Ivan Andreevich Krylov

Born in Moscow, Ivan Andreevich Krylov spent much of his early life in hardship after his father died, and he had little formal schooling. Even so, he made his way into literary life and worked in several forms, including drama and journalism, before finding the style that made him famous.

Krylov is remembered above all for his fables, which drew on earlier traditions but sounded fresh, colloquial, and distinctly Russian. Through animals, comic situations, and clear storytelling, he gently—and sometimes not so gently—satirized vanity, foolishness, greed, and official pomposity.

Over time, he became one of the best-loved figures in Russian literature. His work was admired for its humor, simplicity, and memorable phrasing, and many lines from his fables entered everyday speech, helping secure his place as a lasting classic.