Made by Radmir Kim School 4, 8aTeacher Tamara Valentinovna Udina

«If you want to be happy, be»

«Watch out!» (Бди)

«Look in the root» (Зри в корень)

«Better say little, but well» (Лучше скажи мало, но хорошо)

Kozma Prutkov is a fictional author invented by  Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy and his three cousins in the 1850s–1860s.

Prutkov was born on April 11, 1803. He worked for the government of the Russian Empire.

1820 - entered military service as a Hussar. From 1823 until his death - worked at the Assay

Office (Пробирная Палата).

The time when Kozma Prutkov appeared was rather difficult for Russia and the Russian literature. So, Kozma Prutkov was the rescue. He appeared to write satiric, humorous and nonsense stories about civil officers, bureaucrats and clerks.

First he was named Kuzma and then Kozma in order to do a bad turn, let down (подкузьмить) the reader.

The surname Prutkov was made up from the word “prut” in order to strike somebody with mockery.

Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817 - 1875)He began his education at home under the tutelage of his uncle

the writer Anton Pogorelsky. 1834 - enrolled in the Moscow Foreign Ministry State Archive December 1835 - passed exams at the Moscow University 1840s – spent in the state service as a diplomat the early 1860-s - left state service to follow his literary career.

Alexander Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov (1826 -1896)

The eldest in the family, a son

of the Senator Mikhail

Zhemchuzhnikov, was brought to

Alexandrovskiy military school.

He entered St. Petersburg

University, the Law Department.

1860s - became the vice-

governor and then the councilor

of State.

Aleksey Mikhailovich Zhemchuzhnikov (1821 – 1908)

until 14 stayed at home, receiving private education

1835 - joined the College of Law

1847 - joined the Ministry of Justice and then the State Chancellery

on January 1, 1858 - quitted the state service

1900 - became an Honorary member of St Petersburg Academy.

Vladimir Mikhailovich

Zhemchuzhnikov (1830 – 1884)

1845 - was brought to Alexandrovskiy military school

1855 - joined the voluntary military forces and took part in the Crimean War

1857 - left the military service He was the organizer and editor

of all Kozma Prutkov’s publications. He did a lot to publish a complete set of Prutkov’s works in 1884.

Fables

“Forget-me-nots and a

footboard” («Незабудки и

запятки»),

“A conductor and a

tarantula” («Кондуктор и

тарантул»),

“A heron and droshky”

(«Цапля и беговые

дрожки»)

were published in 1851.

“Fruits of Reflection” (1853-1854)“Zeal overcomes everything!”

(«Усердие все превозмогает»);

“Nobody will embrace the unembraceable” («Никто не обнимет необъятного»);

“We don't care for what we have, we deplore what we have lost” («Что имеем, не храним; потерявши, плачем»);

“Of all the fruits, the best ones come from good education” («Из всех плодов наилучшие приносит хорошее воспитание»).

Why did the name of Kozma Prutkov disappear?His biographers say that this wonderful unique

writer died on January 13, 1863.

Difficult times for the Russian satire came to an end.

Kozma Prutkov did not exist as a person.

Kozma Prutkov stands as a famous poet and writer in our Russian literature.

Looking at this world,

one cannot help wondering!