Lermontov - Лермонтов «Мцыри» - 1922

The poem as a genre, as well as the theme of the Caucasus, always occupied a special place in the work of the Russian poet and novelist Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. During his lifetime, the great poet wrote approximately thirty poems, one of the best of which is "Mtsyri."

On August 5, 1839, as the date on the manuscript indicates, Lermontov completed work on the poem "Mtsyri." It belongs to the poet's late Caucasian poems and is considered one of the last classic examples of Russian Romantic poetry.

The poem takes place in Georgia, in its ancient capital, Mtskheta, and its environs. The protagonist is a young highlander captured and sent to a monastery against his will. "Mtsyri" in Georgian means "non-serving monk" or "novice," i.e., a person preparing to become a monk.

The poet's first exile served as the impetus for the realization of his planned work. In 1837, M. Yu. Lermontov, en route to his place of "imprisonment," passed by one of the Caucasian monasteries in Mtskheta. It was here that he met an elderly monk, whose image is now associated with the creation of "Mtsyri."

According to Lermontov's cousin, the inspiration for the poem was the enchanting nature of the Caucasus. The writer had already become acquainted with mountain life at a young age.

During this period, Lermontov wrote interim works, which he later combined into "Mtsyri." "Mtsyri" is based on such works as "Confession" (1830) and "Boyar Orsha."

One of the first to hear the legendary poem read by the author was the poet and memoirist A. N. Muravyov. Muravyov writes: "Never has any work had such a strong influence on me."

The work, written in verse, was published in 1840. It was first published in the only collection published during his lifetime, "Poems by M. Lermontov," with some censored cuts.