A message on the topic of the Kozma Prutkov phenomenon. “Who is Kozma Prutkov? The background to the appearance of Kozma Prutkov

Kozma Prutkov is a unique phenomenon not only for Russian, but also for world literature. There are fictional heroes to whom monuments are erected, museums are opened in the houses where they “lived,” but none of them had their own biography, collection of works, critics of their work and adherents.

Kozma Prutkov’s aphorisms were published in such well-known publications in the 19th century as Sovremennik, Iskra and Entertainment. Many famous writers of the time believed that this was a real person.

"Guardians" of the hero

Kozma Prutkov appeared thanks to the joint prank of the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers, Alexei, Vladimir and Alexander, and Count Alexei Tolstoy. The Zhemchuzhnikov brothers came from an old Russian family, which included governors, captains and senators. and Vladimir were poets, and their brother Lev was a famous artist and engraver.

Alexey Konstantinovich Tolstoy is a famous Russian writer, playwright and poet. Kozma Prutkov, whose quotes and aphorisms were loved by many of their contemporaries, arose from the failure of a play co-written by Tolstoy and Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov. Nicholas I, who was present at the performance, was dissatisfied, the play was removed from the repertoire, and in revenge, the brothers began to write parodies of poets pleasing to the tsar under the name of Kozma Prutkov.

Gradually, there were so many works published in various publications on behalf of Prutkov that the creators had to give him not only a biography, but also an appearance. Thus, they become patrons and advisers of the graphomaniac they created.

Biography of Kozma Prutkov

The aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov, which became famous in literary circles, became the main reason for their author to find his own face. Introduced in 1854 by the brothers Zhemchuzhnikov and Tolstoy, Prutkov, according to them, was born on April 11, 1803 in the village of Tenteleva. He even had his own small estate Pustynka, not far from Sablino station.

At the age of 17, the future graphomaniac entered military service in a hussar regiment, in which he served for a little more than 2 years. After he resigned, Kozma joined the Assay Office, where he made a successful career.

Prutkov died on January 13, 1863 due to a nervous attack that overtook him while serving in the director’s office.

Prutkov in military service

Kozma Prutkov’s military aphorisms arose against the background of his memories of military service, which ended very hastily. The reason for leaving the regiment in 1823 was a dream that the young hussar had on the night of his birthday, April 11.

Kozma dreamed of a naked brigadier general who ordered him to get up and follow him. After wandering around, the general led the young hussar to a crypt at the top of the mountain, from which he began to take out expensive materials and show them to him. After the brigadier general passed one of the materials over Prutkov’s body, he was struck by an electric shock and woke up.

Despite the fact that the dream happened after a heavy drinking session, it made such an indelible impression on Kozma that he resigned.

Thanks to this short service, readers were able to get acquainted with his “outstanding” thoughts about the army:

“When building new greatcoats for soldiers, remember what they drank and ate.”
“Let the precise fitting of ammunition be the goal of a soldier’s ambition.”
“If you want to be beautiful, join the hussars” and many others.

Civil Service Career

Kozma Prutkov, whose quotes and aphorisms were an undoubted success with the public, made a brilliant career not only in the literary field.

The management treated the young employee of the Assay Office very favorably, since they noticed his zeal for work, for which they encouraged and rewarded him. Kozma's talents allowed him to go from a simple employee to the highest civil rank of state councilor and receiving not only the position of director of the Assay Office, but also the Order of St. Stanislav 1st degree.

Kozma Prutkov’s aphorisms about public service are no less profound than about the military path. “Only in public service can you learn the truth,” he sincerely believes. “If there were no tailors, how would you distinguish between official departments?” - this is a question of vital importance for every official.

The would-be author's friends and literary guardians, Tolstoy and the Zhemchuzhnikovs, encouraged their ward to publish his works. Thus, the book “Thoughts and Aphorisms” by Kozma Prutkov was born, which contains his statements about life, love and much more.

Literary career

The first literary experience of the new graphomaniac was his play “Fantasy,” the production of which failed in the presence of the august person. Discouraged by this, Prutkov wanted to quit his literary studies, but his friends persuaded him to continue writing and they were right.

The philosophical aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov (“No one will embrace the immensity,” for example) earned him the reputation of a wise man who deeply sees the essence of things. It is interesting that many readers of Sovremennik perceived the author of aphorisms, fables and satirical poems as a real person. Prutkov even had his critics and admirers. Thus, Dostoevsky for a long time perceived him as a would-be creator of bad poetry.

Not only Kozma Prutkov’s aphorisms, but also his fables, poems, romances and prose formed the basis for the author’s collected works. The books were not only published and were a success among readers living in his time, but also after his death they were republished, and his statements were used to be considered smart and educated people.

About love

Kozma Prutkov’s aphorisms about love showed his true attitude towards women, love and marriage:

“The wedding ring is the first link in the chain of married life.”
“Girls are like checkers: not every one succeeds, but every one wants to get into the queens.”
“We don’t keep what we have, and when we lose it, we cry.”

In fact, many of Kozma Prutkov’s statements, despite his limited mind, are worthy of attention. Having no family of his own, he devoted all his time to service, writing poetry and his friends.

His colleagues appreciated him, his colleagues and relatives loved him, his superiors treated him with sympathy, this was quite enough to live up to his aphorism: “If you want to be happy, be happy.”

His other expressions began to be used in everyday life as allegorical vernacular. The phrase “If you have a fountain, shut it up” began to be pronounced as “Shut up the fountain,” which meant “shut up.”

The aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov and their meaning caused laughter among readers, since they were an indicator of the stupidity and self-confidence of a pompous graphomaniac, who considered his statements worthy of the wisdom of ancient philosophers: “Many people are like sausages: what they are stuffed with, they carry in themselves.”

Portrait of Prutkov

Thanks to the efforts of the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers and Alexei Tolstoy, their fictional hero gained not only the fame of a graphomaniac and a biography, but also a personality. Lev Zhemchuzhnikov and his fellow painters were invited by Prutkov to paint a portrait of the “great” writer, who wished to publish with him a collection of his works.

This is how the famous image appeared, conveyed so realistically that the customer spoke flatteringly about the artists. They depicted his graying curls, warts, and even a band-aid on his neck where there was a razor cut.

At the request of Kozma Prutkov, the painters placed a lyre with rays emanating from it under the portrait. Although the literary activity of this hero lasted only 5 years, he left a noticeable mark on Russian literature, and his famous “Thoughts and Aphorisms” were published and quoted many years after his death.

Prutkov's creativity today

Today, the most famous are 10 aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov, which have become common phrases in everyday life. Among them, the most popular are “Bdi!” and “Look at the root!” Often people, when pronouncing them, do not even know who their author is.

The phenomenon of Kozma Prutkov remains unsurpassed, since a hero with his own collected works and life has never appeared in world literature.

Alexey Tolstoy (the largest contribution in quantitative terms), brothers Alexey, Vladimir and Alexander Zhemchuzhnikov (in fact, the collective pseudonym of all four). According to several testimonies of contemporaries, staff captain Alexander Ammosov, who died early due to severe wounds, also took a significant part in creating the legacy of Kozma Prutkov. In particular, the famous fable “The Shepherd, the Milk and the Reader” belongs to his pen.

