Konstantin Dmitrievich
Balmont
1867-1942
Konstantin Dmitrievich Balmont was a Russian poet, translator, and representative of the Silver Age and symbolism. He was born on June 15, 1867, in the village of Gumnishchi, in the Vladimir governorate, in a family of a judge. His mother instilled in him a love for literature and music. After moving to Shuya, he attended Shuya Gymnasium but was expelled for his radical views and continued his studies in Vladimir. In 1886, Balmont entered the Law Faculty of Moscow University but was also expelled after participating in student protests. Balmont began writing poetry at the age of 10 but stopped for six years due to criticism from his mother. In 1885, Balmont’s debut poems were published in the journal Pictorial Review. During the late 1880s, he began translating works from other languages. Fame came to him in the 1890s, when he was actively involved in translations, studying languages and travelling. In 1894, his first collection, “Under the Northern Sky”, was published, followed by “In the Vastness” (1895) and “Silence” (1898). He published his works with the Scorpion publishing house and in the Libra magazine. His second marriage in 1896 allowed him to spend several years in Europe, where he gave lectures on Russian poetry. His collection “Let’s Be Like the Sun” (1903) brought him widespread fame. After the 1905 revolution, in which Balmont participated as an orator, he was forced to flee to Paris, fearing arrest. After returning to Russia in 1915, Konstantin Balmont continued to travel, give lectures, and translate. He translated Shota Rustaveli’s poem “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”. In 1920, due to the health problems of his family, Balmont emigrated to France. There, he published several collections of poetry and two autobiographical works: “Under the New Sickle” (1922) and “The Way of the Air” (1923). In memory of the poet, a memorial plaque was erected in Moscow at 15, Bolshoy Nikolopeskovsky Lane.
Address: Moscow, Bolshoy Nikolopeskovsky lane, 15, building 1
