Konstantin Dmitrievich

Balmont

Balmont was born on the 15th of March in 1869 in the village of Gumnishi. He is a poet, a translater, and a critic.

B. spent his childhood in his parents’ country house. His father was very kind man, passionet hunter, he led his son into the world of nature. His mother was a clever, intelligent and energetic woman, she opened him the world of art. And B. was led into the world of literature by folk songs and fairy-tales.

Reading had been B’s favorite occupation from his childhood. He liked to read works by Pushkin, Lermontov, Tutchev, Phet, Koltsov, Baratinskiy, Nekrasov.

Already in the youth B.had mastered English, French, Italian, German, Swedish, because he wanted to read works of poets in their native languages.

B. hated the gymnasium which he came in 1876. He didn’t finish it because he was expelled in 7th class. B. was truing to study in the low university in Yroslavly. At last his love to literature won.

The beginning of his creative way was very difficult. His work was published in the magazine “Picturesque review” in 1885.

In 1890 B. published “Collection poetry” on his own money, but this collection was a failure and B. destroyed all edition. At that time Korolenko helped B. and gave him advices.

From 1880 B. had been translated much European poetry (Geine, Lenow, Musse) and Drama (Ibsen, Bjersen).

B. loved to travel very much/ in 1891 he made a voyage a round the world: cape of Kind Hope – island Tasmania – Australia – New-Zealand – Polynesia – India. And each trip was not just the touch to the other culture, but his active, creative exploration it. His knowledge of the world was very hage.

The first book which was noticed by everybody was “Under northern ski”. Next his books were “Silence” and “Burning buildings”.

The top of his success was in 1900-1905. At that time he published his collection “We will be like sun” and “Only love”. There was hymn to the sun, to love passion.

B. wrote much. There are 9 big volumes in his “Full collection poetry” in 1907-1914.