From “Biographical information about Kozma Prutkov”

Kozma Petrovich Prutkov spent his entire life, except for his childhood and early adolescence, in public service: first in the military department, and then in the civil service. He was born on April 11, 1803 in the village of Tenteleva near Solvychegodsk, and died on January 13, 1863.

He had an estate in the village “Pustynka” near the Sablino railway station.

Lermontov’s classmate and famous wit spoke in a similar way in his letter (dated February 15, 1859) to the artist -

Director of the Assay Office and poet, playwright, philosopher Kozma Prutkov is a brilliant hoax of Russian satire. This fictional character has become so thoroughly established in Russian literature that another real-life writer might envy him. Currently, Kozma Prutkov is rightly considered one of the classics of Russian humorous literature.

Kozma Prutkov won popular recognition. Many expressions from the poems and aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov entered into living speech (“No one will embrace the immensity”, “If you want to be happy, be it”, “Trump!”, “Watch!”, “Look at the root!”, “And turpentine good for something”, “What we have, we don’t keep; if we lose it, we cry”, “Live forever, learn forever”, etc.). In Prutkov, the Russian mind was revealed in all its brilliance, able to look at itself from the outside and laugh at itself.

In 1988, Kozma Prutkov appeared in cinema - director Yuri Mamin directed the comedy film “Fountain”, which began with the writer’s aphorism: “If you have a fountain, shut it up; give the fountain a rest.”

In 1998, the city of Solvychegodsk hosted the first Kozma Prutkov Festival, a celebration of satire and humor under the motto “Looking at the world, one cannot help but be surprised.”

April 23, 2003 - on the day of the 200th anniversary of Kozma Prutkov, a parody award for the hero of the day “Cast Iron Kozma” was established.

In September 2004 - the year of the 150th anniversary of the appearance of the name of Kozma Prutkov in print - the website of the hero of the day was published with his complete collected works.

But not everyone knows that the beginning of the literary image of Kozma Prutkov was laid on Lipetsk land in the summer of 1851 at the estate of the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers Pavlovka (now Dolgorukovsky district), where Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy came to visit. And the only monument to the brilliant Kozma was erected on Dololrukovo land. The author of the monument is Ivan Aleksandrovich Khristenko, a local historian, former director of the Dolgorukovsky Krai museum-estate, who annually organizes the Zhemchuzhnikov Readings.

Portrait of Kozma Prutkov

The portrait of Kozma Prutkov was created for the failed publication of 1853/54 by the then students of the Academy of Arts, who studied and lived together: Lev Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov, the future professor Alexander Egorovich Beideman and Lev Feliksovich Lagorio.

The “Biographical Information about Kozma Prutkov” describes in detail this only lifetime portrait of him, printed in the same 1853 in Tyulin’s lithography, in a significant number of copies. For some reason, the censorship of that time did not allow the release of this portrait; As a result, the entire publication did not take place. The following year it turned out that all the printed copies of the portrait, except for five, which were retained by the publishers immediately after printing, disappeared, along with the stone, when the location of Tyulin’s lithograph was changed, which is why a photohyalotype copy, in a reduced format, from one of the surviving copies is attached with this edition that portrait, and not original prints. Treasuring the memory of Kozma Prutkov, one cannot help but point out those details of his appearance and clothing, which he attributed to the artists as a special merit for conveying in the portrait; namely: skillfully curled and tousled, brown, gray-tinged hair; two warts: one at the top of the right side of the forehead, and the other at the top of the left cheekbone; a piece of black English plaster on the neck, under the right cheekbone, in the place of his constant razor cuts; the long, sharp ends of a shirt collar protruding from under a colored scarf tied around the neck with a wide and long loop; an almaviva cloak with a black velvet collar, one end picturesquely thrown over the shoulder; the hand of the left hand is tightly covered with a white suede glove of a special cut, exposed from under the almaviva, with expensive rings on top of the glove (these rings were granted to him on various occasions). When the portrait of Kozma Prutkov was already painted on the stone, he demanded that a lyre be added below, from which rays emanate upward. The artists satisfied this desire of his, as far as possible in the already completed portrait; but in the reduced copy from the portrait attached to this edition, these poetic rays, unfortunately, are barely noticeable.”

Kozma Prutkov’s poem “My Portrait” represents the most characteristic features of the poet’s creativity and spiritual appearance.

My portrait
When you meet a person in the crowd,
Which is naked; 1
Whose forehead is darker than the foggy Kazbek,
The step is uneven;
Whose hair is raised in disorder;
Who, crying out,
Always trembling in a nervous fit, -
Know: it's me!
Whom they sneer with ever-new anger,
From generation to generation;
From whom the crowd wears his laurel crown
Vomits madly;
Who doesn’t bow his flexible back to anyone,
Know: it's me!..
There is a calm smile on my lips,
There's a snake in my chest!

Option 1: “Which tailcoat is he wearing?” (Note by K. Prutkov.)

Biography of Kozma Petrovich Prutkov

According to the biography presented by the authors of the personality of Kozma Petrovich Prutkov, a popularly beloved lyricist, philosopher, wit, and man of subtle soul was “born” at the beginning of the 19th century. The birthday is known - April 11 (23). His year of birth has not yet been precisely established. One of his biographers calls it 1803, another - 1801. He was born in the village of Tenteleva, Solvychegodsk district, which at that time was part of the Vologda province, and came from an obscure, but very remarkable noble family. His grandfather, retired prime minister and cavalier Fedot Kuzmich Prutkov, left to his descendants the famous “Historical Materials”, which, despite their old-fashionedness and clumsiness of style, have undoubted merits and contain deep and witty thoughts. Already a mature writer, Kozma Prutkov published “Historical materials of Fedot Kuzmich Prutkov (grandfather)”, modestly declaring in the preface: “My whole family was engaged in literature” - and promising, following his grandfather’s notes, to publish his father’s notes and his own.

Pyotr Fedotich Prutkov, the writer’s father, was also involved in literature, who created the operetta “Chereposlov, that is, Phrenologist,” the gaiety, liveliness, wit and salt of which, according to Kozma Prutkov, were approved by such major poets as Derzhavin, Kheraskov, Shishkov, Dmitriev and Khmelnitsky, and Sumarokov even composed an epigram for her. It becomes clear that irresistible passion for writing that distinguished Kozma Prutkov until the end of his days. At baptism, the future celebrity was named Kuzma, but later he renamed himself Kozma and even Kosma, which confirmed another of his own aphorisms that “every thing is a form of manifestation of infinite diversity.”

Kozma Petrovich received his education at home, having mastered the sciences with the help of the parish priest Ioann Proleptov. At the same time, in the abacus exercise, Kuzma received from his teacher the mark “boldly-distinctly”, and in Russian literature - “edifying-praiseworthy”, which predicted Prutkov’s success in the fields he subsequently chose.

