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Denis Davydov

Born

in Moscow, Russian Federation

July 27, 1784

Died

May 04, 1839

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Denis Vasilyevich Davydov (Russian: Денис Васильевич Давыдов, Денис Давыдов; 27 July 1784 – 4 May 1839) was a Russian soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars who invented a specific genre – hussar poetry noted for its hedonism and bravado – and spectacularly designed his own life to illustrate such poetry.

Davydov stemmed from a great family of Russian nobility. After gaining celebrity as an indefatigable guerrilla leader of the Russian Patriotic War, he became one of the most popular men in the country. Young men of Pushkin's circle viewed him as a model romantic hero and the Decembrists prized his company as well.

Davydov's poems read like a diary of the hussar and bon-vivant that he was. Admired by Belinsky for their organic quality and Russia Denis Vasilyevich Davydov (Russian: Денис Васильевич Давыдов, Денис Давыдов; 27 July 1784 – 4 May 1839) was a Russian soldier-poet of the Napoleonic Wars who invented a specific genre – hussar poetry noted for its hedonism and bravado – and spectacularly designed his own life to illustrate such poetry.

Davydov stemmed from a great family of Russian nobility. After gaining celebrity as an indefatigable guerrilla leader of the Russian Patriotic War, he became one of the most popular men in the country. Young men of Pushkin's circle viewed him as a model romantic hero and the Decembrists prized his company as well.

Davydov's poems read like a diary of the hussar and bon-vivant that he was. Admired by Belinsky for their organic quality and Russianness, they address such themes as courage in battle, harlots, vodka, and the value of true friendship. In them he sings the praise of reckless valor, on the field of battle as well as before the bottle.

The diction in some of his poems is rather unconventional, and occasionally his words have to be replaced by dots, but it is always full of spirit and great rhythmical go. His later poems are inspired by a late love for a very young girl. They are passionately sentimental and as vivid and alive in diction and rhythmical elasticity as his hussar verses. Pushkin had a high opinion of his poetry and used to say that Davydov showed him the way to be original.

The literary mask of a dashing hussar is belied by some of Davydov's lesser known writings, such as the anti-absolutism' poem 'Head and Feet', there he described the 'Tsar-Chevalry' relationes as the possibility of head to live its life only on and with feet.

He brought out an Essay towards a Theory of Guerilla Warfare (1821) and Some events from the life of Denis Vasilievich Davydov, a series of recollections on military life, used by Leo Tolstoy in writing War and Peace. Davydov even makes an appearance in Tolstoy's novel in the person of Vasily Denisov.[citation needed] According to D.S. Mirsky, "in his autobiography he indulges in a veritable orgy of puns and jokes not always in the best of taste. His military writings are fresh, vigorous, and racy; and his memoirs contain some of the best military reading in the language".

The grave of Denis Davydov with his statue right above it is situated next to the exit door (left from outside) of the Great Dome of the notable Novodevichy Convent (Moscow, Russia). ...more

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Denis Davydov’s books

Average rating: 4.04 · 23 ratings · 0 reviews · 23 distinct works

	In The Service Of The Tsar Against Napoleon by Denis Davydov, Gregory Troubetzkoy (Translator) 4.18 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1982 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Поэзия by Denis Davydov, Денис Васильевич Давыдов 2.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Опыт теории партизанского действия by Denis Davydov, Денис Васильевич Давыдов really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1821	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Денис Давыдов. Стихи и проза by Denis Davydov, Денис Васильевич Давыдов liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Гусарская исповедь by Denis Davydov, Денис Васильевич Давыдов 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Slukhi sredi krest'yanstva v 1920-e gody: Monografiya 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tilsit en 1807: Suivi de : Fut-ce le froid qui anéantit l'armée française en 1812 ? 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stikhotvorenīi︠a︡ Volume c.1 1893 [Leather Bound] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stikhotvorenīi︠a︡. 1893 [Leather Bound] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sochinenī︠ia︡ Denisa Vasilʹevicha Davydova / so statʹeĭ o literaturnoĭ d︠ie︡i︠a︡telʹnosti D. V. Davydova i primi︠e︡chanī︠ia︡mi sostavlennym A. O. Kruglym.. Volume v.3 1893 [Leather Bound] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars