Vasily Vasilyevich Rozanov (1856–1919) was a prominent Russian writer, philosopher, and critic. His work often grappled with themes of religion, sexuality, and society, reflecting his unconventional, complex, controversial, and influential viewpoints.
Born into a peasant family in the Vologda region, Rozanov graduated from the University of Moscow in 1882. He taught history and geography in secondary schools in the Russian provinces. In 1893, he moved to St. Petersburg, where he became a government official, but he resigned in 1899 at the urging of A.S. Suvorin, the proprietor of the newspaper Novoye Vremya (“New Time,”) and remained a regular contributor until the newspaper was shut down by the Bolsheviks in October 1917.
Rozanov emerged as a distinctive voice in early 20th-century Russian literature. His major contributions include his multi-faceted book The Fallen Leaves (Opavshiye listya, 1901,) which explores themes of love and sexuality from unorthodox perspectives, and The Apocalypse of Our Time (Apokalipsis Nashago Vremeni, 1918,) a profound analysis of the socio-political upheavals in post-revolutionary Russia. His essays and articles were influential in shaping contemporary thought and critiquing both Russian society and the political landscape of his time.
Another significant work, The Family and the Sex (Semya i Seks, 1909,) examines the role of sexuality in the formation of human relationships and social structures. He had no regular income, and he died in poverty. Many of his works remained in manuscript form and were first published in the 1990s.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Vasily Rozanov
All religions will pass, but this will remain: simply sitting in a chair and looking in the distance.
—Vasily Rozanov
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