Mark Kropivnitskiy

Marko Kropyvnytsky (Ukrainian: Марко Лукич Кропивницький, Marko Lukych Kropyvnytsky; May 7, 1840, Bezhbairaky (Kropyvnytske) village (now Kirovohrad Oblast) – 21 April 1910) was a Ukrainian writer, dramaturge, theatre actor.

Marko Kropyvnytsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Bezhbayraky village (now Kropivnitske), Kherson Governorate. His father, Luka, was a "man of labor", achieved prosperity working as the manager in manor estates. Hence, Marko spent his childhood (till he was 14) in Prince Alexis Kantakuzen' estate located in Katerynivka village, where his father worked as manager. Marko received education that did not have any system: he studied at the private school organized by a Polish noble man Rudkovskiy, then at the Elisavetgrad school. Normal training was available only at Bobrynets school, Marko graduated with an appreciation letter. His mother taught him music; at that time Marko participated in amateur theater group, which was setting the pieces of Ukrainian and Russian writers. After he failed to continue his education in Kiev high school, the young man returned to Bobrynets and started working as clerk at the district court (1861—1871).

In 1862 M. Kropivnitskiy attended classes at the Law Faculty of Kiev University as a non-matriculating student. Deeply impressed by a melodrama he saw in Kiev Theatre, he wrote the play Nikita Starostenko. He later criticized this work as it was an attempt by inexperienced author. Now the play is known in the version, that has undergone numerous fundamental revisions. M. Kropivnitskiy had not completed his education for various reasons; yet he constantly complemented to his knowledge independently, especially after he moved to Elisavetgrad, where there was a library. There, he had a chance to get acquainted with Robert Owen, John Stuart Mill, Shakespeare, Byron, Goethe, Heine, Dumas, George Sand, Thackeray and many others. At the government service, he almost got no promotion, and often completely lost his earnings due to his devotion for art and amateur performances.

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