Biography
Peter Pavlovich Ershov (March 6, 1815 – August 30, 1869) was born in Siberia, in the village of Bezrukova, near the town of Ishim, Tobolsk Province (now Tyumen Region) of Russia. His father, Pavel Alexeevich Ershov, served as a police official, while his mother belonged to the renowned Tobolsk merchant family of Pilyonkovs. Due to his father's profession, the Ershov family frequently moved. Petr's childhood was spent in various, often very remote, Siberian towns. The future poet's vivid childhood impressions were associated with the family's frequent relocations, during which he encountered the peoples of Siberia, memorizing their stories, parables, and the tales of coachmen and merchant travelers. For instance, a massive fish he once saw washed ashore became the inspiration for the Whale Fish, a character previously unseen in Russian fairy tales. From 1825 to 1830, Petr Ershov studied at the Tobolsk Gymnasium, living with his uncle, a wealthy merchant who led caravans to China. In 1831, Ershov's father was assigned to St. Petersburg, where from 1831 to 1836, Petr studied philosophy and jurisprudence at the Imperial University of St. Petersburg. It was there, at the age of nineteen, that he penned his masterpiece - the fairy tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse". First published in 1834, the fairy tale instantly became popular and is now considered a literary classic.
In 1836, Ershov returned to Tobolsk, where he subsequently worked as a gymnasium teacher, school inspector, directorof schools of the Tobolsk province, and director of the Tobolsk gymnasium where he once studied.
Ershov's family life was complicated. Two of his wives passed away, leaving him to care for numerous children. He found family happiness in his third marriage to Elena, the daughter of Major General N.L. Cherkasov. In this union, they had five daughters and three sons. Only the youngest son, Alexandr, and daughter from his second marriage left descendants who are still alive today.
Ershov continued his literary pursuits. He wrote poems, prose, opera librettos, and plays. However, his most significant work remains "The Little Humpbacked Horse", created almost two centuries ago and dearly loved by all. This fairy tale is "a calling card of Russian culture, Russian mentality in general. A person who has read this tale, even in translation, can truly imagine what fuels the Russian soul - the very same belief in miracles (G. Kramor).