Pavel Pavlovich Muratov (russian: Па́вел Па́влович Мура́тов), also known as Paul Muratov or Paul Muratoff ( – February 5, 1950), was a Russian essayist, novelist, art historian, critic and playwright. Born in Bobrov in the

Voronezh Oblast Voronezh Oblast (russian: Воронежская область, Voronezhskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Voronezh. Its population was 2,308,792 as of the 2021 Census. Geography V ...

into the family of a military doctor, Muratov attended a Cadet Corps and graduated from the

Petersburg State Transport University Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University (PGUPS) (russian: Петербургский государственный университет путей сообщения Императора Александра I, abbreviat ...

in 1903. He traveled abroad in 1905-06, after which he moved to

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

and worked at the

Rumyantsev Museum The Rumyantsev Museum evolved from the personal library and historical collection of Count Nikolay Rumyantsev (1754–1826). Its origin was in St. Petersburg in the Rumyantsev house or mansion, building number 44 on the English Embankment overlo ...

until 1914. He became friends with the writers Boris Zaytsev,

Vladislav Khodasevich Vladislav Felitsianovich Khodasevich (russian: Владисла́в Фелициа́нович Ходасе́вич; 16 May 1886 – 14 June 1939) was an influential Russian poet and literary critic who presided over the Berlin circle of Russian e ...

, and Nina Berberova (who called him "one of the most remarkable men I ever met"), as well as the artist

Nikolai Ulyanov ''Nikolai Ulyanov can also refer to Vladimir Lenin'' Nikolai Pavlovich Ulyanov (russian: Николай Павлович Улья́нов, – 5 May 1949) was a Russian painter, scenic designer, and graphic artist. Gallery 1975 CPA 4490.jpg, ' ...

. From 1906 he began to publish in journals like ''

Vesy ''Vesy'' (russian: Весы́; en, The Balance or The Scales) was a Russian symbolist magazine published in Moscow from 1904 to 1909, with the financial backing of philanthropist S. A. Polyakov. It was edited by the major symbolist writer Valery ...

'', ''Zolotoe Runo'', and ''Apollon''. He collaborated with

Igor Grabar Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar (russian: И́горь Эммануи́лович Граба́рь, 25 March 1871 in Budapest – 16 May 1960 in Moscow) was a Russian post-impressionism, post-impressionist painter, publisher, restorer and historian ...

on the latter's ''History of Russian Art'', and in 1913-14 he helped publish the journal ''Sofia'', dedicated to early Russian art. He was a volunteer with the Field Artillery in the Russo-Japanese War. In the First World War he rejoined the artillery, and in 1914-15 was second in command of a field battery. Later he was on air defence and staff work with the Black Sea Fleet HQ at Sevastopol. In 1921 he was arrested in connection with his work for

Pomgol Pomgol (russian: Помгол) was the name of two organizations created in the Russian SFSR during the Russian famine of 1921. The name is an abbreviation of the Russian term "Помощь голодающим" or "Relief for Starving". The firs ...

; the next year he left Russia never to return. At first he lived in Germany, but in 1923 he moved to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, where almost all the local Russian intelligentsia visited his Tuesday salons. In 1927 he moved to Paris, where he contributed to emigre journals and became an art expert for the gallery A la vieille Russie. In 1939 he emigrated to England, from 1940 living in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

; in 1946 he moved to Whitechurch House, his friend

WED Allen William Edward David Allen (6 January 1901 – 18 September 1973) was a British scholar, Foreign Service officer, politician and businessman, best known as a historian of the South Caucasus—notably Georgia. He was closely involved in the polit ...

's estate in Ireland. On October 5, 1950, he died of a heart attack at Whitechurch House and was buried at the local cemetery.

Clive James Clive James (born Vivian Leopold James; 7 October 1939 – 24 November 2019) was an Australian critic, journalist, broadcaster, writer and lyricist who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1962 until his death in 2019.Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as treat ...

, Gregorovius,

Burckhardt Burckhardt, or (de) Bourcard in French, is a family of the Basel patriciate, descended from Christoph (Stoffel) Burckhardt (1490–1578), a merchant in cloth and silk originally from Münstertal, Black Forest, who received Basel citizenship i ...

and

Arthur Symons Arthur William Symons (28 February 186522 January 1945) was a British poet, critic and magazine editor. Life Born in Milford Haven, Wales, to Cornish parents, Symons was educated privately, spending much of his time in France and Italy. In 1884 ...

, but it is better than any of them."Clive James, ''Cultural Amnesia'', p. 524.

Military works (as Paul Muratoff, with
W. E. D. Allen William Edward David Allen (6 January 1901 – 18 September 1973) was a British scholar, Foreign Service officer, politician and businessman, best known as a historian of the South Caucasus—notably Georgia (country), Georgia. He was closely in ...
)

*''The Russian Campaigns of 1941–1943'' (1944, Penguin) *''The Russian Campaigns of 1944–45'' (1946, Penguin) *''Caucasian Battlefields'' (1953)

Bibliography

* .

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Muratov, Pavel 1881 births 1950 deaths Novelists from the Russian Empire Essayists from the Russian Empire Russian art historians Historians from the Russian Empire Dramatists and playwrights from the Russian Empire Russian military personnel of World War I 20th-century novelists 20th-century dramatists and playwrights 20th-century essayists