author
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Griboyedov
1795–1829
Best known for the brilliant verse comedy Woe from Wit, this gifted Russian writer also lived a dramatic public life as a diplomat, poet, and composer. His work blends sharp social satire with a deep feel for the ambitions and absurdities of his time.
1 Audiobook
Verstand schafft Leiden: Schauspiel in vier Akten
by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Griboyedov
About the author
Born in Moscow in 1795, he studied at Moscow University and went on to lead an unusually eventful life. Alongside his literary work, he served in the military during the Napoleonic era and later entered the Russian diplomatic service, with postings connected to the Caucasus and Persia.
His lasting fame rests mainly on Woe from Wit (also translated as Gore ot uma), a comedy in verse that became one of the best-known works in Russian literature. Readers and audiences have valued it for its wit, memorable lines, and sharp satire of Moscow society.
His life ended violently in 1829, when he was killed in Tehran while serving as a diplomat. That combination of literary brilliance and a brief, dramatic career has helped keep his story as compelling as his writing.