Author, Russian Diplomat. Born in Moscow, he studied at the University there from 1810 to 1812 and joined the civil service in 1816. With his knowledge of several languages he was sent on diplomatic missions promoting friendly relations between Russia, Georgia, and Armenia. In 1823, while on vacation in St. Petersburg, Griboyedov completed his brilliant verse play "Woe from Wit", about a man who is branded a lunatic for telling the truth. It was banned by the censors and the author saw it performed only once, by officers of the Russian garrison in Yerevan, Armenia. Late in 1828 Griboyedov was sent to Iran as Assistant Ambassador. Soon after his arrival in Teheran he gave sanctuary to a group of escaped Georgian and Armenian prisoners. This infuriated local Iranians and on Feburary 11, 1829, they stormed the Russian Embassy. Griboyedov was hacked to death, and for three days his body was so badly treated by the mob that it was later identified only by a fencing scar on his right hand. He was buried in Tbilisi by his Georgian wife, whom he had married only four months before. "Woe from Wit" was finally staged, with heavy cuts, in 1834, but the complete text was not published until 1861. Today it is considered the first great Russian comedy and is still in the classic repertory. Griboyedov was also a talented amateur musician and his "Diplomat Waltz" survives. Yuri Tynyanov's novel "Death and Diplomacy in Persia" (1929) is a fictionalized account of Griboyedov's tragic last days.
Author, Russian Diplomat. Born in Moscow, he studied at the University there from 1810 to 1812 and joined the civil service in 1816. With his knowledge of several languages he was sent on diplomatic missions promoting friendly relations between Russia, Georgia, and Armenia. In 1823, while on vacation in St. Petersburg, Griboyedov completed his brilliant verse play "Woe from Wit", about a man who is branded a lunatic for telling the truth. It was banned by the censors and the author saw it performed only once, by officers of the Russian garrison in Yerevan, Armenia. Late in 1828 Griboyedov was sent to Iran as Assistant Ambassador. Soon after his arrival in Teheran he gave sanctuary to a group of escaped Georgian and Armenian prisoners. This infuriated local Iranians and on Feburary 11, 1829, they stormed the Russian Embassy. Griboyedov was hacked to death, and for three days his body was so badly treated by the mob that it was later identified only by a fencing scar on his right hand. He was buried in Tbilisi by his Georgian wife, whom he had married only four months before. "Woe from Wit" was finally staged, with heavy cuts, in 1834, but the complete text was not published until 1861. Today it is considered the first great Russian comedy and is still in the classic repertory. Griboyedov was also a talented amateur musician and his "Diplomat Waltz" survives. Yuri Tynyanov's novel "Death and Diplomacy in Persia" (1929) is a fictionalized account of Griboyedov's tragic last days.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Inscription
Ум и дела твои бессмертны в памяти русской, но для чего пережила тебя любовь моя!
(English: Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you!)
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