Studying the aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov, we find in them a reflection of some events in his life. “If you want to be handsome, join the hussars,” he wrote, and this circumstance may have prompted him to begin serving as a cadet in one of the best hussar regiments in 1820. However, just over two years later he left the service, having seen in a dream a naked brigadier general in epaulettes. This dream had a great influence on the whole life of Kozma Prutkov and served as the object of close attention of many researchers of the poet’s life and work, including foreign ones.

Immediately after his resignation in 1823, K. P. Prutkov decided to serve in the Ministry of Finance, in the Assay Office, where he remained until his death. Here he was honored to receive all civil ranks, up to and including full state councilor, and the Order of St. Stanislav 1st degree. K.P. Prutkov achieved all this without much patronage, guided by the principle that “zeal overcomes everything.”

Subsequently, he wrote: “My intelligence and undoubted talents, supported by boundless good intentions, constituted my patronage.” All biographers note K. P. Prutkov’s impeccable management of the Assay Office. His subordinates loved but feared him because he was fair but strict.

In the 25th year of his life, Kozma Petrovich united his fate with that of Antonida Platonovna Proklevetantova, from whom he had many children (4 daughters and 6 sons survived).

The family lived in St. Petersburg in a large government-owned eighteen-room apartment in house No. 28 on Kazanskaya Street, which originates from Nevsky Prospekt near the Kazan Cathedral. There was also an Assay Office of the Mining Department of the Ministry of Finance.

But no matter how great the career successes and family merits of K. P. Prutkov were, they alone would not have given him even a hundredth part of the fame that he acquired through his literary activities. Meanwhile, he remained in public service (counting the hussarship) for more than forty years, and acted publicly in the literary field for only five years (in 1853-54 and in the 1860s).

Until 1850, precisely before his accidental acquaintance with a small circle of young people, consisting of several Zhemchuzhnikov brothers and their cousin, Count Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Kozma Petrovich Prutkov never thought about literary or any other public activity . He understood himself only as a zealous official of the Assay Office and dreamed of nothing further than career success. In 1850, Count A.K. Tolstoy and Alexei Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov, not foreseeing serious consequences from their undertaking, decided to assure him that they saw in him remarkable talents for dramatic creativity. He, believing them, wrote under their leadership the comedy “Fantasy,” which was performed on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater, in the highest presence, on January 8, 1851. That same evening, however, by special order, it was removed from the theatrical repertoire.

This first failure did not cool the aspiring writer either towards his new friends or towards the literary field. He obviously began to believe in his literary talents. The aforementioned Alexey Zhemchuzhnikov and his brother Alexander encouraged him, inducing him to start writing fables.

Taking these first steps in literature, Kozma Petrovich Prutkov, however, did not think of surrendering to it. He only obeyed the persuasion of his new acquaintances. He was pleased to be convinced of his new talents, but he was afraid and did not want to be known as a writer; That's why he hid his name to the public. He presented his first work, the comedy “Fantasia,” on the poster as having written some “X and Z.” His fables were published in the Sovremennik magazine in 1851-1852. incognita.

After a 6-year break (1854-1860), publications resumed; his last published work was “Project for the Introduction of Unanimity in Russia.”

Kozma Prutkov wrote fables, epigrams, lyrics, and ballads. Dramatic genres were no stranger to him: comedy, vaudeville, drama, mystery, natural conversational performance... In his prose one can discern autobiographical, journalistic, historical and epistolary genres. He wrote polemical articles and projects. And finally, he became famous as a philosopher with his aphorisms.

On January 13 (25), 1863 in St. Petersburg at 2 o'clock and three quarters - having written the last poems, the director of the Assay Office, Kozma Petrovich Prutkov, “died” at his desk.

The history of the appearance of the image of Kozma Prutkov

Kozma Petrovich Prutkov is one of the amazing and bright creations of Russian literary and social life. As you know, he himself, with his entire biography and pedigree, with fables, poems, plays, aphorisms, was invented by the poet Alexey Konstantinovich Tolstoy and his cousins - Alexey and Vladimir Zhemchuzhnikov. Other Zhemchuzhnikovs - Alexander and Lev, as well as the poet Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov (1815-1869) also contributed. Lev Zhemchuzhnikov, together with the artists Beideman and Lagorio, came up with a picturesque image of Prutkov, creating his portrait.

In the summer of 1851, the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers and Alexei Tolstoy lived in Pavlovka (now Dolgorukovsky district), on an estate where they all loved to spend time, joke and laugh. It was located about two kilometers from the Dolorukovo village of Vyazovoye. There was a manor house with a mezzanine, outbuildings, a garden with linden alleys and two ponds. Alexei Tolstoy's favorite pastime was epistolary jokes, Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov wrote comic plays for the home theater, Vladimir showed the ability to imitate a parodist, Alexander was known as an inexhaustible inventor of dizzying and risky pranks, a wit, a writer of absurdities stylized as fables. This is how Prutkov’s first creation appeared in Pavlovka - the fable “Forget-me-nots and heels,” which was invented by Alexander Zhemchuzhnikov as a “joke.” That same summer, with the assistance of his brother Alexei, he wrote two more similar works: “The Conductor and the Tarantula”, “The Heron and the Racing Droshky”. And Alexey then added a couple more to them: one written independently, the other with his brother Alexander.

In a letter to A.N. Pypin, Vladimir Zhemchuzhnikov wrote: “When the mentioned fables were written, it was jokingly said that they proved the excess of praise for Krylov and others, because the fables now written are no worse than those. This joke was repeated upon our return to St. Petersburg and soon led me, my brother Alexei and Count A. Tolstoy (brother Alexander was in Orenburg at that time) to the idea of writing from one person, capable of all types of creativity. This thought attracted us, and the type of Kozma Prutkov was created.” In the same place: “The moral and mental image of K. Prutkov was created, as my brother says, not suddenly, but gradually, as if by itself, and only then was it supplemented and completed by us consciously.” V. M. Zhemchuzhnikov, while serving in Tobolsk in 1854-1855, met there the famous author of the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov and attracted him to participate in the creation of a very funny operetta “Skull Apostle, that is, Phrenologist.” P.P. Ershov gave him several of his couplets, written in 1837, with a request to place them somewhere, which was done, they were placed in the second scene of the operetta. Subsequently, this work was presented to the public under the authorship of Pyotr Fedotich Prutkov, Kozma’s father. Thus was born the only poet-official of his kind in all Russian literature, who had his own pedigree and was burdened with numerous relatives.

In 1852, the emerging author began to be called Kuzma (after the name of the Zhemchuzhnikovsky valet) Prutkov (he became Kozma only in 1876 - the mischievous brother Alexander took care of this). At the same time, Kuzma Petrovich received a low, but quite respectable rank “in the Ministry of Finance”, becoming the director of the Assay Office (there really was one, although in a different department) and acquired two main features: a complete lack of a sense of humor and zeal that knew no bounds ( “Diligence overcomes everything,” said one of his aphorisms).

