content, in the manner of narration, in the speeches of the persons narrated. That many expressions from fables could become popular proverbs, it goes without saying”, - and this is the highest award for a writer!

The essay Ivan Krylov: His Life and Literary Activity quotes the words of Metropolitan Macarius, spoken by him at the opening of the monument to Ivan Krylov: "He bequeathed love, boundless love for everything that is domestic, for our native word, for our native country and for all the beginnings of our folk life..."