Khvoshchinskaia, Nadezhda (1824–1889)

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Khvoshchinskaia, Nadezhda (1824–1889)

Russian poet, novelist and literary critic. Name variations: Nadezhda Dmitrievna Khvoshchínskaia or Khvoshchínskaya; (pseudonym) V. Krestovskii. Born Nadezhda Dmitrievna Khvoshchínskaia, May 20, 1824, in Riazan, Russia; died June 8, 1889, in St. Petersburg; eldest of 4 children; sister of Sofia Khvoshchinskaia and Praskovia Khvoshchinskaia (who wrote under S. Zimarova).

The foremost woman realist of the 19th century, concentrated on the provincial Russian milieu as well as gender inequities in society; poetry includes Ursa Major (1870–71); stories include "A Few Summer Days" (1853) and "Brother Dear" (1858); novels include In Hope of Better Days (1860) and Pansionerka (The Boarding School Girl, 1861); also wrote criticism under male pseudonyms and translated works from French and Italian.