Afanasy Fet

The unfortunate circumstances of Afanasy Fet's birth as the son of a Darmstadt merchant largely predetermined his refusal of a university career, separation from his beloved, and military service. The struggle against the blows of fate shaped his "awkward" character... and special position in literature. Young poets considered the author of lyrical masterpieces their idol, while the liberal public saw him as a "pitiful poet." He translated the works of ancient Roman classics and read the writings of contemporary philosophers, implemented advanced land use, served as a magistrate, and spoke in print about the education system, communities, and zemstvo self-government.
What is the reason for Fet's obsessive desire to become a Russian nobleman? Why did Alexander II gift the "tsar of poets" a ruby ring, and Alexander III make him a chamberlain? How did a lyrical poet become a successful businessman? Why was the progressive landowner called a serf-owner and misanthrope? What brought him closer to Turgenev and Leo Tolstoy while causing rifts with Nekrasov and Chernyshevsky? These questions are answered in the book by Doctor of Philology Mikhail Makeev - the first detailed biography of the great poet, pessimistic thinker, and fierce publicist.