Batyushkov Is Not Ill

The book "Batyushkov Is Not Ill" is an artistic exploration of the fate and creativity of Konstantin Nikolayevich Batyushkov (1787–1855), one of the most enigmatic and paradoxical classics of the golden age of Russian poetry. Mental illness struck him early, yet his legacy proved so profound that it continues to hypnotize readers. Each generation repeatedly "deciphers" Batyushkov, and this book is yet another attempt to understand him.
The writer Gleb Shulpyakov lovingly recreates the circumstances of the personal, literary, and social life that imprint the existence of the poet. On the pages of the book, his friends and loved ones, beloved poets and artists, as well as the literary intrigues and scandals of that time come to life. Together with Batyushkov, the reader travels through Germany, France, England, and Italy, experiencing the historical events of 1812, the Battle of Nations, and the capture of Paris, of which he was both a witness and participant.