"Poor Liza" was written in 1792 by Nikolay Mikhaylovich Karamzin, a Russian historian, poet and journalist who was also the key figure in the sentimentalist school of Russian literature. "Poor Liza" was well-received as soon as it was published and soon became the most celebrated work of the Russian Sentimental school.
The narrative of Poor Liza herself is essentially a very simple story, and one that is applicable in every generation. It is the story of a young peasant maiden who is romanced by a nobleman, only to be abandoned by him after she has fallen deeply and madly in love. The nobleman betrays her and breaks her heart, and on discovering this she drowns herself in the river because she feels that she has nothing left to live for.
It is also a story filled with simple symbolism; dark represents depression and melancholy, while the light represents Liza when she is in love. This is what really categorizes the story as Sentimental; tearful expressions, tender emotions and the apparent connection with nature and a person's emotional state.
From a very early age, Karamzin was interested in Enlightenment philosophy and western European literature. He began his journalistic career as a travel writer, working his way around the continent and writing about his travels and experiences in a monthly review called the "Moscow Journal" that he founded himself. His style is influenced greatly by Laurence Sterne, and "The Letters" introduced Russian readers to the Sentimental style that was popular in the west at the time. Poor Liza capitalized on the style's new popularity and cemented Karamzin as one of the leading writers of his time. Karamzin was appointed to the Court of Emperor Alexander in 1803 as Historian, and devoted the rest of his life to his twelve-volume history of the Russian State.
"Poor Liza" became a significant figure in Russian culture and literature and there are several representations of her in art as well as her incarnation in literature: renowned artist O. Kiprensky painted a portrait of the peasant girl and there is also a collection of lithographs of the scenery described in the story.