For the reading public, the name of Kozma Prutkov first appeared in 1854 in the “Literary Jumble” - a humorous supplement to Sovremennik, where “The Leisure of Kozma Prutkov” was published. It was a whole collection, including at least half of Prutkov’s entire creative heritage. After “Leisure” Kozma Prutkov fell silent for a long time. Only five years later, a small addition to “Leisure” appeared in Sovremennik, entitled “Down and Feathers. To the Leisure of Kozma Prutkov." In the same 1860, four issues of the satirical magazine Iskra published “Thoughts and Aphorisms” and anecdotes “From the Notes of My Grandfather,” which also constituted an addition to “Leisure.” The final publication of Kozma Prutkov appeared in 1863 in the last, ninth issue of “Whistle”.

Until 1917, Prutkov’s works went through 12 editions. In Soviet times, editions of “The Complete Works of Kozma Prutkov” were published many times and were supplemented with new materials.

Works by Kozma Prutkov

Prutkov K. Complete works / A. M. and V. M. Zhemchuzhnikov. - Petersburg, 1884. - 353 p.
Same. - 12th ed. - Petersburg, 1916. - 256 p.
Prutkov K. Complete works / intro. Art. and note. P. N. Berkova. - Add. and verified according to manuscripts. - M.-L. : Academy, 1933. - 637 p.
Prutkov K. Complete works / intro. art., ed. and note. B. Ya. Bukhshtaba. - L.: Sov. writer, 1949. - 408 p. - (B-poet. Large series).
Same. - 2nd ed. - M.-L., 1965. - 479 p.
Prutkov K. Works / entry. Art. D. I. Zaslavsky; prepared text and notes A.K. Baboreko. - M.: Goslitizdat, 1955. - 419 p.
Prutkov K. Works / entry. Art. V. Skvoznikova; note A.K. Baboreko. - M.: Artist. lit., 1974. - 448 p.
Prutkov K. Works of Kozma Prutkov / comp., preface, notes. and dictionary by D. A. Zhukov; rice. N.V. Kuzmina. - M.: Det. lit., 1983. - 303 pp.: ill.
Prutkov K. Works of Kozma Prutkov / intro. art., commentary, Vl. Novikova. - M.: Book, 1986. - 414 p.
Prutkov K. Works / entry. Art. V. Skvoznikova; comment A. K. Baboreko; ill. N. Kuzmina. - M.: Pravda, 1986. - 416 p. : ill.
Prutkov K. Works of Kozma Prutkov / preface. F. Krivina; note A. Baboreko. - M.: Artist. lit., 1987. - 335 p. - (Classics and contemporaries. Russian classical literature).
Prutkov K. Works of Kozma Prutkov. - M.: Terra, 1996. - 399 p.
Prutkov K. Selected works / intro. art., ed. and note. V. Desnitsky. - L.: Sov. writer, 1939. - 396 p. - (B-poet. Small series).
Prutkov K. Dramatic works. - M.: Art, 1974. - 160 p.
Prutkov K. Fruits of thought: thoughts and aphorisms. - M.: Artist. lit., 1990. - 319 p.
Prutkov K. Down and feathers: thoughts and aphorisms. - M.: Eksmo-Press, 2000. - 399 p. - (Anthology of Wisdom).
Prutkov K. Down and feathers: thoughts and aphorisms. - M.: Eksmo, 2004. - 400 p. - (Anthology of Wisdom).
Prutkov K. Project for introducing unanimity in Russia. Love and Silin / intro. Art. P.K. Gubera. - P.-M. : Raduga, 1923. - 48 p.

Literature about the life and work of K. P. Prutkov

Zaslavsky D. Kozma Prutkov and his parents // Literary heritage. - M., 1932. - T. 3. - P. 197-201.
Berkov P. N. Kozma Prutkov director of the assay tent and poet: on the history of Russian parody / P. N. Berkov. - L.: Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1933. - 225 p.
Zhukov D. Kozma Prutkov and his friends. - M.: Artist. lit., 1983. - 384 p.
Morozova M.K. My memories: [about the Zhemchuzhnikov family] // Our heritage. - 1991. - No. 6. - P. 94.
Khristenko N. Historical responsibility for Kozma Prutkov: [the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers and A.K. Tolstoy] // Rural Dawns [Dolgorukov. district]. - 2001. - May 16.
Eletskikh A. Do fellow countrymen like satire: [Kozma Prutkov and Dolgorukov. district] // Rural life. - 2001. - September 11. - P. 4.
Bokov N. Kozma Prutkov was born near Yelets: [about the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers] // Lipetsk Meridian. - 2003. - April 12. (No. 2). - P. 4.
Shalnev B. What was the name of Kozma Prutkov? // Lipetsk newspaper. - 2006. - February 23. - P. 7.
Varfolomeev P. Where was Kozma Prutkov born? // Labor. - 2006. - May 3. - P. 3.
Zorin V. Descendant of Gogol, ancestor of Chekhov: [about Kozma Prutkov and his “parents”, A. M. and V. M. Zhemchuzhnikov] // Good evening. - 2008. - March 26-April 1. (No. 13). - P. 15.
Pavlova (Dedyaeva) T. Childhood memory is preserved by: [teacher p. Verkhniy Lomovets about the Zhemchuzhnikovs' estate in Dolgorukov. district - Pavlovka] // Rural dawns [Dolgorukov. district]. - 2011. - March 12.
Grishaev A. Kozma Prutkov was born at Pavlovskaya dacha: [d. Pavlovka Dolgorukov. district - family estate of the Zhemchuzhnikovs] // Region. News. - 2011. -July 7 (No. 27). - P. 7.
Russian writers 1800-1917: biogr. dictionary. - M.: Education, 1990. - T. 2. - P. 171-173.
Kozma Prutkov // Kozma.ru: the author’s personal website: the official website of Russian absurdity in world chaos and no less the official website of the Organizing Committee of the Cast Iron Kozma Prize. - Access mode: http://www.kozma.ru.
Kozma Prutkov, fictional writer: website. - Access mode: http://www.prutkov.org.ru/.
Prutkov Kozma: website. - Access mode: http://prutkov.lit-info.ru/.
Kozma Prutkov: website. - Access mode: http://kozmaprut.narod.ru/.
Kozma Prutkov // The best Russian poets and poems: website. - Access mode: http://er3ed.qrz.ru/prutkov.htm.
Prutkov Kozma Petrovich: Works // Lib.ru: “Classics”: website. - Access mode: http://az.lib.ru/p/prutkow_k_p/.

Aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov

Time is like a skillful manager, constantly producing new talents to replace those that have disappeared.
Do not irritate the wounds of your neighbor, offer balm to the suffering... When you dig a hole for someone else, you yourself will fall into it.
Not everything that grows is strigi.
An excessively rich man who does not help the poor is like a hefty nurse suckling with appetite her own breast at the cradle of a starving child.
When throwing pebbles into the water, look at the circles they form; otherwise such throwing will be empty fun.
Man, not being clothed with beneficent nature, received from above the gift of tailoring.
There is no state in the world freer than ours, which, while enjoying liberal political institutions, at the same time obeys the slightest instruction of the authorities.
A person's memory is a sheet of white paper: sometimes it is written well, and sometimes poorly.
Life is an album. Man is a pencil. Things are a landscape. Time is gumelastic: it bounces off and erases.
Virtue is its own reward; a man surpasses virtue when he serves and receives no reward.
Not even a hussar uniform suits every person.
If you're hungry and naked
May the learning step be a joy to you.
Don't put leggings on other people's legs.
Always stay alert!
The sooner you drive, the sooner you arrive.
Don't joke with women: these jokes are stupid and indecent.
Under sweet expressions, insidious thoughts lurk: for example, someone who smokes tobacco often smells of perfume.
I would boldly liken the beginning of a clear day to the birth of an innocent baby: perhaps the first one cannot do without rain, and the life of the second one without tears.
If you are asked: what is healthier, the sun or the month? - answer a month. For the sun shines during the day, when it is already light, and the moon shines at night. But, on the other hand: the sun is better because it shines and warms; and the moon only shines, and then only on a moonlit night!
Look into the distance - you will see the distance; look at the sky - you will see the sky; When you look into a small mirror, you only see yourself.
He who is diligent in service should not be afraid of his ignorance, for he will read every new case.
What we have, we don’t store; Having lost, we cry.
Diligence overcomes everything!
Someone who is passionately in love with one person tolerates another only out of convenience.
What's the best? - Compare the past and bring it together with the present.
By sounding the horn,
Always be fair, but strict.
Looking at the world, one cannot help but be surprised!
The stupidest man was the one who invented tassels for decoration and gold nails on furniture.
I can safely liken almost every wrinkled face to a pear taken from a compote.
Things are great and small not only according to the will of fate and circumstance, but also according to the concepts of everyone.
A good ruler is rightly likened to a coachman.
Death is placed at the end of life in order to more conveniently prepare for it.
Once you lie, who will believe you?
No one will embrace the immensity.
When you get down to business, gather your courage.
An intelligent woman is like Semiramis.
In the stale air, no matter how hard you try, you can’t catch your breath.
Aces don't win every game!
Almost every person is like a vessel with taps filled with the life-giving moisture of productive forces.
It is more useful to go through the path of life than the entire universe.
In the summer, under the shade of an acacia tree
It's nice to dream about deployment.
Prosperity, misfortune, poverty, wealth, joy, sadness, squalor, contentment are different phenomena of one historical drama in which people rehearse their roles for the edification of the world.
Nothing that exists can disappear - this is what philosophy teaches; and therefore it is incompatible with Eternal Truth to report on the missing!
The philosopher easily triumphs over future and past sorrows, but he is easily defeated by the present.
The wedding ring is the first link in the chain of married life.
It is easier to hold the reins than to hold the reins.
Do not seek salvation in a separate agreement.
What will others say about you if you cannot say about yourself?
Many things are not clear to us, not because our concepts are weak; but because these things are not included in the range of our concepts.
I would boldly liken another walking old man to an hourglass.
I would boldly liken a pen writing for money to a barrel organ in the hands of a wandering foreigner.
And the oyster has enemies!
What is cunning? - Cunning is the weapon of the weak and the mind of the blind.
A married rake is like a sparrow.
The baby's first step is the first step towards his death.
It is easier to continue laughing than to stop laughing.
Melt down the wax, but save the honey.
Vices are part of virtue, just as poisonous drugs are part of healing remedies.
Everyone necessarily causes benefit when used in its place. On the contrary: the exercises of the best dance master in chemistry are inappropriate; The dance advice of an experienced astronomer is stupid.
There is no friendship in commerce.
A believer is not afraid of adversity, but in the face of adversity, he does not despair.
Someone else's nose is a temptation to others.
In the impartial balance of history, Raphael's brush has the same weight as the sword of Alexander the Great.
The globe, revolving in boundless space, serves as a pedestal for everything found on it.
Live and learn! And you will finally reach the point where, like a sage, you will have the right to say that you know nothing.
A fading memory is like a lamp going out.
Time is measured by clocks, and human life is measured by time; but how, tell me, will you measure the depth of the Eastern Ocean?
Wind is the breath of nature.
Look at the root!
Do not be timid in front of the enemy: a person’s fiercest enemy is himself.
An egoist is like someone who has been sitting in a well for a long time.
Trump!
Man is given two hands at that end, so that, receiving with his left, he distributes with his right.
Submission cools anger and gives dimension to mutual feelings.
The magnet points north and south; It is up to a person to choose a good or bad path in life.
Two unfortunate people who are in friendship are like two weak trees, which, leaning on one another, can more easily resist storms and all sorts of violent winds.
A diligent doctor is like a pelican.
There is no adjutant without an aiguette.
Do not envy wealth: a French sage once wittily remarked that a lamenting gentleman in a gilded sedan chair is often carried by cheerful porters.
A chatterbox is like a pendulum: both need to be stopped.
Who's stopping you from inventing waterproof gunpowder?
Genius is like a hill rising out of a plain.
If you want to be happy, be it.
A person is bifurcated from below, and not from above, so that two supports are more reliable than one.
Seek not unity in the totality, but rather in the uniformity of division.
Before you meet a person, find out: is his acquaintance pleasant for others?
Sometimes it is enough to scold a person in order not to be deceived by him.
The soul of an Indian who believes in metempsychosis is like a worm in a cocoon.
There is sediment at the bottom of every heart.
Feuerbach very wittily notes that the eyes of a dissolute shoemaker follow the corkscrew, and not the awl, which is why calluses occur.
A berdysh in the hands of a warrior is the same as a well-aimed word in the hands of a writer.
When you have any undertaking in mind, think about whether you will definitely succeed in it.
A renewed wound is much worse than a new one.
Buy the painting first and send the frame!
Know that wisdom reduces complaints, not suffering!
Encouragement is as necessary for a brilliant writer as rosin is necessary for a virtuoso’s bow. Many people are like sausages: what they are stuffed with is what they carry around with them.
Wrongful wealth is like watercress - it grows on every felt.
The moments of meeting and parting are for many the greatest moments in life.
The harm and benefit of an action are determined by the totality of circumstances.
The accomplishment of the undertaking pleasantly tickles one's pride.
Happiness coefficient inverse content to dignity.
In the depths of every chest there is a snake.
If you have a fountain, shut it up; give the fountain a rest.
If you want to be calm, do not take grief and troubles personally, but always attribute them to the government.
Only in public service will you learn the truth.
Do not become a monk if you do not hope to fulfill your duties conscientiously.
What seems best to everyone is what he has a desire for.
A jealous husband is like a Turk.
The peace of mind of many would be safer if it were allowed to attribute all troubles to the public account.
Don't walk along the slope, you'll wear out your boots!
Find the beginning of everything, and you will understand a lot.
Science sharpens the mind, learning sharpens the memory.
Some singers sometimes wheeze.
When speaking to a sly person, weigh your answer.
Love, supported like fire by incessant movement, disappears with hope and fear.
Sedateness is a reliable spring in the mechanism of community life.
Every human head is like a stomach: one digests the food that enters it, and the other becomes clogged with it.
Every thing is a form of manifestation of infinite diversity.
Nails and hair are given to a person in order to provide him with constant but easy occupation.
There is no thing so great that it cannot be surpassed in magnitude by an even greater one. There is no thing so small that something even smaller cannot fit into it.
Marriage is an important matter, when you give your word, only listen to your heart and no one else.
It happens that diligence overcomes reason.
The most distant point on the globe is close to something, and the closest point is distant from something.
Not all tickling is fun!
Love your neighbor, but do not be deceived by him!
Wisdom, like turtle soup, is not accessible to everyone.
If you want to be beautiful, join the hussars.
What will others say about you if you can’t say anything about yourself?
Hiding the truth from your friends, to whom will you open up?
Explanatory expressions explain dark thoughts.
From small causes there are very important consequences; So, biting off a hangnail caused cancer to my friend.
A specialist is like gumboil: its completeness is one-sided.
Click the mare on the nose and she will wag her tail.
If there were no flowers, everyone would wear the same clothes!
A sensitive person is like an icicle; warm it up, it will melt.
Friendship will warm the soul, a dress will warm the body, and the sun and stove will warm the air.
Three things, once started, are difficult to finish: a) eat good food; b) talk with a friend who has returned from a hike; c) scratch where it itches.
Do not take anything to the extreme: a person who wants to eat too late runs the risk of having a meal the next morning.
Food is as necessary for health as decent treatment is necessary for an educated person.
Looking at the sun, squint your eyes, and you can clearly see the spots in it.
Girls are generally like checkers: not every one succeeds, but everyone wants to get into the kings.
Self-love and love of fame are the best evidence of the immortality of the human soul.
It’s better to say little, but well.
Do not resort to tickling, wanting to amuse a friend, - another will call you ignorant for this.
Health without strength is the same as hardness without elasticity.
Why, says the egoist, will I work for posterity when it has done absolutely nothing for me? - You are unfair, madman! Posterity has already done for you that you, bringing the past closer to the present and future, can at will consider yourself: a baby, a youth to an old man.
When looking at tall people and tall objects, hold your cap by the visor.

A. M. Zhemchuzhnikov - “father” of Kozma Prutkov

Kozma Prutkov- literary pseudonym of Russian writers Count A.K. Tolstoy (1817-1875) and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers: Alexei Mikhailovich (1821-1908), Vladimir Mikhailovich (1830-1884) with the participation of Alexander Mikhailovich (1826-1896). Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy was a cousin of all of them. Under the pseudonym “Kozma Prutkov,” his “friends” or “guardians,” as they called themselves, published fables, aphorisms, and plays in Russian newspapers and magazines of the mid-19th century.

“The venerable Kosma Prutkov is you, Tolstoy and me. We were all young then, and the “mood of the circle” in which Prutkov’s creations arose was cheerful, but mixed with a satirical-critical attitude towards modern literary phenomena and the phenomena of modern life. Although each of us had his own special political character, we were all closely united by one common feature: the complete absence of “official” in ourselves and, as a result, great sensitivity to everything “official”. This trait helped us - at first, independently of our will and quite unintentionally - to create the type of Kuzma Prutkov, who is so official that neither his thoughts nor his feelings are accessible to any so-called topic of the day, if attention is not paid to it from the official point of view vision..." (from a letter from Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov to his brother Vladimir)

Poems and aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov parodied literary imitation, “officialdom,” retrogradeism (Wikipedia)

Biography of Kozma Prutkov

Born in the village of Tentelevaya near Solvychegorsk on April 11, 1803. He served in the hussar regiment for three years, and for 40 years until his death, in the Assay Tent (an institution for examining silver and gold items and for putting a test mark on them). He was its director, had the rank of full state councilor, and was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, first degree. Died in St. Petersburg on January 13, 1863

Kozma Prutkov is a parody of the writer-official. Prutkov's aphorisms - mostly official, commonplaces, his thoughts - have no relation to his era, stand outside of time and space. Being limited, he gives advice of wisdom; having no talent, he writes poetry, without education and understanding of affairs in Russia he writes “projects”. He is a product of that era when everyone, without the slightest preparation, took upon himself any responsibilities if his superiors imposed them. At the same time, Prutkov was good-natured and honest, which made him attractive to many.

Works of Kozma Petrovich Prutkov

“Leisure and fluff and feathers”, humorous supplement “Literary Jumble” to the Sovremennik magazine, 1854 and Whistle magazine, 1860
“Epigrams”, “Contemporary”, 1854
“The fruits of thought. Thoughts and aphorisms,” Sovremennik, 1854, Iskra magazine, 1860
“Excerpts from the notes of my grandfather,” Sovremennik, 1854
“Historical materials of Fyodor Kuzmich Prutkov (grandfather)”, “Contemporary”, “Iskra”, 1860
“Project: on the introduction of unanimity in Russia,” Sovremennik, 1864
“Fantasy” is a play first staged at the Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in January 1851
“Blondes”, comedy, “Contemporary”, 1854
“The Dispute of Ancient Greek Philosophers about the Elegant”, comedy, Sovremennik, 1854
“Chereposlov, or Phrenologist” drama, “Contemporary”, 1860
“Reckless Turk. or: Is it pleasant to be a grandson? dramatic work, "Contemporary", 1863
“Love and Silin”, play, “Entertainment” magazine 1861
“The Triumph of Virtue,” a comedy, accepted by Sovremennik magazine in 1864, but banned by censorship
The first complete works of Kozma Prutkov, 1884

The first works of Kozma Prutkov - three fables - appeared in Sovremennik in 1851. They were called “Forget-me-nots and commas”, “The conductor and the tarantula”, “Heron and racing droshky”, Prutkov’s name was not mentioned then

Aphorisms of Kozma Prutkov

The wedding ring is the first link in the chain of married life
No one will embrace the immensity
Better say little, but well
Science sharpens the mind, learning sharpens the memory
It is more useful to walk the path of life than the entire universe
A married rake is like a sparrow
If you want to be beautiful, join the hussars
If you have a fountain, shut it up; give the fountain a rest
Genius is like a hill rising out of a plain
Death is placed at the end of life so that it is more convenient to prepare for it
When you get down to business, gather your courage
There's sediment at the bottom of every heart
A chatterbox is like a pendulum: both need to be stopped.
We don’t keep what we have, we cry after sweating

Kozma Prutkov is the most unique satirist of the 19th century, mocking the morals and foundations of his era and dispensing memorable ringing slaps to public taste. The unusualness of Kozma Prutkov was manifested not only in the style and content of his works. This extraordinary man is himself one of the most remarkable literary inventions: his pedigree, biography and work are entirely invented by several original writers - the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers, Pyotr Ershov and Alexei Tolstoy. The book includes the collections “Leisure” and “Down and Feathers”, containing the most poignant immortal aphorisms, socio-political projects, parody poems and fables by Kozma Prutkov. The book also includes “Excerpts from the Notes of My Grandfather” - anecdotal incidents and “historical materials” proving that Kozma Prutkov’s grandfather had no less literary talents than his outstanding grandson, biographical information about the personality and life milestones of Prutkov Jr., a short obituary on his death, as well as a unique posthumous work dictated by him during a seance.

