# Ivan Goncharov

> Russian novelist and official (1812–1891)

**Wikidata**: [Q189665](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189665)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Goncharov)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ivan-goncharov

## Summary
Ivan Goncharov was a prominent Russian novelist and government official who lived from 1812 to 1891. He is best known for his literary contributions to Russian realism, particularly his novels *The Same Old Story* and *Oblomov*. His work established him as a significant figure in 19th-century Russian literature and culture.

## Biography
- **Born:** June 6, 1812
- **Nationality:** Russian (Citizen of the Russian Empire)
- **Education:** Educated at the institution referenced as Q4204467 (specific degree details not provided in source)
- **Known for:** Writing the novels *The Same Old Story* and *Oblomov*, and serving as a civil servant in the Russian Empire
- **Employer(s):** Russian Empire (served as an official)
- **Field(s):** Literature (Novelist, Writer, Translator, Essayist, Literary Critic, Prose Writer, Opinion Journalist, Theatre Critic)

## Contributions
Ivan Goncharov's primary contributions are his literary works and his service to the state.
- **The Same Old Story:** Published in 1847 (inception noted as 1844 in source data), this novel established Goncharov as a major voice in Russian literature.
- **Oblomov:** Published in 1859 (inception noted as 1847 in source data), this work is considered a Russian classical novel and a defining piece of his career.
- **Literary Forms:** He produced works across multiple genres including novels, essays, literary criticism, and theatre reviews.
- **Translation:** He worked as a translator, converting written text between languages.
- **Civil Service:** He served as an official within the Russian Empire, contributing to the administration of the state during the 19th century.

## FAQs
**What are Ivan Goncharov's most famous novels?**
Goncharov is most celebrated for *The Same Old Story*, released in 1847, and *Oblomov*, a classical novel published in 1859. These works are central to his legacy as a Russian novelist.

**What roles did Ivan Goncharov hold outside of writing?**
Beyond his literary career, Goncharov served as a government official within the Russian Empire. He also worked as a translator, essayist, and critic, covering both literary and theatre subjects.

**When was Ivan Goncharov active as a writer?**
His professional work period began in 1838 and continued until his death in 1891. During this time, he produced novels, essays, and critical reviews.

**What languages did Ivan Goncharov work with?**
As a Russian national and translator, he operated primarily within the Russian language sphere, though his role as a translator implies work with other languages. The Russian Empire, where he lived, had Russian as its official state language.

## Why They Matter
Ivan Goncharov significantly shaped the landscape of 19th-century Russian literature through his realistic portrayals of society and the human condition. His creation of the character "Oblomov" introduced a new archetype into world literature, influencing how lethargy and inertia were depicted in fiction. By balancing a career in civil service with a prolific writing life, he exemplified the dual role of the intellectual in the Russian Empire. His works provided critical social commentary that resonated with contemporaries and continues to be studied for their insight into Russian culture and psychology. Without his contributions, the canon of Russian classical literature would lack key texts that defined the era's literary realism.

## Notable For
- Writing the 1859 Russian classical novel *Oblomov*.
- Authoring the 1847 novel *The Same Old Story*.
- Serving as a novelist, translator, essayist, and literary critic.
- Holding the position of an official in the Russian Empire.
- Being a citizen of the Russian Empire during its existence from 1721 to 1917.
- Having a work period that spanned from 1838 to 1891.
- Being recognized with numerous library and academic identifiers (e.g., GND ID 118540734, VIAF ID 247149066396265601002).
- Being associated with the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences contextually through his era and profession.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Ivan Goncharov was born on June 6, 1812, into the Russian Empire. He was a member of the human species, specifically the unique extant species of the genus Homo. His nationality was Russian, and he held citizenship in the Russian Empire, a sovereign state that spanned Eurasia and North America. He was educated at an institution identified in records as Q4204467. His life spanned the years 1812 to 1891, a period that saw the Russian Empire transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy before its eventual dissolution.

### Literary Career and Works
Goncharov's career as a writer began in 1838. He is primarily categorized as a novelist, a writer of novels, but his output extended to various literary forms. He was a prose writer, utilizing written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. His bibliography includes:
- **The Same Old Story:** A novel with an inception date of 1844, published in 1847.
- **Oblomov:** A 1859 Russian classical novel, with an inception date noted as 1847 in some records.
- **Other Forms:** He wrote essays, acted as a literary critic reviewing new books, and served as a theatre critic writing reviews about performances. He also worked as an opinion journalist and a translator.

His work is associated with the genres of prose and fiction. He is linked to the literary community through his membership in Q4345832. His contributions are documented in numerous databases, including the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition and the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.

### Government Service and Official Role
In addition to his literary pursuits, Goncharov served as an official in the Russian Empire. This dual role as a civil servant and a writer was characteristic of many intellectuals of his time. The Russian Empire, where he served, was an absolute monarchy from 1721 until 1905, after which it became a constitutional monarchy. The empire was founded by Peter the Great on October 22, 1721, and dissolved on September 1, 1917. Goncharov's service occurred during a time when the empire covered vast territories, including Russian America until 1867. The capital of the empire during his lifetime was primarily Saint Petersburg, with Moscow serving briefly as the capital between 1728 and 1730.

### Historical Context and Environment
Goncharov lived during a transformative era for the Russian Empire. The state covered approximately 23,700,000 km² in 1865, making it the largest country in the world at that time. The population of the empire grew from 125,640,021 in 1897 to 181,537,800 by 1916. The official language was Russian, though Polish, Finnish, and Swedish held official status in specific regions. The empire's official religion was the Russian Orthodox Church. Goncharov's life and work were influenced by the geopolitical landscape, which included conflicts such as the Crimean War and the Russo-Japanese War, as well as the sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867.

### Legacy and Recognition
Ivan Goncharov's legacy is preserved through extensive archival records and identifiers. He is associated with the Library of Congress Authority ID n80001203 and the GND ID 118540734. His image and signature are cataloged as P18 and P109 respectively in structured data. He is referenced in the Great Russian Encyclopedia and the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron. His work period is recorded as starting in 1838. He is remembered as a key figure in Russian literature, with his novels *Oblomov* and *The Same Old Story* remaining significant cultural artifacts. His death occurred on September 15, 1891, marking the end of a life dedicated to both literature and public service in the Russian Empire.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. BnF authorities
4. datos.bne.es
5. The Fine Art Archive
6. Library of the World's Best Literature
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. MusicBrainz
11. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q487850)
12. EB-11 / Goncharov, Ivan Alexandrovich
13. Source
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index3.html)
16. CONOR.SI
17. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
18. SHARE Catalogue
19. Enciclopedia Treccani
20. LIBRIS. 2014
21. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija Online
22. LIMIS
23. Catalogo of the National Library of India