Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born in Moscow into an aristocratic family on June 6, 1799. He is often considered Russia’s greatest poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. His first major work was the poem Ruslan and Ludmila. His political verses associated him with the Decembrist revolt, causing him to be banished. He worked on Boris Godunov and the novel in verse Eugene Onegin before Nicholas I allowed him to return to Moscow in 1826. Pushkin died at age 37 following a duel with a French officer who was paying unscrupulous attention to his wife.
Как он умел казаться новым,
Шутя невинность изумлять,
Пугать отчаяньем готовым,
Приятной лестью забавлять,
Ловить минуту умиленья,
Невинных лет предубежденья
Умом и страстью побеждать,
Невольной ласки ожидать,
Молить и требовать признанья,
Подслушать сердца первый звук,
Преследовать любовь, и вдруг
Добиться тайного свиданья . . .
И после ей наедине
Давать уроки в тишине!