Biographical information about Kozma Prutkov

Kozma Petrovich Prutkov spent his entire life, except for the years of childhood and early adolescence, in public service: first in the military department, and then in the civil service. He was born April 11, 1803; died January 13, 1863

In the "Obituary" and in other articles about him, attention was drawn to the following two facts: firstly, that he marked all his printed prose articles with the 11th day of April or other month; and secondly, that he wrote his name: Kozma, not Kuzma. Both of these facts are true; but the first of them was interpreted erroneously. It was believed that, by marking his works with the 11th, he wanted to commemorate his birthday each time; in fact, with such a mark he commemorated not his birthday, but his wonderful dream, which probably only coincided by chance with his birthday and had an influence on his entire life. The content of this dream is described below, from the words of Kozma Prutkov himself. As for the way he wrote his name, in reality it was not even written “Kozma”, but Kosma, like his famous namesakes: Kosma and Damian, Kosma Minin, Kosma Medici and a few others like that.

In 1820, he entered military service, only for the uniform, and remained in this service for only a little over two years, in the hussars. It was at this time that he had the above-mentioned dream. Precisely: on the night of April 10-11, 1823, returning home late from a comradely drinking party and barely laying down on his bed, he saw in front of him a naked brigadier general, in epaulettes, who, lifting him from the bed by the hand and not allowing him to get dressed, He dragged him silently along some long and dark corridors, to the top of a high and pointed mountain, and there he began to take out various precious materials from the ancient crypt in front of him, showing them to him one after another and even placing some of them on his chilled body. Prutkov awaited with bewilderment and fear the outcome of this incomprehensible event; but suddenly, from the touch of the most expensive of these materials, he felt a strong electric shock throughout his body, from which he woke up covered in perspiration. It is unknown what importance Kozma Petrovich Prutkov attached to this vision. But, often talking about him later, he always became very excited and ended his story with a loud exclamation: “That same morning, as soon as I woke up, I decided to leave the regiment and resigned; and when my resignation came, I immediately decided to serve in the Ministry of Finance, in the Assay Office, where I will remain forever!”

Indeed, having entered the Assay Office in 1823, he remained there until his death, that is, until January 13, 1863. His superiors recognized and rewarded him. Here, in this Tent, he was honored to receive all civil ranks, up to and including full state councilor, and the highest position: director of the Assay Tent; and then - the Order of St. Stanislav 1st degree, who always seduced him, as can be seen from the fable “The Star and the Belly.”

In general, he was very pleased with his service. It was only during the period of preparing the reforms of the previous reign that he seemed at a loss. At first it seemed to him that the ground was disappearing from under him, and he began to grumble, shouting everywhere about the prematureness of any reforms and that he was “the enemy of all so-called questions!” However, later, when the inevitability of reforms became undeniable, he himself tried to distinguish himself with transformative projects and was very indignant when these projects rejected him for their obvious inconsistency. He explained this by envy, disrespect for experience and merit, and began to become despondent, even despairing. At one of the moments of such gloomy despair, he wrote a mystery: “The Affinity of World Forces,” which was published for the first time in this edition and quite correctly conveys the then painful state of his spirit. Soon, however, he calmed down, felt the same atmosphere around him, and the same soil beneath him. He again began to write projects, but in a shy direction, and they were accepted with approval. This gave him reason to return to his former complacency and expect a significant promotion. A sudden nervous shock that befell him in the director's office of the Assay Office, just as he was about to leave for duty, put an end to these hopes, ending his glorious days. This edition contains for the first time his “Dying” poem, recently found in the secret file of the Assay Office.

But no matter how great his career successes and merits were, they alone would not have given him even a hundredth part of the fame that he acquired through his literary activities. Meanwhile, he remained in public service (counting the hussarship) for more than forty years, and acted publicly in the literary field for only five years (in 1853–54 and in the 1860s).

Until 1850, precisely before his accidental acquaintance with a small circle of young people, consisting of several Zhemchuzhnikov brothers and their cousin, Count Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Kozma Petrovich Prutkov had never thought about literary or any other public activities. He understood himself only as a zealous official of the Assay Office and dreamed of nothing further than career success. In 1850, Count A.K. Tolstoy and Alexei Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov, not foreseeing serious consequences from their undertaking, decided to assure him that they saw in him remarkable talents for dramatic creativity. He, believing them, wrote under their leadership the comedy “Fantasy,” which was performed on the stage of the St. Petersburg Alexandria Theater, in the highest presence, on January 8, 1851, at a benefit performance of the then favorite of the public, Mr. Maximov 1st. That same evening, however, it was removed from the theatrical repertoire, by special order; this can only be explained by the originality of the plot and the poor acting of the actors.

It is being published for the first time only now.

This first failure did not cool the aspiring writer either towards his new friends or towards the literary field. He obviously began to believe in his literary talents. Moreover, the mentioned Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov and his brother Alexander encouraged him, inducing him to start writing fables. He immediately became jealous of the glory of I. A. Krylov, especially since I. A. Krylov was also in public service and was also a holder of the Order of St. Stanislav 1st degree. In this mood he wrote three fables! “Forget-me-nots and heels”, “The conductor and the tarantula” and “The heron and the racing droshky”; they were published in the magazine. “Contemporary” (1851, book XI, in “Notes of a New Poet”) and the public really liked it. The famous writer Druzhinin published a very sympathetic article about them, it seems, in the magazine “Library for Reading”.

He presented his first work, the comedy “Fantasia,” on the poster as having written some “Y and Z”; and he published his first three fables, named above, without any name. This was the case until 1852; but this year a radical revolution took place in his personality under the influence of three persons from the mentioned circle: Count A.K. Tolstoy, Alexei Zhemchuzhnikov and Vladimir Zhemchuzhnikov. These three persons took possession of him, took him under their wing and developed in him those typical qualities that made him known under the name of Kozma Prutkov. He became self-confident, smug, harsh; he began to address the public “as one in power”; and in this new and final image of his, he talked with the public for five years, in two sessions, namely: in 1853 - 54, placing his works in the magazine. “Contemporary”, in the “Jumble” department, under the general title: “Leisure of Kozma Prutkov”; and in 1860 - 64, published in the same magazine in the “Whistle” section, under the general title “Down and Feathers (Daunen und Federn).” In addition, during his second appearance before the public, some of his works (see about this in the first section of this essay) were published in the journal. "Iskra" and one in the magazine. “Entertainment”, 1861, No. 18. The intervening six years between Kozma Prutkov’s two appearances in print were for him those years of languid embarrassment and despair mentioned above.

In both of his brief appearances in print, Kozma Prutkov turned out to be amazingly diverse, namely: a poet, a fabulist, a historian (see his “Excerpts from the Notes of his Grandfather”), a philosopher (see his “Fruits of Meditation”), and a dramatic writer . And after his death, it was discovered that at the same time he managed to write government projects, like a brave and decisive administrator (see his project: “On the introduction of unanimity in Russia,” published without this title, at his obituary, in Sovremennik, 1863, book IV). And in all types of this versatile activity, he was equally sharp, decisive, and self-confident. In this respect, he was a son of his time, characterized by self-confidence and disrespect for obstacles. That was, as you know, the time of the famous teaching: “zeal overcomes everything.” Perhaps it was not even Kozma Prutkov who was the first to formulate this doctrine in the aforementioned phrase, when he was still in minor ranks? At least, it is in his “Fruits of Meditation” under No. 84. True to this teaching and excited by his guardians, Kozma Prutkov did not doubt that he only had to apply diligence to take possession of all knowledge and talents. The question is, however: 1) to what does Kozma Prutkov owe that, despite his low qualities, he so quickly acquired and still retains fame and public sympathy? and 2) what guided his guardians in developing these qualities in him?

To resolve these important issues, it is necessary to delve into the essence of the matter, to “look at the root,” as Kozma Prutkov puts it; and then the personality of Kozma Prutkov will turn out to be as dramatic and mysterious as the personality of Hamlet. They both have commentary, and they both inspire sympathy, although for different reasons. Kozma Prutkov was obviously a victim of the three mentioned persons, who arbitrarily became his guardians or minions. They treated him like “false friends”, displayed in tragedies and dramas. They, under the guise of friendship, developed in him qualities that they wanted to ridicule publicly. Under their influence, he adopted from other people who had success: courage, complacency, self-confidence, even arrogance, and began to consider his every thought, every writing and saying as a truth worthy of publication. He suddenly considered himself a dignitary in the field of thought and began to smugly expose his limitations and his ignorance, which otherwise would have remained unknown outside the walls of the Assay Office. From this it is clear, however, that his guardians, or “false friends,” did not give him any new bad qualities: they only encouraged him and thereby brought out such qualities of him that were hidden before the incident. Encouraged by his minions, he himself began to demand that they listen to him; and when they began to listen to him, he showed such a self-confident lack of understanding of reality, as if there was a label over his every word and work; “Everything human is alien to me.”

Kozma Prutkov’s self-confidence, complacency and mental limitations were expressed especially clearly in his “Fruits of Thought,” i.e., in his “Thoughts and Aphorisms.” Usually the form of aphorisms is used to convey the conclusions of worldly wisdom; but Kozma Prutkov used it differently. In most of his aphorisms, he either speaks with the importance of “official” vulgarities, or breaks into open doors with force, or expresses such “thoughts” that not only have no correlation with his time and country, but seem to be outside of any time and whatever the area. At the same time, in his aphorisms one often hears not advice, not instruction, but a command. His famous "Bdi!" resembles a military command: “Fire!” And in general, Kozma Prutkov spoke out so smugly, boldly and persistently that he made us believe in his wisdom. According to the proverb: “the city takes courage,” Kozma Prutkov won literary fame for himself with his courage. Although mentally limited, he gave advice of wisdom; not being a poet, he wrote poetry and dramatic works; Believing to be a historian, he told jokes, having neither education nor even the slightest understanding of the needs of the fatherland, he composed management projects for him. - “Diligence overcomes everything!..”

The aforementioned three guardians of Kozma Prutkov carefully developed in him such qualities that he turned out to be completely unnecessary for his country; and, next to this, they mercilessly robbed him of everything that could have made him even a little useful. The presence of the former and the absence of the latter are equally comical, and since Kozma Prutkov retained a deep, innate good nature, making him innocent in all his antics, he turned out to be funny and likable. This is the drama of his situation. Therefore, he can rightly be called a victim of his guardians: he unconsciously and against his will amused, serving their purposes. If it weren’t for these guardians, he would hardly have decided, while he was only in the position of director of the Assay Office, to expose himself so openly, self-confidently and complacently to the public.

But is it fair to reproach Kozma Prutkov’s guardians for making him look funny? After all, only through this did they bring him fame and sympathy from the public; and Kozma Prutkov loved fame. He even rejected in print the validity of the opinion that “glory is smoke.” He confessed in print that he “wants fame,” that “fame pleases a person.” His guardians guessed that he would never understand the comedy of his fame and would childishly enjoy it.

And he truly enjoyed his fame with enthusiasm, until his death, always believing in his extraordinary and varied talents. He was proud of himself and happy: the most well-intentioned guardians could not have given him more than this.

The fame of Kozma Prutkov was established so quickly that in the very first year of his public literary activity (in 1853), he had already begun preparing a separate edition of his works with a portrait. For this purpose, three artists were then invited by him, who drew and redrawn his portrait on stone, printed in the same 1853, in a lithograph by Tyulin, in a significant number of copies. For some reason, the censorship of that time did not allow the release of this portrait; As a result, the entire publication did not take place. The following year it turned out that all the printed copies of the portrait, except for five, which were retained by the publishers immediately after printing, disappeared, along with the stone, when the premises of Tyulin's lithograph were changed in 1854 to a new lithography premises. Subsequently, some individuals acquired these missing copies by purchasing them at Apraksin Yard; That is why this edition contains a photohyalotype copy, in a reduced format, from one of the surviving copies of that portrait, and not original prints.

Treasuring the memory of Kozma Prutkov, one cannot help but point out those details of his appearance and clothing, which he attributed to the artists as a special merit for conveying in the portrait; namely: skillfully curled and tousled, brown, gray-tinged hair; two warts: one at the top of the right side of the forehead, and the other at the top of the left cheekbone; a piece of black English plaster on the neck, under the right cheekbone, in the place of his constant razor cuts; the long, sharp ends of a shirt collar protruding from under a colored scarf tied around the neck with a wide and long loop; an almaviva cloak with a black velvet collar, one end picturesquely thrown over the shoulder; his left hand, tightly covered with a white suede glove of a special cut, exposed from under the almaviva, with expensive rings on top of the glove (these rings were granted to him on various occasions).

When the portrait of Kozma Prutkov was already painted on the stone, he demanded that a lyre be added below, from which rays emanate upward.

The artists satisfied this desire of his, as far as possible in the already completed portrait; but in the reduced copy from the portrait attached to this edition, these poetic rays, unfortunately, are barely noticeable.

Kozma Prutkov never abandoned his intention to publish his works separately. In 1860, he even announced in print (in the Sovremennik magazine, in a footnote to the poem “Disappointment”) about their upcoming publication; but circumstances have prevented the fulfillment of this intention until now. Now it is being carried out, among other things, to protect the type and literary rights of Kozma Prutkov, which belong exclusively to his literary educators named in this essay.

In view of the erroneous indications in the press of the participation of various other persons in the activities of Kozma Prutkov, it seems worthwhile to repeat information about their cooperation:

Firstly: the literary personality of Kozma Prutkov was created and developed by three persons, namely: Count Alexey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, Alexey Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov and Vladimir Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov.

Secondly: cooperation in this matter was provided by two persons, in the amount defined here, namely:

1) Alexander Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov, who took a very significant part in the composition of not only three fables: “Forget-me-nots and commas”, “The conductor and the tarantula” and “Heron and the racing droshky”, but also the comedy “Blondes” and the unfinished comedy “Love and Silin” (see about it in the opening callout), and

2) Pyotr Pavlovich Ershov, the famous author of the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” who delivered several couplets placed in the second scene of the operetta: “Skullbreaker, that is, Phrenologist.”

And thirdly: therefore, no one - neither from the editors and employees of the Sovremennik magazine, nor from all the other Russian writers - had the slightest participation in the authorship of Kozma Prutkov.